School Board Should Listen

To The Taxpayers

To the Editor:

The school transportation contract is still open as the school board tied in their last vote. Meantime the clock ticks and a decision must be made so that the winning contractor can make appropriate arrangements. One more reason to stick with MTM, i.e., they have the infrastructure in place to complete the contract as their past performance has shown.

In addition, the school board must consider the economic impact to the Town of Newtown if they award this contract to a out-of-town entity. Most of the owner operators and MTM have their buses financed by local banks. Most are residents of town. The bus fleet is garaged in Newtown and taxes are collected accordingly.  In short, the money the town pays these operators turns over in town again and again. Add up the loss of most if not all this and the differential of the bids is more than covered.

If the school board needs a means to break the tie I submit that they call for a vote of residents attending the next board meeting. It is obvious that the MTM contract is what the residents of this town want....why can’t the school board comply with the wishes of the taxpayers?

R.P. Gottmeier

13 Antler Pine Road, Sandy Hook                                  May 11, 2009