Members of the Barrington Town Council voted unanimously to stay with the current rubbish and recycling collection company, despite another contractor offering a lower bid. 

Council members followed the recommendation of Barrington Town Manager Jim Cunha to stay with Mega Disposal, which submitted a bid of $942,442 for one year of collection services. Johnston-based Patriot Disposal submitted a bid of $924,900.

"My recommendation was that we go with Mega," said Mr. Cunha. "They are certainly well worth it, with the level of service we're getting with Mega."

The town manager said he received emails and letters from residents who wanted the town to stay with Mega. 

"Basically we get no complaints about Mega," he said. 

Four companies submitted bids for the town's rubbish and recycling contract.

Patriot Disposal bid $924,900; Mega Disposal bid $942,442; M&M Disposal bid $1,124,799; and Waste Management bid $1,186,723. 

At the council meeting, an official from Patriot Disposal voiced his objections to awarding the Barrington bid to Mega Disposal — he said the town should contract with the lowest bidder. 

The town's solicitor told members of the council that a bid can be awarded to the most qualified company, not necessarily the lowest-bidding company. 

Mr. Cunha added that his office had received correspondence from a community that was dissatisfied with the level of service provided by Patriot Disposal.

The town has worked with Mega ever since officials in Barrington first privatized refuse and recycling collection. Prior to that, the town's department of public works handled the duties.

Mega's new contract calls for a one-year deal and four annual extensions.

Barrington DPW Director Alan Corvi helped evaluate the four companies that bid for the work. The review process included checking with communities currently serviced by the companies. 

The bid specifics call for the same level of services that are included in the current contract — among the specifics are weekly collection of trash and recycling, and yard waste collection for part of the year.

Barrington is paying Mega $924,013 for services this year. 

"The experimentation of privatizing trash pickup in Barrington has been a resounding success," added Mr. Cunha.