The Kenner City Council is considering canceling a contract for garbage pick up less than midway into a 10-year contract and awarding a new contract to a competing company.
Currently Ramelli Waste is the company serving Kenner, but after seeing the service provided by IV Waste for pick up following the Krewe of Isis Parade, the City is considering a change.
According to the Times-Picayune/New Orleans Advocate city officials says IV Waste has promised more reliability, service and waste disposal technology than Ramelli for the same cost.
Ramelli Waste refutes claims by the company owned and operated by Sidney Torres IV.
Robert Ramelli says if his contract is canceled, his company will leave him without adequate business to service loans he took out for the purchase of new trucks to service Kenner.
Ramelli also points to the loss of employee Joseph 'Nicky' Nicolosi, a well connected political operative who sits on a number of boards and was once Kenner's Chief Administrative Officer.
Accusations by Ramelli that Nicolosi left his company and went to work for Torres' IV Waste facilitated the city's proposal to award them a contract.
Nicolosi denies working for IV Waste and trying to strip the contract from Ramelli.
Kenner Mayor Ben Zahn implies Ramelli never came through on promises to purchase new 36-gallon bins with tops and to pick up construction debris.
Nor did Ramelli set up a permanent drop-off site, despite having his contract amended to compensate for that.
Kenner City Attorney Edward S. Rapier, Jr. says Ramelli's contract is non-exclusive. Meaning the City is free and clear to another vendor for garbage pick up.
Meanwhile Robert Ramelli predicts the matter will likely end up in court.
