Preston asks drivers' union to clarify counter bid to proposed outsourcing bus contract

Preston - The Transportation Subcommittee of the Board of Education requested a letter Monday from the union representing Preston bus drivers clarifying whether or not a proposal submitted by the union can be considered a valid bid to operate town buses.

The committee's request delays the vote on outsourcing the transportation contract until the next Board of Education meeting Aug. 9.

"The union has a right to submit a counter bid if our proposal is accepted as a formal bid," CSEA/SEIU representative Kevin Mercik said.

If the board decided to open an invitation for bids on the contracting services, the union would have 30 days to provide the board with a counter bid.

The two-member subcommittee questioned the union's proposal submission and asked if it was a response to the board's feasibility study on the bus contract.

"Considering they haven't provided us with all of the information we've asked for, we submitted our best guess for the most accurate costs," Mercik said. "By going ahead and issuing bids, the board would be deciding to issue proposals and put a number on the table outside of collective bargaining."

Mercik said the union submitted its response to the study based on the "scant" information it was provided by the board.

Pearle Potter has been driving in Preston for 14 years.

"I'm shocked that Kevin did not immediately agree to give it [the proposal] to the sub-committee. Now he has to go through the process of sending the letter," Potter said.

"I think the committee will fairly look at the proposal because it would give them more information on other ways money could be saved," she said

The subcommittee seemed as though it would table the issue until the next fiscal year when Superintendent of Schools John Welch said the cost savings presented by First Student were competitive and in line with board's current cost of $774,125. First Student was one of three bus companies that responded to the study disseminated in May and submitted an estimated bid of $751,136.

"Among the three, only First Student would appear to show numbers that are arguably competitive to operating our own services and the school and town's combined debt services," Welch said. "I think the interest of the board may be better served in waiting until it's time again to buy vehicles. That is a factor as to how all this will play out."

Subcommittee member Charles Raymond said he wants a chance to evaluate the union's proposal and compare the amounts.

"I would be interested in looking at the numbers and seeing what they are," Raymond said. "We're giving the union the opportunity to let us review the proposal."

The union has until Aug. 6 to submit the letter of clarification.

j.hanckel@theday.com