Trash disposal could become an issue in Douglass Township. On Monday, the board of supervisors voted unanimously to extend its contract one month with a Conshohocken hauler despite concerns expressed by one of the elected officials.

                Anthony Kuklinski, the supervisors' chairman, expressed reservations about the performance of Advanced Disposal. Kuklinski said he received several phone calls in June and July from concerned residents complaining about the company.

                Under the current contract, Advanced Disposal picks up residential trash weekly and recyclables every other week.

                According to the supervisor, the calls covered reported issues of ripped trash bags, trash left on the street, along with items intended for recycling left on the street and in bins.

                Kuklinski said after the meeting that three of the calls originated from his street in the Colonial Manor development.

                Unprepared to consider an alternative, the board voted to extend the contract, which was set to expire at the end of September, until the end of the October. Municipal officials have the right to continue extending the contract monthly through the end of the year, according to Solicitor Bob Brant.

                "The safe thing to do would be to extend the current contract," Brant said during the meeting. "The provider has to stay with us."

                During the meeting, Kuklinski became animated when Andrew Duncan, the township's solid waste and recycling coordinator, announced that the municipal trash survey would go out this week. Duncan stated the results would be collected and the data organized within 60 days.

                Kuklinski asked Duncan why the survey, which had been approved on the third Monday in June, had not yet been sent out.

                Duncan responded by saying it took one month to get the questionnaire printed, and that he was working with the U.S. Post Office to secure the proper postage.  "I wish I had a better answer," Duncan said during the meeting.

                After the meeting was adjourned, Kuklinski said he was not blaming any one person for the delay in the survey, and that he accepted Duncan's explanation of printing issues.

                In other news, township officials reminded residents that the Gilbertsville Fire and Rescue will host its annual Bike Night event on Saturday, Aug. 20. East Philadelphia Ave. will be closed from Congo Road to Gilbertsville Road from 4 to 10 p.m.