Why should the DPW pick up the slack with our taxpayer dollars? The contractor should be held responsible. Why is DPW always picking up after JRM? Do we get anything back from our JRM contract when the DPW is doing their job ?

DPW is responsible to us, the taxpayer, and JRM is contracted by DPW to perform a job. It is my understanding that DPW resolves the issue to us as quickly as possible, then DPW can evaluate how much "slack" they have had to deal with. Also, its reasonable to accept that of all the houses and barrels that get picked up, misses and issues will happen.

Im grateful that DPW is there as the buffer between JRM and me. This isn't the end of the world, nor does anyone's hand need to be held over a flame. If DPW sees that cumulatively, there is an unacceptable level of issues and "slack", then they can bring these documented see-click incidents as tangible leverage on JRM's contract review. Trust the process...it will work. No need to grab a torch and pitchfork.

Plenty of reasons to grab a torch and pitchfork actually. The 20 year gift of a contract to JRM for substandard service and this absolutely ridiculous pay to throw nonsense that has led to an epedemic of illegal dumping citywide are only a couple of a dozen or so reasons I can come up with just off the top of my head.

To your points, I too would like to know the specifics of :
#1 - 20 year JRM contract, especially the review and performance clauses, as well as the competing bids, and savings offered from a 20 year term.
#2 - what was the cost for waste mitigation to the city (and thus tax payers) before pay to throw was implemented, and accounting of how pay to throw program addresses those costs now.
#3 - was illegal dumping simply something "we" weren't made aware of before the implementation of this "see-click-fix" system? Waste disposal is never free...the buck has to stop somewhere. Some people, inevitably, will try to cheat the system and shirk their responsibility, and unscrupulously dump their trash.Its naive to not be prepared for this.
#4 - 3 out of the "dozen or so" reasons that incite you to (metaphorically) grab a pitchfork, seem lost to me, in the overall scale of "life". However, I respect your right to see things differently than me. Have you taken up the mayors invitation to email, call or visit with him to discuss and learn the complexity of the challenges? Have you been to a city council meeting to voice your perspective before plans are implemented? To be fair, I have not, and thus am ignorant to the facts.

We have enough polarizing rabble-rousers in the world, when what we need is some simple, fact based, pragmatic communication from both sides.

Why should the DPW pick up the slack? Our tax money pays for JRM to do the job. Every time I see that DPW picked up the missed trash pickups I wonder if a log is kept and money comes back to us or JRM is fined because it is a violation of their contract. In private industry the contractor would never get away with all the missed pick ups without some kind of penalty.

Maybe the Director of the DPW, Mr. Knox can answer this question ? Who pays the DPW to go and pick up all the missed pickups that JRM misses? I see many on click fix every day and the are closed with The DPW picked up the missed trash. Thank you, I am a homeowner and a taxpayer in the City of Malden and I would like to know where my tax dollars are going.

excellent questions ... I have seen Dir. Knox to be a very accessible person:

from the Public Works website:
(781) 397-7160

Dpw@cityofmalden.org

356 Commercial Street

Office Hours
MON: 8:00am-4:00pm
TUE: 8:00am-4:00pm
WED: 8:00am-4:00pm
THU: 8:00am-4:00pm
FRI: 8:00am-4:00pm

This content is currently blocked. The content is either under review by SeeClickFix or has been confirmed by SeeClickFix for violation(s) of SeeClickFix Terms of Use (https://www.civicplus.com/terms-of-service). Content that aligns with SeeClickFix Terms of Use will be posted, and content that does not align with our Terms of Use will not be permitted for public viewing.

This content is currently blocked. The content is either under review by SeeClickFix or has been confirmed by SeeClickFix for violation(s) of SeeClickFix Terms of Use (https://www.civicplus.com/terms-of-service). Content that aligns with SeeClickFix Terms of Use will be posted, and content that does not align with our Terms of Use will not be permitted for public viewing.

This location has been picked up. (LS)

Thanks for fixing this request!