12/16/1981 - Laserfiche WebLink

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DEC 16 1981 6POK8 PAoE378 Mr. Jennings then went into a detailed presentation about Waste Management's methods of operation and business practices, commenting that in a non-exclusive franchise area such as Brevard County, although 9 or 10 sanitation companies might be listed in the phone book, their telephones all would ring in the same office. He stated that there are newspaper articles available about these practices and this could be checked on through the Justice Department. Dir. Jennings proceeded to give the history of how Waste Management came in and underbid the sanitation company which was servicing the Naval Base by over a hundred thousand dollars; how the service and equipment deteriorated within a year; how within two years instead of having 8 to 10 bidders on the Naval Base, there was only one and the contract was for over $300,000; and how when Waste Management was prohibited from bidding, various mysterious companies bid. He urged that the Commission have the County Attorney check into the background information thoroughly and give very careful consideration to this matter before allowing Waste Management in the County. Commissioner Bird commented that he had been impressed by the list of cities and counties where Waste Management has operations in Florida; especially since some of the agreements go back to the mid 150s. He expressed surprise that [-haste Management has continuing relationships in these counties if their reputation is so tainted. Mr. Jennings noted that the practice of Waste Management is to have the subsidiary company operate under its local name, and a lot of cities that believed they were dealing with local companies have found out that this is not the case. In further discussion, it was noted that although the Commission has heard these accusations several times, we have not been presented with any concrete evidence, and it 61