Garbage gab surrounding the bidding process for Lower Pottsgrove Township's waste services turned heated at the board of commissioners meeting on Thursday.

Lower Pottsgrove Solicitor R. Kurtz Holloway recommended the board reject three bids that had been received and said all had "substantial" problems.

Holloway suggested a meeting be held at the township's administration building at 1:30 p.m. November 7 to make the bidders aware of the issues, give them a chance to ask questions and reopen the bidding process.

The prospect of rejecting the bids caused a passionate plea from J. P. Mascaro & Sons President Pat Mascaro and the company's attorney William Fox.

Mascaro said his company's bid was "in order" and added the township should table the bids because rejecting them would restart the process. Considering the company's best bid is already on the table, that would be a hinderance to the bidders, he said. Mascaro also alluded to the long-term relationship his company has with the township. Lower Pottsgrove was J.P. Mascaro & Sons' first successful municipal bid in 1974, he said.

To reject the bids without knowing the defects was "not responsible government," Fox said.

Board member Michael McGroarty said the board would act on facts from Holloway. Board member James Kaiser agreed.

Holloway said his main grievance with the J.P. Mascaro & Sons bid is that it's missing a required financial statement certified by the firm's accountant. Only a financial summary is included with the bid, he said.

Holloway also said all three bids contain material defects and should be rejected.

The commissioners agreed, voted to reject the bids and hold the special meeting on Monday. They also approved a meeting on November 30 with plans to review and award a trash bid.

Board member James Phillips wanted to table rather than reject the bids and Commissioner Bruce Foltz voted against the rejection.

Although the bids were based on a 12-month extrapolation for leaf collection costs, the board reserved the right to change the number of months.

In other township news:

• The board approved audits of the tax collector records, Lower Pottsgrove, Ringing Hill and Sanatoga fire companies.

• The board -- after consulting with local sports teams to make sure play would not be interrupted -- approved closure of the Sanatoga Park entrance from December 1 to March 1. The board also approved a motion to advertise for stop signs and 30 mph speed limit signs for South Park Road and the entrance to upper Sanatoga Park.