The Gainey administration on Thursday blamed Pittsburgh’s controller for delays in garbage collection, leading to a squabble on Grant Street over why trash isn’t being picked up in some parts of the city.

Olga George, a spokesperson for Mayor Ed Gainey, accused Controller Rachael Heisler of not paying the city’s bills to its vehicle maintenance vendor for the first half of the year.

The city contracts with Chicago-based TransDev Fleet Services, formerly known as First Vehicle, to repair its fleet.

George claimed that problems making payments led to extended wait times for repairs, causing a vehicle shortage that delayed some trash pickups.

Heisler on Friday denied the accusations and provided TribLive with documents showing she has paid Chicago-based TransDev Fleet Services, formerly known as First Vehicle.

Heisler acknowledged some delays in paying for routine maintenance caused by a lack of required documentation from TransDev. But she insisted that expenses that went beyond regular upkeep, such as repairs to broken-down garbage trucks, were always paid on time. The controller said she did not believe delays in paying for routine fixes caused any problems with trash collection.

George did not provide evidence that TransDev has limited or delayed services because of payment problems.

A TransDev spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Documentation from the controller appears to show city garbage trucks have entered the maintenance garage as recently as Wednesday.

Heisler said the delays in paying for routine maintenance occurred because her office requested itemized breakdowns after receiving bills that provided no explanation for how the total was calculated.

The bills have since been paid.

TransDev initially billed the city more than $4.2 million for routine maintenance costs from January through June.

Those figures included no details about what kind of maintenance was performed or how the costs were calculated, though the city’s contract with TransDev requires such information.

Those bills were submitted to the controller’s office, which reviews them and is responsible for paying vendors.

After Heisler requested additional details, TransDev sent itemized bills for the same six-month period — this time, though, they totaled only $3.8 million, 9.5% lower than the original amount.

Heisler’s office received the updated bills July 9 and paid TransDev July 15, documents show.

According to the city’s contract with TransDev, Pittsburgh has 45 days after receiving an “acceptable invoice” to make a payment.

Pittsburgh’s vehicle maintenance contract allows TransDev to keep 20% of any overpayments the city sends them.

In 2023, the city overpaid TransDev by about $875,000 for regular maintenance costs, according to Heisler. TransDev kept $175,000.

“There are two separate issues,” Heisler told TribLive Friday. “One is that there is a discrepancy with billing, and there is an issue with the fleet, neither of which is impacting service at the garage. The vehicles are breaking down because they’re old, and saying anything else is not truthful.”

But George’s Thursday statement alleged Heisler failed to process payments under the terms of the contract. George claimed that led to “withholding resources essential to maintaining core services.”

“The result has been delays that directly impact both residents and front-line workers,” according to George’s statement.

Heisler said paying only expenses outlined on properly detailed bills ensures taxpayer dollars are used responsibly.

“I’m erring on the side of not overpaying,” the controller said. “We’re paying our bills. We process tens of thousands of payments every year without issue.”

Heisler in June raised concerns about the TransDev contract in a letter to City Council.

“Without clear records outlining the work performed and actual costs incurred, we cannot authorize these payments,” Heisler wrote in June, citing a portion of city code that prohibits the controller from authorizing payments “without accurate supporting documentation.”

The city has budgeted nearly $8.5 million for routine maintenance and almost $3.7 million for additional repairs this year.

“Every dollar paid to TransDev without proper documentation or reconciliation is a dollar not available for critical city services,” Heisler wrote in the June letter.

George said mechanical issues and a surge of college students moving in and out delayed garbage collection on some streets by a day.

As of Wednesday afternoon, she said, there was uncollected trash in Polish Hill, part of the Hill District and Terrace Village.

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