The Village of Wellington will be getting a new solid waste contractor at the start of 2022, and on Wednesday, Sept. 22, Wellington’s Public Safety Committee got an update on how the changeover is progressing.
The new contract between the Village of Wellington and FCC Environmental Services Florida replaces the current agreement with Waste Management for solid waste and recyclable materials collection service in the community.
Along with a small non-ad valorem assessment increase in fees, more promises were made of a seamless transition from the new Orlando-based vendor.
Wellington initially had a five-year contract with previous vendor Waste Management for a flat fee. After the initial period, the contract could be renewed annually, but the price could increase. The contract passed its initial period, and the village was looking at a substantial price increase.
Wellington put the contract out to bid and received four responses with excellent references, experience and other rating scores. FCC, the lowest bidder, currently services 110,000 homes in unincorporated Palm Beach County.
Committee Member John Archambo said that in his day job, he has seen the new firm in action, and that the village should be impressed. He pointed out that some people’s trash day will not change, but where the pickup is on the route might. “So, have your trash at curbside by 7 a.m. at first, until you know when they usually come,” he said.
The village can terminate the new contract should it be dissatisfied with the service, which will begin with the new calendar year. There will be no change in requirements of service or the twice-a-week pickup schedule. Up to five percent of customers could experience a change in the day or time of service. The new company will cost residents $2.50 a month more, but representatives promise an increase in the level of service.
Operations Supervisor for Wellington Jesse Wright was available to update the scheduling and FCC General Manager Joseph Sandora was present to tell how the company is handling scheduling.
There are backup plans in case vendors can’t make deadlines in the aftermath of COVID-19 delays and shutdowns. “They will rent us trucks if the new ones aren’t ready,” Sandora explained.
In other business:
• The committee reviewed its choices for this year’s Wellington Top Cop. The nominees were Detective Jason Villiers and Deputy Bradley Shouse. While both had strong credentials, the committee favored Villiers.
When it came to Wellington Top Firefighter, there was only one nominee to consider, Lt. Jen Kleier, nominated by Battalion Chief Ernst Muller.
The final selections will be made official by the Wellington Village Council at its Oct. 26 meeting, where the officer and firefighter given the top honors will be present.
• Representatives from Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue provided the brief report and stood by to answer questions. As of this week, all responses in PBCFR trucks will be in three and four member crews.
• Chairman Michael Weil asked if the committee’s essay contests be continued, and the consensus was that they should.
• The village’s new golf cart ordinance is scheduled to be considered at the next Wellington Village Council meeting. PBSO Lt. Eli Shaivitz warned against putting too much stock on what is being said about it on social media. He noted an exaggerated post that warned “police cracking down on golf carts at schools.”
“We passed out some fliers to parents on golf carts,” he said. “No citations were written.”
