MASSENA - The village may soon take out the trash at the Massena Central School District.

The board of trustees voted unanimously Tuesday night to approve a five-year garbage disposal contract with the district. The MCS board of education will consider the proposal at its Thursday meeting.

If approved, the Department of Public Works will begin disposing of the district’s garbage and recyclables on July 1.

MCS currently has a $33,000-a-year contract with Cassella Resource Solutions, Director of Operations William L. Seguin said. The new contract with the village will cost $43,500 a year for five years.

Mr. Seguin said the district’s current contract was expiring, and Cassella wanted “tens of thousands of dollars” more in a new agreement. The district will purchase $20,000 worth of dumpsters under the village agreement, as Cassella had previously provided dumpsters.

The village contract and dumpster purchases will cost less than Cassella’s proposal over a five-year period, Mr. Seguin said.

“We researched it and their price was considerably higher,” Mr. Seguin said. “I truly believe this will save all the taxpayers in Massena with a five-year deal.”

The village will pick up and dispose of solid waste from the district two days per week, and recyclables one day per week. The DPW will provide the school district with between 325 and 350 recycling bins; Superintendent Hassan A. Fayad has been working with economic development specialist Jason A. Clark to land grant monies and defray those costs.

Mayor James F. Hidy said solid waste discussions with Mr. Seguin and Superintendent Roger B. Clough II began “awhile back.” Mr. Fayad completed a cost analysis indicating the village would not lose money from the deal, he said.

“His main objective was not to cost a nickel to the village to the point where I was going to crack him over the head with a chair,” Mr. Hidy quipped.

Mr. Clough praised the agreement.

“I think it’s a great proposition for the village and the district to come together,” he said. “This is a win-win for the village and the district.”

Not everyone was certain of that Tuesday night. The contract’s original terms called for the village and district to revisit it after two years and opt out then if necessary. Tuesday night, the village board bumped that down to one year.

Trustee Francis J. Carvel said the village needs to ensure it isn’t losing money on the agreement and subsidizing the district.

“There’s too many variables here,” Mr. Carvel said. “The figures to me just don’t add up.”

The village will likely use more than the five man hours per week listed in the agreement, he said.

“You could almost figure out we’re over $43,500 before we even start,” he said.

The district would lose money if the village opted out at one year because of the investment on dumpsters, Mr. Seguin responded. Trustee Timothy J. Ahlfeld said MCS could still use the dumpsters even if the village stopped handling its garbage.

Trustee Albert C. “Herb” Deshaies said he would continue supporting the agreement next year if the service was not costing the village more than the district was reimbursing.

“If it’s close, you’ve got a five-year deal,” he said.

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