Lawmaker asks state to intervene after South Blooming Grove allegedly awards 'illegal' contract

Sen. James Skoufis says South Blooming Grove hired the private waste removal company, Mirangi, for a supplementary garbage pickup in the village but didn’t bid out the $1.1 million contract.

Blaise Gomez

Feb 17, 2023, 10:35 PM

Updated 602 days ago

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A state lawmaker is asking the comptroller to intervene in South Blooming Grove after he says village officials violated state law. 
Sen. James Skoufis says South Blooming Grove hired the private waste removal company Mirangi for a supplementary garbage pickup in the village but didn’t bid out the $1.1 million contract. 
He says that process is required by state law. 
Skoufis wrote to Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli Feb. 14, alerting his office to complaints received from residents and local officials in January about the contract and a sudden surcharge added to village water bills to pay for the added services. 
"You’re supposed to pick the lowest responsible better to protect taxpayers," said Skoufis. "That was not done here I think in clear violation of the law, so really the only thing that is garbage in my estimation is the village of South Blooming Grove’s inability to follow the law and act like a responsible government.“
Skoufis says he hopes the comptroller will reverse the contract and provide future oversight in the village. 
South Blooming Grove’s attorney, Scott Ugell, declined to comment.