The Springfield Township trustees entered into a contract with Klumm Brothers Waste Solutions LLC, after a heated exchange unfolded between a sales representative from Republic Waste Services and township Administrator Mike Hampton.
At the October 23 meeting, Greg Stalter, account manager, asked to address the board regarding a letter sent by Republic’s legal department to Mr. Hampton and the township.
In the four-page letter, the company contended that their proposal was complete and that they were “disappointed” that Klumm was “awarded the contract.”
Mr. Hampton countered that Klumm was not awarded any contract and that the company, like Republic, submitted requests for proposals (RFP) as requested by the township and its proposal better met the township’s terms.
Because their proposal was preferred, the administrator said, the trustees authorized him to pursue a possible agreement and reiterated that no contract had been signed.
“This is not a bid, just an RFP. We did not award a contract as suggested,” Mr. Hampton said Mr. Stalter argued that Klumm “failed to meet the RFP’s requirements. In contrast, Republic submitted a complete proposal entirely responsive to the RFP.”
Mr. Hampton pointed out the RFP did not meet the township’s requirements and in numerous places the township’s specifications “were either scratched out or rewritten in red. That was not advantageous to the township.”
The administrator also pointed out that the RFP process in not a statutory process and it is his responsibility to make sure the administration is being a good steward of tax dollars.
Mr. Hampton acknowledged that the Klumm RFP wasn’t as polished as the one Republic submitted, but he has addressed inefficiencies including cost proposals with company officials.
Trustee Andy Glenn pointed out that Klumm Brothers also happens to be a local company in Holland, and the township, when possible, works to support small businesses.
As far as cost variations on street waste, the trustee said, if they underestimated, “That’s on them.”
In their letter, Republic also insinuated that Trustee Tom Anderson Jr. had a conflict of interest and should not have awarded the contract to Klumm.
Mr. Hampton reiterated that the RFP is not a contract.
The trustees approved the contract with Mr. Anderson electing to abstain, but gave the following statement: “There is no conflict. The owners of the solid waste company are not family members. But in light of the unfounded assertions of conflict of interest, I will abstain from the vote.”
Convention of States In a follow-up to a request by organizers, the trustees agreed to lend their support to the Convention of States and is asking the state legislators to “take all necessary action to add Ohio to the roll of states which have adopted resolutions to trigger adopting an Article V Convention of States.
At a meeting earlier in October, the trustees were asked to support the group by lobbying state legislators to pass a resolution advocating for a convention.
Article V of the U.S. Constitution gives states the power to call a convention to propose amendments. It takes 34 states to call the convention and 38 to ratify any amendments that are proposed.
Most of the time, Constitutional amendments are done by Congress, COS volunteer Patti Buxton explained, but the framers of the Constitution established Article V to give states the power to call a convention to propose amendments.
Convention of States volunteers are currently campaigning to have Ohio added to the list of states. There are currently 19 states that have passed resolutions, and Ohio is among 19 states the group is actively pursuing this year.
Established in 2013, the COS is a grass roots effort founded by Mark Meckler, co-founder of Tea Party Patriots, and Michael Farris, founder of Home School Legal Defense Association.
For more information, visit the website at conven tionofstates.com.
Other Business
In other business, the trustees:
•Learned that repairs have been made to the fiscal storage room after raccoons got in and destroyed a number of items.
Andy Hohlbein, director of public services, said the room has been cleaned, disinfected and wrapped in metal sheeting to ensure the animals can’t get back inside.
•Heard from the administrator that AFLAC is not renewing the coverage due to lack of enrollees.
•Reviewed the Lucas County sheriff’s report for September. Deputies were pulled out of the township to assist other units on six occasions, one of which was to assist with the search for an 8-year-old boy.
They also received the community resource officer’s report regarding complaints such as loud music, keeping the peace, child bullying, stolen property and disorderly.
•Paid bills from October 11 to 23 totaling $113,386, which includes the final payment of $50,993 on a public services department truck. They also approved electronic bills from October 6 to 19 of $294,971, including a biweekly payroll of $244,584.
The next trustees meeting will be at 5 p.m., Monday, November 13, at the township meeting hall, 7617 Angola Road, and is open to the public. The meeting also may be viewed livestream at springfieldtownship.net.
~Jane Maiolo
