Debris firm CEO expected to address NJ lawmakers

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey lawmakers are preparing to grill the CEO of an environmental cleanup firm that received a major state contract to clean up debris left by Superstorm Sandy last year.

AshBritt Environmental CEO Randal Perkins has been invited to address a joint Senate-Assembly committee today.

His Deerfield, Fla.-based company received a state contract for cleanup just after the storm.

The deal has been criticized because New Jersey did not put the contract out to bid, but rather used the terms of a deal in place with Connecticut.

AshBritt’s rates in some cases were higher than those of other firms. The company has also been criticized because it hired prominent Democrats and Republicans to lobby local officials to use the contract in their communities.