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1222939062765
Trash pact fight builds
Amanda Baumfeld, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 09/02/2008 11:36:11 PM PDT
MONTEBELLO - Athens Services has threatened
to sue the city if Montebello's voters get the
chance to revoke the company's trash-hauling
contract, officials said Tuesday.
A political fight broke out after the City Council
in July awarded Athens Services an exclusive, 15-
year contract to haul waste in the city. Before
that, 13 different companies collected garbage.
Independent haulers since then have circulated
a petition calling for a referendum to be placed
on the November ballot that would revoke
Athens contract and allow other haulers to work
in the city.
A referendum is when an approved or proposed
measure by a legislative body goes to a vote of
the people.
Athens representatives claim the petition for the
referendum is flawed, and independent trash
haulers misled the community when they
obtained signatures.
Calls to Dennis Chiappetta, executive vice
president of Athens, and Robert Palmer, attorney
for Athens, were not immediately returned
Tuesday.
But in an Aug. 28 letter addressed to the city,
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Palmer says the petition is invalid because a
draft of the contract was used to collect
signatures.
"We cannot understand why the City Clerk and
Attorney would act otherwise and possibly
subject the city to lengthy litigation," Palmer
writes. "And at the same time deny its citizens
improved waste disposal services."
Michael Montgomery, attorney for the trash
haulers, said his clients have followed the state
election code.
The issue should go to a vote, he said.
"With that important of a contract, (one) that will
last for 15 years, and involves solving the waste
crisis," Montgomery said. "You should let the
people decide."
The 15-year contract with Athens, worth about
$7.8 million annually, provides Montebello with a
one-time payment of $500,000 and 7.5 percent
of gross receipts from commercial accounts. On
July 23, it was approved on a 3-2 vote by council
members Kathy Salazar, Robert Urteaga and
Rosie Vasquez. Mayor Bill Molinari and
Councilwoman Mary Anne Saucedo- Rodriguez
voted against it.
Trash haulers are against the contract, which
would force them to find work elsewhere as their
contracts are phased out over the next seven
years.
The haulers - who have formed the political
10/2/2008 2:17 AM
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action committee Montebello Residents for (626) 962-8811, Ext. 2108

Honest Government - submitted a referendum
with more than 6,300 signatures to the city clerk
Aug. 20.

The law required the group to gather 2,550

signatures or 10 percent of the city's 25,496
registered voters to qualify for the ballot.

Montgomery said petitioners had only 30 days

after the July 23 approval date to turn in a
referendum.

Petitioners did not have time to wait for the

final contract to be finished, he said.

Montgomery said the referendum process

suspends the contract with Athens.

Molinari, who voted against the contract, has

not yet signed it. He said he was presented with
the final draft Aug. 8.

"I am reviewing the contract but I still have

several concerns," Molinari said Thursday. "I
know what my responsibility is as the mayor."

Urteaga, who is in favor of the issue going to a

vote, said the contract should be signed.

"It's his judiciary duty," Urteaga said Tuesday. "In

my opinion he is refusing to sign. It doesn't
prevent it from going to a vote of the people. It is
the normal standard operating procedure. It's
just wrong."

amanda.baumfeld@sgvn.com

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