THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – Friday, June 28, 2019 Page 3 A $664,000 deal Town signs one-year contract with Lynn company to replace Saugus Public Schools custodians By Mark E. Vogler C omplete Cleaning Co. Inc., a 52-year-old Lynn-based contract cleaning business, has signed a one-year contract with the Town of Saugus to provide custodial services for $664,000 for the 2020 fiscal year that begins July 1. The contract includes an additional $148,000 on top of the total annual cost initially provided to the Town. This would include six-hour day porter service for 181 days at each of the six schools, according to 700 pages of documents provided to The Saugus Advocate by Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree’s office. Superintendent of Schools Dr. David DeRuosi, Jr. said he and Pola Andrews, the School Department’s executive director of finance and administration, “as the authorized reviewing committee,” reviewed the responses to a Request For Proposal for Custodial/Light Maintenance Services and “determined that Complete Cleaning submitted the most advantageous proposal.” DeRuosi signed a Notice of Intent on May 17 to award the contract to Complete Cleaning. Bonnie Tanner, the town’s assistant purchasing manager advised Complete Cleaning three days later that the Saugus Public Schools had accepted the company’s proposal for custodial and maintenance services. DeRuosi’s proposed School Department budget for the 2020 Fiscal Year included a little more than a million dollars to cover the payroll of 24 custodians in the Saugus Public Schools. But the School Department was telling Complete Cleaning and other companies back in April that “The School Department has decided to outsource the custodial services once the collective bargaining agreement expires.” The School Committee voted 3-2 to “outsource the custodial duties of the Saugus Public Schools on Wednesday (June 26) following a three-hour Executive Session. Town Manager Crabtree, DeRuosi, Andrews, Tanner, Town Accountant Donna Matarazzo and Town Counsel John Vasapolli signed the contract on June 10. DeRuosi and Andrews determined Complete Cleaning’s $516,000 proposal better than the proposals from the following: Interstate Corporation, $1.3 million; the company is headquartered in Horsham, Pa.; ABM Industry Groups, LLC of Somerville, $1.4 million. DeRuosi said last week that the contract the town signed with Complete Cleaning could save $1.1 million annually “from operational and related efficiencies gained.” He did not provide specific details on the potential cost savings of privatization. But Jim Durkin, the legislative director for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 93, said he considers the projected $1.1 million savings “over-exaggerated.” “There’s a reason this is only a one-year contract,” Durkin said. “Companies that secure the contract with a low ball bid may not be providing their workers with good wages and benefits. And as a result, you have this constant turnover,” Durkin said. “By looking at the contract right out of the gate, we can see the cost has already increased. The original proposal is $516,000 and has gone up to $664,000,” he said. The contract provides an option for extension by two additional one-year periods. “Nothing requires the District to extend the Contract beyond the initial one-year term,” the contract notes. “If the contract is extended, it is to be extended at the same price quoted for the first guaranteed year. The documents obtained by The Saugus Advocate say Complete Cleaning was “rated excellent by three references” and had the “most experiences with schools.” ABM was “rated excellent by one of three references while Interstate was “rated good.” In documents responding to the RFP, Complete Cleaning provided three references: the Masconomet Regional School District of Topsfield, the Lynn Public Schools and Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School of Haverhill. “Complete Cleaning Company, Inc. has been effectively servicing public and private schools and municipal buildings since the company’s exception,” the company noted in stating its qualifications. “All personnel are experienced, highly trained and involved with the daily operations at each facility. There is little to no turnover with our staff,” the company continued. “We consider our employees our greatest attribute, and proudly employ over two hundred highly trained staff, who are offered comprehensive benefits, paid time off, and comprehensive training programs. Complete Cleaning Company, Inc. maintains the highest service level standards in the industry.” Garry M. Beaver is listed as the owner and president of Complete Cleaning. The proposal notes that Beaver has been involved with janitorial operations since 1975. Durkin said he is concerned that the documents provided by Complete Cleaning don’t include the hourly pay rates and list of benefits offered to all employees, as required by the RFP. Friday, June 28 at 9 PM TANGERINE Saturday, June 29 at 9 PM SLUSH PUPPIES “My brother’s stability is really important. Keeping him home is essential to our family. 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