The Buckley City Council voted unanimously to renew a contract with longtime waste collection agency, DM Disposal, adding a five-year extension to the provider’s contract.

Another item on the abbreviated Oct. 11 agenda had Buckley Fire Chief Alan Predmore requesting a fifth change order to the construction contract for Buckley’s replacement fire station, a request that was granted.

During the citizen participation segment of the meeting, council candidate and watchdog Marvin Sundstrom asked if Councilman Randy Reed was being paid during his leave of absence from the council. The answer was affirmative.

During the Sept. 22 meeting, Reed’s request for a three-month leave was unanimously approved. Reed requested the time away for “personal reasons.” He is absent while facing a pair of felony charges stemming from allegations of sexual misconduct with a child.

Council members receive compensation of $250 per month, meaning Reed will collect $750 during his absence.

Mayor Pat Johnson said the council didn’t hesitate to give Reed the time away while still collecting his council stipend.

“Reed has been a hard-working member of this council for nearly 20 years and we wouldn’t have a youth center or a skate park in Buckley without his perseverance in raising the funds to make those things possible,” Johnson said. “Based on his previous reputation and list of achievements, I guess the council didn’t deem it necessary to penalize Randy for taking some rare time off by making his leave of absence an unpaid one.”