Babylon Town board to select new garbage contractor

The Town of Babylon is holding a special town board meeting Friday to award a new residential garbage contract.

The meeting will be held at 10 a.m. at Town Hall in Lindenhurst. The board is expected to vote on the recommendation of an independent three-person committee that reviewed proposals from six companies: Jody Enterprises of Medford; Brothers Sanitation of Holbrook; Dejana Industries of Port Washington; Babylon Source Separation Inc. (BSSI) of West Babylon; Winters Brothers of Westbury; and Encon Industries of Westbury.

The town’s current residential garbage contract — a 20-year agreement with BSSI — ends in October. The current contract includes annual 3 percent increases that led to Babylon paying more than $27 monthly per household for garbage pickup — more than double what nearby towns are paying for similar service. Town officials said they hope to sign a new 10-year contract for less than $15 monthly per household.

Last month, BSSI asked the town to reject Winters Brothers’ proposal, criticizing the involvement of Peter Casserly, who was an official in the town for more than 35 years and who is currently a town consultant on construction issues. Casserly has been director of government affairs for Winters Brothers — the town’s commercial garbage hauler — for the past four years and was present at an initial meeting between the town and potential residential garbage companies. Casserly has said he would have no involvement in contract negotiations. The town said BSSI’s letter has been given to the evaluation committee and is being reviewed by the town attorney.

Above: Babylon Town Hall