When The Best Price Isn’t

To the Editor:

It’s good business management to get the best price for optimal service. I disagree, however, with the action the Board of Education’s Business Manager Ron Bienkowski, with the apparent approval of Superintendent of Schools Janet Robinson, and the acquiescence of all board members but Debbie Leidlein, wrote specs for the new bus contract that prevent the present owner-operators from entering a bid.

Let’s forget for a minute that this will drive 30 small business owners in Newtown out of business, impacting the local economy negatively. Let’s forget also that these business owners have provided outstanding service for decades.

Instead, let’s remember only two years ago when the contract for the busing of special needs students was put out to bid, and the question of whether MTM Transportation, a Newtown company, would be able to meet the bid requirements, was widely discussed.

One of All-Star Transportation Company’s owners, John Dufour, spoke at the April 21, 2009, Board of Education meeting. “All-Star has never made any efforts to replace [the present] transportation system. I was told that it was probably going to happen anyway here.”

Let’s remember that in June, 2007, All-Star drivers in New Milford went on a nine-day strike that forced schools to close. When the strike was over, All-Star got a seven percent increase in its negotiated contract from the New Milford Board of Education. All-Star’s low bid wasn’t the lowest after all.

Writing bid specs that don’t allow the present owner-operators to place a bid isn’t good business. If the Board of Education closes the door on what has worked well for Newtown, it can’t go back because those people will not longer be in business. And in closing that door, taxpayers could end up paying a higher price.

Sincerely,

Joseph Bojnowski

6 North Branch Road, Newtown                                     June 21,2011