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Will privatizing refuse collection save costs?
(by HRANT H. YOUSOUFIAN - August 28, 2008)
It is refreshing that the newly installed mayor and Township Council (M&C) promise a "transparent" administration. A brief telephone conversation with my 1st Ward councilor, Mr. Richard Murnick, was encouraging in that respect.
The present proposal to privatize refuse collection needs to be laid out in detail, in writing, to become "transparent," for the scrutiny of the public. Comments by the public could then be constructive for the M&C in their deliberations.
Irrespective of the rationale presented by our township manager, I have two questions for consideration by the M&C:
1. Today we have the luxury and assurance of "actual costs" to compare with the price bid by the (privatizing) contractor. No doubt the contractor has used a "sharp pencil" that we can compare to our "actual cost."
2. Several years hence there will have to be an ongoing exercise to compare our estimated (not actual) cost of collection of trash vs. the actual billing by the contractor to be assured that we continue to "save" costs.
How much confidence does the present or future M&C have in making an informed decision based on the "true facts"?
This is a good exercise to demonstrate transparency.
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