In yesterday’s Press:
NJ lawmaker questions price charged by AshBritt for Sandy cleanups
TRENTON — Wide differences in how much money Shore towns spent on superstorm Sandy cleanup work have prompted a lawmaker to call for a state audit of the bills.
Sen. Richard J. Codey, D-Essex, said Thursday many towns got soaked by paying premium prices to a state contractor. Officials in other towns shopped and saved, “underscoring vast differences in the costs of debris removal contracts for seemingly the same type of work,” Codey said.
An Asbury Park Press review of municipal bills showed that Florida-based AshBritt Inc., under a state contract, charged towns $21.25 per cubic yard to gather roadside debris and bring it to a collection site within 15 miles — nearly double the $11.70 asking price of another Florida company, Bergeron, and other firms.
Codey, who served as governor for 14 months after James E. McGreevey resigned, said residents of towns that paid more will be squeezed by steeper tax bills.
“Especially in towns where they lost tax ratables to the storm,” Codey said.
“Their budgets will be sucking wind.”
*
Actually, if FEMA balks at paying these inflated AshBritt bills, we’ll be sucking more wind than Sandy ever produced.
Post a Comment