For 35 years, Berry Smith Sanitation
has been rolling around the streets in Richmond County, picking up garbage in
several neighborhoods.
"After so many years you tend to
know the people, and we fairly know them real well," said James Chance, route supervisor and assistant manager with Berry Smith Sanitation. "We get along with them real
well."
Most of their business comes from
their sub-contract with the city of Augusta, one of the few minority-owned
businesses in partnership with the city.
Monday morning commissioners
re-examined a study conducted to show inequality in the city's selection of
contracts to minorities and women. The $500,000 study, conducted
by NERA Economic Consulting, found the city was not awarding as many contracts
to minorities and women.
"I wasn't really surprised when
the study came back," Commissioner Marion Williams. "I mean, you get people complaining all the time, you hear
people complaining, complaining, complaining, you need to listen to them."
The city's procurement
department says that they are race and gender neutral, so there's no record of
how many minority-owned businesses are in contract with the city. But after a
2009 disparity study, some commissioners say there needs to be more.
"I just want to make sure
everybody is treated fair," said Commissioner Mary Davis. "If this helps small businesses be awarded
contracts, just to make sure everything is being awarded equally, then that's
our job."
At their next meeting commissioners
will discuss conducting a fresh study, then equally award contracts to
minority-owned, local businesses; like Berry Smith Sanitation, whose contract
is set to expire in May.
"Nobody's in the business of
trying to lose a job," Chance said. "I'm just hoping that we can maintain our job, and
keep some jobs."
And employees say
those jobs within the sanitation company could be saved if they're given
"a fighting chance."
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