By Tiffany Razzano

The disposal company responsible for picking up the city’s trash is being investigated by the attorney general’s office for allegedly refusing to pay its employees a fair wage.

At a Jan. 16 Finance Committee meeting Michael Lambert, chief of staff for Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, told aldermen that Assistant City Solicitor David Shapiro was present at a meeting where officials from the attorney general’s office confirmed an investigation into F.W. Russell Disposal was underway.

Calls to the attorney general’s office were not returned before presstime.

At the meeting, aldermen held off on extending the company’s contract to collect garbage for the city. ‚ÄúI’m concerned about the attorney general’s investigation,‚Äù said Alderman-at-Large William A. White.

The contract being considered is a fourth-year renewal of the city’s current contract, with no major changes, said Stan Koty, commissioner of the Department of Public Works. The only increase would be an additional $12,000 for the disposal of yard waste. F.W. Russell has been working without a contract since January 1.

Lambert said the allegations that Russell Disposal is not paying workers according to the prevailing wage laws are being made by a competitor and not company employees. Koty said city officials examined a Freedom of Information Act request made by a labor union to learn what employees at the company were being paid and, he said, they were getting acceptable wages.

In December Carneglia said he paid more than $20 an hour to his workers.

Ward 2 Alderman Maryann Heuston said any investigation into Russell should not change how the city does business with the company.

“In the meantime, the trash needs to be picked up,” she said. “None of these allegations have been founded and if we hold up a contract based on a one sided view and unfounded allegations, then shame on us.”

However, Ward 6 Alderman Rebekah L. Gewirtz said she was concerned to move forward and approve the contract without more examination. No resolution was reached at the meeting and aldermen will take up the issue again on Jan. 23.

In December, ten Teamsters from Local 25 were arrested after a scuffle broke out during a picket of Russell Disposal. The Teamsters were reportedly at the business to try and unionize employees and end what they said was exploitation of immigrant labor by Russell owner Charles Carneglia.

White said beyond the union troubles he would like to see if the city is getting a fair rate for its trash pickup.

‚ÄúWe’ve never had a chance to look at the rates and see how they compare to other communities,‚Äù he said.

However, Koty said the city won’t ‚Äúget a better price anywhere.‚Äù Somerville pays considerably less to dispose of its trash than Medford and other surrounding communities, he said.