The Bayonne City Council approved the second, one-year options for contractor A & L Disposal:$1,969,885 for garbage disposal and $1,374,348 for recycling disposal at their first meeting of the new year yesterday.
By Daniel Ulloa/Hudson County View
The contract expired at the end of December and had to be addressed at the reorganization meeting.
“I’m not quite understanding why this was taken off the agenda two months ago,” began former Council President Sharon Ashe-Nadrowski.
“Why didn’t we go out to bid to see if there was someone better for the residents of Bayonne?”
She further stated there has been no recycling in the last two weeks in the 1st ward and criticized the open bidding process, noting that the process was never opened to explore other options.
“How much is the increase from last year?” Ashe-Nadrowski asked.
“It’s a $100,000 increase, same services,” replied Law Director Jay Coffey.
“We’re looking to make it as convenient as possible for the public. Whenever I call them, A &L comes out,” Council President Gary La Pelusa added,
Department of Public Works Director Tommy Cotter admitted that there was briefly more garbage and recycling than usual last week due to Christmas, but claimed the situation was quickly rectified.
“We were able to go out on Thursday after the holiday and pick up the recycling and the garbage,” he added.
Ashe-Nadrowski said the company, headed by Deputy Office of Emergency Management Coordinator Joe Bolowski, has had issues dating back to early 2021 that remain unresolved.
A few months later, A& L faced scrutiny for receiving a $4,094,712.50 solid waste collection contract after Bolowski donated $64,327.59 to purchase a new pickup truck for the office of emergency management.
At the time, Coffey said the donation was rescinded before the contract was awarded.
“There’s been issues with all the past garbage companies. I have grilled them. I have spoken to the owner. I have had the same issues I had with Roselle and Galaxy,” La Pelusa exclaimed.
“It has gotten a lot better than it started. They were unhappy in the beginning as well. All these garbage haulers have the same issues and same problems.”
Ashe-Nadrowski was clearly far from convinced.
“You didn’t go out to bid. You changed nothing. You pulled it because you didn’t want to hear questions,” she responded, also being critical of the 4 p.m. start time of the meeting.
“So much for transparency and public input.”
“Sorry, it’s my discretion to hold things off,” La Pelusa answered.
A & L Disposal attorney Chris Patella defended his client and criticized their predecessor Suburban Disposal, also known as Roselle, claiming they were by far the lowest bidder for both contracts, which were awarded via a sealed bidding process.
“No behind-the-scenes corruption,” he also asserted, referring to claims made in an email by former Business Administrator Melissa Mathews, who also has a pending lawsuit that includes some similar allegations.
Patella added that A &L owner Bolowski has made charitable donations of $179,000 to the police and fire departments.
“If we have more questions, we’ll call you up,” La Pelusa concluded.
“I don’t think we’re going to get better service. Whenever I call Joe, I get a response,” Cotter interjected.
Bayonne Councilman-at-Large Loyad Booker said he understood the concerns, but felt most of their questions had been answered before the waste collection contract was approved unanimously (5-0).
During the public comment period on the recycling contract, Ashe-Nadrowski criticized the governing for saying they couldn’t find a better contractors, to which La Pelusa said allegations of criminality delayed the process.
“Allegations were made in an email. You each met individually with counsel and the contractor. He assuaged your concerns. I believe Mr. Patella has adequately addressed it,” Coffey summarized.
“I don’t make decisions up here based on whether the fact that I know someone or not. I base my decisions on the information as provided to me,” Booker said.
Patella declared that Bolowski had easily saved the city $10 million since first receiving contracts.
Additionally, 2nd Ward Councilwoman Jackie Weimmer stated that Patella was helpful in providing information.
“I do think the service we’re getting today is much better than in years past. The owner of this company does pick up the phone … I don’t always get the answer I’m looking for, but I do get an answer,” she added, noting that Bolowski is a Bayonne resident.
The Bayonne City Council ultimately passed the resolution for the recycling contract unanimously (5-0).
Why is it that the garbage company is now throwing all recycling into one truck. All paper, glass, plastic and metal are now being thrown into one truck on my block of W27th and this has been going on for the last 7 weeks now . I called the Bayonne recycling dept and got absolutely nowhere. What is the point of separating our recyclable materials if they are all being thrown together into one truck? Steven 5-28-26