CUMBERLAND — The Town Council unanimously approved a three-year contract for solid waste and recycling curbside pickup with Waste Management.

The decision will reduce the cost of waste removal by approximately $30,000 in fiscal 2014, according to Town Manager Bill Shane.

Waste Management proposed a contract for nearly $980,000, including nearly $317,000 for next year. The other bidder, Pine Tree Waste, offered a $1.1 million three-year-contract, which includes nearly $357,000 for next year.

The reverse had been the case three years ago, when Pine Tree’s contract bid was $988,000 for fiscal years 2011-2013, and Waste Management’s was $1.17 million.

Pine Tree has provided the service in Cumberland for more than 20 years, Shane said.

In other business, the Town Council formally approved the promotion of Alyssa Tibbetts, the town’s economic development director, to assistant town manager. The change does not include a salary increase.

This marks the first time in a decade the town has had an assistant manager, according to Shane.

The council also unanimously approved a cover letter to go with a memorandum of understanding with Summit Natural Gas.

Last month, the town councils of Cumberland, Falmouth and Yarmouth endorsed Summit’s proposal to extend service into their towns.

The letter encourages the use of local contractors in any proposal Summit accepts for the $72 million project, Shane said.

Alex Lear can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 113 or alear@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @learics.