Council Approves Extension of Trash Services

The Glendora City Council unanimously approved last week an extension to the current contract between Glendora and Athens Services for solid waste removal.

City officials cited the need for an extension of nine months to research and consider various options and their pros and cons before considering a new  long-term franchise agreement. In the event that Athens could not agree to the extension, Chris Jeffers, city manager and Wayne Leech, city attorney, would also have the authority to ensure the continued removal of solid waste from the city.

Athens, however, did agree to the extension and signed a contract last Thursday, Jeffers said.

The contract would have expired Dec. 1.

Glendora and Athens had been in negotiations since 2011. A progress report was reviewed at the May 28, 2013 City Council Meeting. A tentative agreement was reviewed then and the two sides have been working out details, city officials said.

The recent closing of the Puente Hills Landfill, the nation's largest, threw the negotiations off track.

The Puente Hills Landfill took in garbage from most of the 88 cities and unincorporated communities in the county. The landfill closed Nov. 1.

The landfill's size and location was reportedly perfect for Athens to provide a cost effective service for its cities, but now, officials are looking for an alternative solution.

Three public speakers strongly disagreed with the continued choice of Athens as a solid waste removal provider and leveled accusations against the city and Athens.

City Council meeting regular Ed Brubaker accused the city of utilizing an evergreen clause with Athens and claimed city officials have been taking bribes from Athens.

Santoro, Glendora mayor, had a sharp rebuttal about the bribery accusations.

"That does not happen. [Brubaker] continues to come up here and make those false accusations against this City Council. None of us have taken money from Athens. Period," Santoro said.

Former Glendora Mayor John Harrold wanted the contract put up for a public bid and accused the City Council of allowing Athens a no-bid contract because of a connection to Gary Clifford, chief operating officer and executive vice president of Athens. Clifford formerly served as a Glendora City Council member.

"If you think there is any illegalities perpetrated by this council in any way with regard to Athens trash, do your damndest," said Doug Tessitor, council member. "You're trying to bully us, it never worked before and it will never work now. You don't have the horsepower."

Clifford was in attendance at the Nov. 12 meeting and had what he called a "robust" offer for the city.

With Athens having voted to approve Glendora's nine-month extension, both sides will meet in the near future to discuss viable options that could lead to a new contract, Jeffers said.