To help with continuity of grass cutting in the municipality after a late tendering process this year, Chatham-Kent council approved a motion aimed at ensuring more consistency in the future.
To help with continuity of grass cutting in the municipality after a late tendering process this year, Chatham-Kent council approved a motion aimed at ensuring more consistency in the future.
South Kent County. Anthony Ceccacci entered a successful motion Monday night asking that one single division be appointed to be in charge of municipal grass cutting for all parcels, including the public utilities commission properties.
“The contractors, so to speak, are taking some of the blame as well … but they’ve been put in a very challenging situation with the late approval of the contractors,” he said.
His motion also asked that Chatham-Kent develop a five-year tender package for 2023-2028 municipal grass cutting to be issued this fall and brought to the new council ahead of the 2023 budget, providing successful bidders with adequate time to purchase equipment and hire staff.
In addition, administration will submit an internal bid to the 2023-2028 tender, including full costing, to compare with the external bids for council consideration. The cost of additional grass cuts in the spring will be investigated.
“If we were paying the contractors for additional cuts, it might alleviate some of the challenges that we not only see as a council, but the contractors, as well as the municipality,” Ceccacci said.
Interim CAO Tony Haddad said the late contracts had an impact on the situation, but that crews are doing their best in the meantime.
“This is not a reflection on the new contractors. There was a series of delays that were caused that resulted in the late contracts,” he said. “We have to take responsibility for that. Unfortunately, it doesn’t do much to remedy the situation right now.”
Haddad said the aim is reach a standard where the municipality is maintaining the level of service that’s expected.
Chatham County. Michael Bondy said he wasn’t “trying to throw stones” but was curious about the reason for the delay.
Chris Thibert, interim general manager of infrastructure and engineering services, said negotiations with some contractors fell through, forcing the need for a quick tendering process.
Mayor Darrin Canniff called the situation a “perfect storm” for multiple reasons, including the pandemic, weather, staffing, supply chain issues and high fuel costs.
“I’m really looking forward that this motion will drive a much improved process for next year,” he said. “I’m looking forward to the year in which we’re ahead of the game as far as grass cutting.”