District Receives 7 Bids on Bus Contract

Hoa Nguyen June 24, 2011 at 09:04 pm

For further clarification, the bid addendum called for about five fewer buses, which resulted in a lower bottom line amount for All-Star, Bienkowski said, adding that the unit price per bus remained unchanged.

frederick moran June 24, 2011 at 10:04 pm

this bidder should be disquailfied. what kind of proxess is this. does it meet AIA protocol,

Wendy Wheeler June 24, 2011 at 11:08 pm

Wendy Wheeler
The so called addendum should change all the bids then! Should it not

Wendy Wheeler June 24, 2011 at 11:13 pm

Wendy Wheeler
If All Star was the biider that failed to file the Addendum as Mr. Bienkowski stated, then why did MTM's bid numbers change?

Hoa Nguyen June 24, 2011 at 11:15 pm

Most all of the bidders complied with the addendum so they did not need to be corrected, according to Bienkowski. Also, when I asked town Finance Director Bob Tait, he said that math errors can be corrected but the unit price cannot be changed.

barbara June 25, 2011 at 12:08 am

guess someone doesnt like the truth and thats why my last post was removed....politics....thats all that needs to be said. Like I stated earlier, which is nothing but the truth and anyone that pays any attention in this town knows it. Janet Robinson, the superintendent that we the tax payers of newtown pay for her two, thats right not one, but two mortgages and an astronomical salary that does nothing that we the people want. We want our o/o. Thats all that should need to be said...not some silly game where the numbers change anyways...like i said....politics. If we want to shave some money from our budget it should be getting rid of the one that is trying to change our beloved town!

george June 25, 2011 at 12:34 am

I have been in the school bus industry for 27 years and have been to bid openings in Danbury. I have never heard of or seen such a differance in the bid price . Kinda ironic that the only big change was All-star the company that Robbinson has wanted all along. A million dollar change at that. Maybe Newtown should go talk to Danbury about all the problems they had when STA came in with such a low price. Have these companys considered fair driver wages comparable to the surrounding towns? Remember you get what you pay for that goes for the town and any company that wins the bid.

george June 25, 2011 at 12:48 am

I have driven a school bus in many town in ct and have never seen anything like Newtown. For most of the driver here its like having a bus full of there own kids. The drivers here go above and beyond what is expected of a bus driver. With that I also have never driven in a town were the kids are as respectful to there bus drivers. The parents, teachers,coaches and staff are in for a big change if the owner/operaters are replaced.I understand times are tuff , but somethings are worth a little extra, work with the o/o before you throw a good thing way

Susan Joy June 25, 2011 at 01:38 am

Danbury bus system is a nightmare, Costs $3 per kid approximately to go across town, Twice this week we were passed dismissal time result in the entire school having to hold buses, We established a realistic time to avoid this problem and they were 30 minutes late in an IN TOWN RUN. Sometimes the low bid is not the way to go. You get what you paid for. If money needs to be trimmed there are better ways to do it rather than lose one of the few things that are left to the Newtown I remember growing up. Think about other things the system has given the lowest bid to and the resulting problems. Most people who get bids for a job do not take the lowest but the one with best track record that is in the middle. What is our illustrious ms Robinson thinking? When is her contract up for renewal>>

eyeonyou2011 June 25, 2011 at 04:22 am

I'm confused : MTM is owned by three current O/O yet they underbid there fellow O/O by well over 2 million dollars. I guess you can say they threw them under the bus.

george June 25, 2011 at 09:45 am

confused why its all about money and greed, thats why they under bid them. they can do that because the offer very low wages (not like surrounding towns) and no insurance to there drivers. I really wonder where they will get there drivers from. I have one word for there drivers UNION talk with the Trumbull drivers

Sam Mihailoff June 25, 2011 at 10:25 am

OK, Janet, et al....Fine...take the low bidder and also agree to PERSOALLY be responsible for every dime of any extra cost, NOT the taxpayer...
over-run, liability suit, insurance infraction., cost fluctuation, break-down beyond the contract...EVERYTHING extra comes from your pockets. You people now think you're transportation savy,,,,GREAT, PUT UP YOUR OWN PERFORMANCE BOND for its success.

Carey Schierloh June 25, 2011 at 12:10 pm

MTM pays their drivers more than what the bid is requiring a company to pay drivers.

george June 25, 2011 at 02:26 pm

what does the bid require they pay the drivers BROOKFIELD $18 plus an hour, Trumbull $23 an hour
New milford $ 17 plus an hour where do they stand

Carey Schierloh June 25, 2011 at 06:48 pm

In the bid, Page 18, 8.7.1 states "all drivers under this contract shall be paid a minimum of $13.50 per hour during this contract term. If other towns are paying more (I have heard Ridgefield pay $25/hr), even if an Owner/Operator wanted to continue work for a company (which we do not), $13.50 is not an incentive to stay in Newtown.

george June 25, 2011 at 09:13 pm

that is just totaly crazy, who could live on those wages. Where did the town come up with such a number
when every town around here pays much more then that, I guess they didn't do there homework what a surprise. So now its safe to assume they will have to hire all brand new drivers, only ones who will work for that.

Sam Mihailoff June 25, 2011 at 09:20 pm

the same may come to pass with some of the EA's.....not everyone is full time, correct?
Would you bother to put on your undies to go to work for 3 hours? WAS THAT SNARKY ENOUGH FOR EVERYONE???????????

Carey Schierloh June 25, 2011 at 09:59 pm

George, that is what I have been saying. O/O are not going to drive for a company for $13.50 an hour. It just isn't possible.

george June 25, 2011 at 10:09 pm

oh I know that, I wouldn't drive for that BS but where did Newtown come up with that crazy number
would Janet work for that????

Carey Schierloh June 25, 2011 at 10:16 pm

I do not know.

george June 25, 2011 at 10:16 pm

I would hope that none of the o/o would go to work for any company that replaces them If a company takes over will Newtown religuish total control of transportation like most towns???

Carey Schierloh June 26, 2011 at 12:37 am

O/O will not work for a company. As stated above, it is not financially possible. I do not know if the district will continue to do the routing, but they would be foolish to let the company take over routing.

Sam Mihailoff June 26, 2011 at 12:57 am

Outside of the obvious detriment to the students, a transportation company change may not be the great financial savings as being touted on Primrose Lane. The O/Os have invested dollar capital into vehicles that have a solitary purpose. Sure they can sell them at a great loss, and that is just lumped up to business and the hard facts of life I suppose.. Now, subtract DMV property taxes no longer coming to Newtown and all the other bits and pieces and we shall find that the dollar figures work even less to the betterment of the town in general. Gee, I forgot to be snarky...maybe next time.

philip carroll June 30, 2011 at 11:42 am

The bids are in and the Owner/Operators were not the highest or the lowest. It appears we are not 30% higher than market rates. The rates achieved 2 years ago were for Type II buses, not full size buses.
No other town in our DRG is the size of Newtown, therefore transportation costs are going to be higher as verified by the bid. The town closet to Newtown in size is New Milford. Newtown has 100 more road miles, several hundred more students and more schools than New Milford, and yet New Milford consistently pays more per student for transportation than Newtown pays for the Owner/Operators.

sassy June 30, 2011 at 02:16 pm

I feel like the quality of this town is being water down!

Susan McGuinness Getzinger August 15, 2011 at 02:12 am

Many of you may know (or may not know) that before deciding against my children in is his alleged unethical and alleged procedurally incorrect review of the hearing officer's decison in my 504 case here in Newtown, I asked Michael Regan for full disclosure of his relationship with the attorney(s) from the BOE firm of BMD. He gave NO RESPONSE TO MY REQUEST. He is now on the group to anaylize our school bus bids that affects the safety of our children and our O/O's livelyhoods. Under the law my children should be able to have the bus stop that I requested WELL BEFORE my 504 request and CERTAINLY during my 504 request. Because of the actions of a few, a law suit might be the inevitable course of action that I have been trying desperately to avoid, since the law is in place to obtain the bus stop, though the administration and BOE refuse (though D. Leidlein recused herself, so she is in no way responsible for the incorrect conduct). I have recently discovered a connection and would like to post the link: (see post below)

Susan McGuinness Getzinger August 15, 2011 at 02:13 am

from above:
"7/12 How to Survive the PPT Process in the Age of SRBI Presenters: Michelle Laubin, Esq., Berchem, Moses & Devlin, PC; and Michael Regan, Director of Pupil Services, Newtown PS Attorney Laubin will review policies and procedures that address staff concerns in implementing SRBI at both the building and district levels. http://www.conncase.org/images/customer-files/ConnCASESRBILeadershipConference2009RegistrationMaterialsFINAL.pdf page 2- middle of the page. The Attorney (my grievance #10-0950) & our Dir. of Pupil Services at the same presentation Oct 2009 at the Hilton in Mystic - beautiful spot! Maybe they went sailing, too?!? http://www.conncase.org/images/customer-files/ConnCASESRBILeadershipConference2009RegistrationMateri

Susan McGuinness Getzinger August 15, 2011 at 02:13 am

I had asked Dir of Pupil Services, Mike Regan for full disclosure of his relationship with attorneys BEFORE he judged against my children (you know the guy, the one who hastily sent two buses after the Patch and Bee reported that the two state reps were inquiring into our Special Ed dept that he runs, though we already had a bus running our route). No disclosure was made. How much do they make at these conferences as speakers. If he does not back the positions of the attorneys (or hearing officers that they choose) will he get speaking gigs? Will he be the President elect of ConnCase??? ConnCASE 330 Main Street, 3rd Floor Hartford, CT 06106 www.conncase.org http://www.conncase.org/images/customer-files/ConnCASEExhibitorPacket2011.pdf President-Elect: Michael Regan Director of Pupil Services Newtown Pupil Services http://www.conncase.org/Content/Board_of_Directors.asp.........

Susan McGuinness Getzinger August 15, 2011 at 02:14 am

.........Oh, and don't forget the State Liason (you know, the person who told Newtown that they WON't be investigating our Special Ed dept any further!) - State Department of Education Liaison:
Anne Louise - Thompson, Bureau Chief , Bureau of Special Education & Pupil Services 165 Capitol Avenue Hartford, CT 06106 Phone: (860) 713-6912 / FAX (860) 713-7026 ________________________________________ http://www.conncase.org/Content/Board_of_Directors.asp Now, why wouldn't she want to get down to the bottom of an investigation of our Special Ed dept when her ConnCase is going to be headed by the SAME person?!? don't tell me, "It's for the kids!". Taxpayers beware. Bus drivers beware. parents beware. No one in this Administration seems to be looking out for the children or taxpayers.

Susan McGuinness Getzinger August 15, 2011 at 02:15 am

http://newtown.patch.com/articles/committee-created-to-evaluate-school-bus-bids