JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Councilman Ron Salem is calling for a special meeting on Wednesday to figure out the next steps when it comes to the Meridian Waste contract, which comes as the trash hauler is threatening to sue the city of Jacksonville over how it’s paid.
A decision has to be made in the next couple of weeks, and if it’s not resolved, Meridian Waste could sue the city of Jacksonville.
Councilman Salem tells News4JAX that he fears that the potential lawsuit could cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars.
The dispute started after the city council voted to approve a 29% rate increase for Meridian Waste. Breaking that down into dollars, that would equate to $4 million a year over three years.
Then, Mayor Donna Deegan vetoed that rate increase in favor of a much smaller 5% increase. The council then overrode her veto with a 14-4 vote.
After the veto override, Mayor Deegan went to the general counsel, Michael Fackler, to give his legal opinion, and Fackler responded in a document, saying the move violated the separation of powers.
Ahead of his meeting tomorrow, Councilman Salem said he’s gotten calls from dozens of attorneys in Jacksonville concerned about the general counsel’s ruling and the potential precedent it sets.
“Interestingly we have identified 41 other instances in the ordinance code where the council approves a contract, very similar to the Meridian situation,” Salem said. “And my concern is any of those, if we vote on them in the future, could be declared separation of powers again. So, we have got to get this situation resolved. I don’t believe that vote can stand as it is and I’m going to work with my collegues, President White, to try to see in what way we can get that thing changed.”
Councilman Salem has also drafted a resolution formally expressing a “lack of confidence” in Fackler’s ability to serve as an “independent, unbiased General Counsel.” In response to that resolution, the mayor has defended Fackler saying he’s done exactly what he is supposed to do, which is to make difficult and sometimes unpopular rulings based on the City Charter.
The resolution is on the city council agenda for a second reading on Tuesday night. The councilman’s special meeting is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. at City Hall on Wednesday.
