BOE Hearing On Negba Bus Company

roll call please Mr Frank yes M Gonzalez here Mr grut Mr grut is out of the country miss miio here Mr a striker pres Mr s here Mr Silver here Mr Thomas Mr SL okay okay we're going to go on to the just I'd like to apologize to the public there was a emergency there was an emergency meeting in the high school and that's why the meeting was delayed and we apologize for coming out late this morning um I'm going to hand it over to to the board attorney and uh he can uh put some of the schedule right now uh Mr pres first of all the board Mr Thomas could not be here and Mr grut the vice president is not here so the board will need to have a motion to appoint a president for this meeting is there such a motion yes uh okay Mr uh M M M made a motion to appoint Mr oer board president is there a second second all in favor anyone against Mr stret you will serve as board president for this morning thank you there is an agenda this morning I'd ask the board uh to go out of turn will we have advertised this meeting both as a special meeting and as a uh meeting to hold a hearing a hearing regarding one of our vendors that vendor being neba bus company I do see here there is a representative of neg bus company I believe President is if I'm wrong correct me uh Mr Rottenberg and Mr Rottenberg has received notice regarding this meeting several letters uh and back up January 24th again January 24th and January 25th uh Mr rberg is that correct yes okay they were hand delivered and facted and some of them were emailed uh the purpose of this hearing is to allow Mr rotberg and then the transportation department to make recommendations as to the situation uh as to this matter uh public participation is welcome and that will be subject to the board so Mr rberg if you would like to again uh if you'd like um if you could um you have received these several letters in back up yes I have okay and as a letter say and uh you do have the right to present what you'd like to present to the board uh prior to them possibly taking any action it's all yours okay my name is Aaron Aon M president of NE bus company and uh I know what happened in the past and all I could say is that we have all our issues corrected as of this point and the past few days have proved it and uh I would like to ask a favor I don't know if I have any legal grounds to ask but ask a favor to give a maybe a one week extension to see if everything runs well and I can meet every morning with the new Transportation uh director director and every day go over if there are any problems that day and go good a week try another week and uh see what we can do cuz for me to take out 15 runs would be a major major loss especially the 15 runs you picked really doesn't make sense not to myself and not to the to the children of Lake because it's all 9:00 runs which if you think I'm short of buses the 7:00 ones would be short then just I would take out five and five you know five five and five with it five tiers would be better for everybody but uh that that's only my recommendation but my real request is to have a one one week extension and well I'll come in every day at an Point time and meet with the new director and see if there were any problems that day through the chair yes I would like uh Mr Rottenberg we did identify in one of the letters the routes were talking about correct yes I just got it uh yesterday evening I didn't really go over it well what's today's date well actually um no it was facted yesterday I got yes okay um and you did get the earlier letters of January 24th and 24 not the exact routes were not well it is the same idea but the routes were not identified there is a reason I've been told and I don't do busing but there uh there there were routes the 15 the board did vote at the last meeting towards the end um if I may have a second the board did vote to take 15 routes the question as was advised at that meeting was which routes at that point we just hired um Gus and him and Patty have been working on that once we learned of which routes we did notice yesterday those routes as to the issue of Mr Rottenberg raising that they're all 9:00 routes Gus could you respond to uh what times those routes are 12 of the routes are at 9:00 uh one route is at 8:30 one route is at 7:40 and one route is at 7:30 so uh the bulk 12 out of r at 9:00 uh if I may Mr President how did you and Miss bell Miss Bell is here in the audience uh how did you two determine uh the routes to be taken and the number of routes to be taken uh M vanel has done an outstanding job at logging in every complaint that was phoned in by parents and um I had before me a listing of uh from September 1st through yesterday uh every complain that has been logged in regarding uh negba and from the beginning of this school year 189 complaints have been logged typically other vendors of similar size uh have an approximate number of about 10 so we're comparing 10 complaints to 189 complaints okay so one question yeah please we by meeting around two weeks ago and we asked then besides for the four days we know I had four real problem days over the year but besides for that Bill had said at that point you're equal to every other vendor so my question is that those 189 complaints all basically on those four days no these your complaints are well actually I will respond thank you uh you did receive January 24th a rather thick packet from my office with all the backup that I was recently provided uh whether it be emails whether it be letters from schools so um the dates are listed in those in that in that correspond was that the first time there for it to me that's the first time I received it sir okay was anybody else forward it to me before then all I can tell you sir is obviously I did not because I did not have it what we have been told and Miss banel can answer if she's so desires uh Miss Bell has negma bus company been advised of issues prior to the January 24th letter verbally from Mr cor yes okay in addition um and and again this was pointed the letter just so we all know Mr Rottenberg was given the opportunity to meet in Clos session with the board back in October there were in there were I don't want to say in his defense but there were some um out of the ordinary situations that occurred due not to his doing uh apparently has a yard in Lyon or something in Lyon yes where there was some vandalism in the time of uh end of September October time uh there was another instance where um again I just say what the notes reflect which I put in my letter of yesterday uh there was no gas for the buses uh there was the sting operation where obviously he didn't want the sting nor did we but there was a sting operation where about 13 buses I could be off I could be corrected about 13 was more than that it was more than how many I think 18 about 18 where the uh I guess the Police Department of Transportation Department of Transportation took them to Blue Claw them uh which the board was apprised of um however apparently and not apparently we do have um quite a listing of complaints which um I had been asking for uh and it is now in written form and if I could for a second have that uh you have this too um it starts on September 1st and I'm just reading the first entry Bas toova uh um School administration negba we didn't even have busing I'm just writing September 3rd well you have this if you'd like to go through this this is your opportunity to go through this uh but there are quite a few listings here uh many of them are from January I would say a large percentage are from According to this listing from January um but there are earlier complaints registered here either late arrivals no shows um calendar wrong no buses things of that sort calendar wrong is is not our problem is Department of transp this that is one entry no show uh late arrival there are those there are those events of January 4th I see here where there was it ran later no show due to the gas situation which you did write us a letter about if you recall uh but there are majority many of the many of the complaints are from January late arrival no show uh no show 40 minutes late late arrival I also asked um Gus I answer that yeah sure whatever this I like to say is till January well in January we had we had our I think I explained this to the board before we had our inspection schedule for the last two weeks of December and they do around 10 buses a day uh from the 25th that whole week was the blizzard and they didn't come at all so at that point by January 1st we had around 30 to 40 buses that did not have the proper inspections which we cannot use as of today they still didn't make up all five days that we missed they were supposed to count today for the last day and they canceled because they said they what they were supposed to do yesterday they couldn't do so they're doing that today and they canel on us today so we were not even given the opportunity to have Wall out buses inspected by the state but even with that that the past week we ran I would say perfectly and uh since last fighter we had most of our buses put back we are able to run perfectly as with this second there's a side issue if I may which well there's if I may there's a side issue uh with a high school I'll just read what I've been getting here a terrrace iSell High School apparently there was a contract approved on August 24th on September 1st you did responsibly let the board know that you were giving that to clar clar was supposed to be doing it but they gave it back on December 14th um this seems to be an ongoing issue what are you willing to propose regarding theist High School my understanding I had spoken to high school my understanding was that legally that's why I gave let me go back claw we decided to switch three runs that worked out better for CLA to doing three runs that I would take from Claud three runs I would give Claud and at that point we were prised that legally we cannot change the contract we should do it an out of contract change which we didn't with Bill and Patty uh and Claw was supposed to do our three runs we do we were supposed to do claw's three runs and then CLA gave it back to CLA gave it back in January first I spoke to terorist whatever since then and we made up that they will be doing the run and I will be giving them the money that we get from the board of EDS to them monthly do we have something in writing that of effect I did they did not ask I told them to write it up and I'm gladly sign you which I don't think they did it all right but you're prepared let's try to solve where we can regarding a terrorist Israel high school if it's legally possible to take it out of my contact and give it to them that's fine it is as you have done in the past uh based on the chronology I was given on January 22nd as with Miss Silva but you can assign that to I'll defer to Gus but you can assign that to a approved vendor so that would be Tas meca is that the approved vender Miss banel yes you could assign that just like you did to clar question who gets the actual money for that where does the check come to for that run well the check would go to you but what we could do is we could have in writing while the check will be made to you that you could sign it over to Tera that's exactly what I did okay all right so the ter High School Pro problem is solved I'm sorry thank you I didn't mean to interrupt Mr s Mr a question yeah um Mr you mentioned that the past week you've been doing okay I'm reading a letter I don't know anything about it but Mr Ino sent you a letter on the first thing was on today January 24th which is 4 days ago um seven routes were either not service in a fashion more however despite repeated Assurance NE to inform the district when situations Ur NE in fact once again did not provide notice to the district that was less than weeko I didn't say that I said this week which was I I we started runr Tuesday Wednesday okay CU this was Monday okay I just want we had our last inspection on Friday and I told everybody text me to tell your so to get back up and running but since then we don't have any complaints every single the 189 complaints that you have wait we're going to give the public a chance we do need to afford Mr Rottenberg I would also I would also like to say that the 189 complaints that's the number most of them were January and I imagine almost any bus company would get that if there's letters given out and on the internet please with emails who you could give you complaints to in every Run 10 parents are giving the same complaint about the same run so if you ask for complaints on a a proactive way you'll get a lot more complaints than regular you know if my son's bus comes late I have a lot of children in school also I don't complain if they going to make a whole compaign to complain maybe I would complain so maybe that's why it's a lot more Mr rber if I could interrupt and please understand I'm just trying to understand uh currently how many buses of yours do not have inspections around seven or eight okay so obviously that affects your ability to have those 7day buses operational right correct how does that affect your ability to transport children in a timely fashion at this point it doesn't seven or eight will not affect us we have least a few buses for this thing but uh that coverers there what we did till now we had lease buses I spent maybe in January itself over $20,000 leasing buses what about I've been told that bus companies are to have spare buses I may be using the wrong nomenclature but spare buses uh that need to be in existence at your yard so to prevent let's say a bus doesn't warm up that morning cars don't so buses don't I have adequate spare buses if everything will be expected right now I'm a little short on The Spar and what I do is every morning I bring in four buses from my Lyon yard to here by 6:30 Waiting by my yard in case needed I bring drivers from Lyndon and my Lake drivers are standing to take over because the lon drivers don't know the routes but I have four buses coming in every single morning by Lon y guys is there anything else uh you want to present to the board you have if I could summarize what I heard correct me if I either forgot or didn't understand or left out you are asking for the board to do one to resend their previously vote previous vote which took away 15 rounds two to give you a week or some period of time to establish your credibility one we um that's what you're asking yes and if that doesn't work that I'm asking to which makes more sense even for the board to move around 12 9:00 runs won't if you think I don't have enough buses won't help out to 7:00 runs let's assume and I'm not they go six and six we might go 7 and a half the Board needs to make this decision in public uh I'm not saying they should go to the third option you just laid out but they for some reason did not and it's not some reason there is documentation here uh and we we do have Patty and Gus here um but they if they would oper the third option would you be willing to give back those 15 routes if they were all not at nine I have no choice I'm not willing to we're not here to pressure you we're asking voluntarily uh is that what you're suggesting in choice three yes and um if you would give them back back and tell me if this is the right nomenclature if you would give them back uh then the board would have to rebid them I would assume there's a differential in cost then is that right you can't know that till the bit's coming let's assume there would be who would pay that I have no idea I'm not lawyer no well there's two choices sir it would be the board which is the taxpayer or it would be you or it would be the bond company right there's three choices right right yes I'm not please okay I am you know more than I do well no let's not I don't know I don't do much busing but someone would have to pay the differential if there was one correct so the three choices are you the board or the bond company so uh part of offer three what would you suggest I don't know what the numbers are and I don't know if I can afford to pay the difference I don't know what these bids if you're going to bid out 12 9:00 runs right now they're going to come very hard because I don't believe anybody in this town has 12 buses sitting around at 9:00 that can pick them up and and do it at a reasonable price can I have one second for to speak to Gus the way you remember Gus's name it RS with bus uh through the board I have spoken I have to Gus um and Gus feels and if I got this right the number 15 there is a basis why the 15 was selected but uh it could be teered if that's it could be teered if that is what needs to be done um which may make some sense the board I speak for the board as a collective board the board is not interested in punishing the board is not interested and if they're going want to do it they want to do it makes sense uh they do agree that uh or it makes sense based on Gus is telling me that they shouldn't all be 9:00 correct so we could uh if you would scatter them uh through the different hours which would make buses more available hopefully is that what I'm understanding right if if we did this uh uh the way that Mr rotenberg is requesting uh it would actually free buses as opposed to the way we're doing it now which is we went with the 15 most highly complained rout uh which doesn't free up as many buses as the plan that Mr rberg is is proposing but um I I I think we can sit down and we can work out a plan where 15 routes would be incorporated it may free up as many as four or five buses for which would help him to improve his operation and give him a little bit more of a probability to deliver on his promise of of a not perfect service but level of service expected and deserved by the children parents taxpayers and members of the board of education so let me cut through the chase if Mr rber if uh when we say work it out we'll work it out now you and Gus uh as far as which 15 if the board were inclined to accept this which would be my recommendation that they do provided uh Mr Gus and Patty are happy with that the 15 R 15 is the number there is a basis for the number which C is telling me correct right we we are we are limited at this time of year as to how much work uh can go out the bid and realistically uh receive an effective bid um you know it's something that will improve as the year progresses because vendors will start buying buses and they may have an ability to help us out in a greater extent in the future so you feel 15 is a good number right at this point in time okay so 15 the routes would be determined which ones and if there is a differential in the price between if we if we need to go out to Big which the from what I understand uh are you willing to assume that because let me make it blunt uh either you're willing to assume it or your Bond's going to assume it I doubt the board unless the board so directs me which they've discussed already with me you absolutely not you want what are you saying we will not assume that he Mr okay so if that's the case then there's two choices Mr Rottenberg can assume that cost or could pay and Mr sitler is saying the board is not going to pay for that I can't imagine why the board would pay for that so it's either you or the bond company we're not looking to inflict mortal wounds here obviously if we contact the bond company that could affect your rating and you know this so are you willing to assume the differential I can only assume what I could carry so it depends what the numbers are going to be well it's either a yes or no obviously I again I am just the lawyer but it makes sense based on Gus the bus saying how it should be it should that's what he told me uh that we should we should have different routes not all at nine I guess there's more buses available earlier in the morning are you saying that too you're both saying that no not saying it was saying you think the same bus does at 7:00 let's say or 9:00 so if you you say you saying okay he does let's say he saying he doesn't have enough buses so you take five buses okay make these five buses are not being used anymore they're not doing the 7:00 and they're not doing the 9:00 if you put them all the 9 clock I still need the same amount of bus there's an additional advantage to the board to do what Mr rotenberg's proposing when we go out to bid for these 15 routes whoever is the successful bidder will be able to tear them just the way he did by tearing them they will be able to give us a lower cost per route than if they were if you had to commit 15 total buses do you agree with that logically logically so now we need to wrap this up can we ask you we can't see the board has an obligation to the taxpayer and while uh many may not agree with the way they operate they are operating in this instance in an effort to uh have a vendor comply with his contract and his commitments there have been ongoing discussions with the vendor uh and we are suggesting and I I believe if anyone the board disagrees with me uh we are suggesting not to to have to attack the bond not to have to have a county hearing under njsa 18 a39 11.3 disqualification of bidder because that would affect you not just in Lakewood possibly but elsewhere we we are at this time or I am suggesting that the board not do this what we are suggesting is we need to take action does the board agree so far with what I've said yes yes um I would agree however I would right of course uh the board does have the absolute right uh in fact the statute the statute requires it they need to take a make they could make a motion today this has been properly advertised been properly on notice where they could in fact um uh may have a motion passed where this would then go to a county hearing where a hearing will be held regarding the uh alleged non-performing status of your company it is my legal advice that if you would comply with the request 15 routes as determined by Gus and Patty which would not only be 9:00 in consultation in consultation but with the understanding that the board has the final say yes but we're not going to go at another two of discussion can I ask one thing while this discussion is going to take place probably take a few days until right today right today right after this meeting I information with me right here but I'll get it but it's going to take another 10 days I think legally for a bid to go out in those 10 days if we prove ourself could we continue with what we that would be a question for the board I don't if that option was on the table what does the board think of that no well I I'm willing to entertain that that opportunity but what kind of guarantees do we have because there have been broken promises in the past the guarantee is if by the time the bit package and everything gets ready and the come back and I didn't live up to it then they take over the new guys here is is that let me understand it over the next I think we said maybe March 1st or whatever no it would take about a week or so to get a bid package together is that right and then another 10 days for the B to go out be open and what would we lose this this this arbitrary day amount of days it's 5 Days 7 Days 10 days whatever we discuss well sir I'm sorry it's not arbitrary there's a process process uh nothing in this hearing is being arbitrary please don't use that word the 15 is arbitrary uh 15 is not arbitrary at all in fact uh Mr Gus has told us there was a basis for the 15 and that could you say that basis again please we're going to have to put the bid package together which is going to take uh anywhere from 3 to five days then we have a 10day uh minimum that the big would have to be advertised and that you're at to 15 and then it has to be an analysis of the vids and then an actual notification to the successful B so talking about a one month process and why 15 routes why 15 15 routes were picked because we think that's a realistic number that we could expect vendors at this time of the year with they with most of them having a complete commitment of their Fleet to be able to accommodate and what would happen if we don't find if we don't find 15 U routes vendors you have the same question whenever you put any run out to B what would happen if no vend come I don't think that's a legitimate question no no it's the question I'm asking from G is is because uh we're in the middle of the year and most companies have their commitments we're talking about in in in June July or August when when companies are putting together their runs then you know you say what happens if nobody shows yeah that's always a possibility on every on every type of VI that's put out you know however what I'm talking about here is is that Gus is suggesting that U there is a a a real possibility that all the comp that typically do give the bids to our district um are completely fully whatever capacity as far as the runs are concerned and all I'm asking is is what would happen under those circumstances if we made a party and nobody showed up I mean know using that I if I may answer that sir please with with the all the realistic nature of of the of the business um there there are buses that are available to a small extent that could be purchased immediately uh or least or least and your larger vendors have the ability to do that if we were to go out for let's say 117 routes it's impossible right now it's just too large a scale I I Believe by doing it this way you're doing two things you're putting out a realistic bid which is going to give you a realistic price that's going to be cost effective and also provide us with responsible biders um also I think it sends a message to um Mr Rottenberg who I had the chance to meet with and I think his heart is in the right place I I I think however I he needs to understand we're talking about children children waiting at Corners children waiting in Sub sub freezing weather children waiting uh uh in areas that may not be the safest uh for children to wait for for long periods of time uh uh it's just not a good situation and I I think that when we fail one time to pick up a child on time that's a failure you can't you can't say that's excusable and we have to get a mentality between Mr rotenberg and the board so that we're both thinking in the same thing as the board is thinking that we do want the highest level of service for our children and I think by these 15 routes we're sending the message it's a realistic message to the vendors who will bid on it and it's also a fair message to Mr Rottenberg we're not we're not crippling his operation we're giving him an opportunity especially with this concession that was just made to do it on a tiered level to free up several of his buses to give him more of an opportunity to succeed in what he's promised to do so I I think that uh all the way around 15 tiered routs freeing up let's say five buses three to five buses whatever whatever it will be will give him an opportunity to do a better job for us it will also give the vendors a chance on uh that are going to bid on these routes to to bid on something that they can make some money on but also provide a high level of service and and I must say that um Mr rottenberg's request that if he's doing better in three weeks can we just uh negate this process you can't do that because if if that becomes part of the record and the vendors who are bidding know that this is not a serious bid you will simply not get realistic and serious uh bid packages back in you have to let them know that this is for Real these 15 routes are out there the successful bidder will get them and they will be expected to meet the level of service that this board expects now just to to pick up on what you said and I appreciate the response um if in those two weeks three weeks whatever it is 10 days Mr renberg's performance does pick up and and is is punctual and no excuses and no you know you know making sure that everything is running 100% or 101% is he allowed to uh be one of the bids then I I this is I think would be for U mrot to to speak to but uh in in my feeling I would say no because if if he were the successful bitter then the whole process was uh not not a sincere effort let me cut through the Chaser you know I sit here uh I do know Mr Rottenberg when there was construction and I represented buyers not Mr rber I do know the board members uh we all the board members all have different personnels which makes us a very interesting board of education but the board here is generated by interest I I can't imagine why not and the interest is children's safety and I'm not saying Mr rber I refuse to go that way that he's a bad guy and all that apparently he likes to be interviewed now apparently only Hollywood if you would please go with your bus company we would actually send the bus for you I'm joking Mr H but the fact is we need to take action this really is becoming into a sort of uh circus if I may um I'm writing down here's the option I would suggest Mr Rottenberg can sit down with Gus and Patty by Monday at 5:00 pm they will agree to which routes and that Mr Rottenberg will responsible for the differential in price if not if the board is not willing to give which they've said they're not publicly if they're not willing to if Mr rber is not willing with those two conditions that is agreed with the recommendations working collaboratively with Gus and Patty by Monday 5: p.m. signed and that he will be responsible for the differential which will be taken from him we're not going to wait for a check which will be taken from the Mone as he gets monthly JS um In fairness to the board if we could do that not all at one shop but if we could elongate that over the fiscal year uh that doesn't affect you in a negative way because your budget goes through the end of June don't take it all out in one lump sum your budget goes to June you would think that's fair uh if it's not done on those two agreements by Monday um if the board so inclined based on the evidence we have 15 rounds selected by the board and attack the bond uh let let's move on second okay Mr renberg are you prepared at this point I hope you say yes but I'm not here to you have well I know but I I I appreciate that thank you sir we're going to run when you sit in I seat but right now we're going to do this way okay are you prepared to do the first option before we call this or not say what's the first option again option is you agree with Patty and Gus's recommendations as to which 15 routes and you're responsible for the differential of any as far as the cost which will come out of your payments on your other uh 100 routs 102 routs approximately on a monthly basis through June and equal there's a difference between the prices well if there's not guess what if it's cheaper you'll get the money you yeah I'll get money back I'm show Mr sitler um so do you agree to that yes but I'm asking again to give me one last chance all right so now the motion's in a first and second please call it Mr F the motion in process is not to give him a well let's do this the motion I thought which my associate Mr hob pointed out is that uh he agrees by Monday at 5:00 p.m. and any differential from his money not hours and not the bond it will be an equal installments through June if he does not come excuse me can I say one more thing and it's not all 95 you're changing your Miss I'm not I have never selected the r Mr Gus and Patty in conjunction with you but based on what Gus is saying it's not going to be on 9:00 we're collaborating and if you all agree in writing signed by Monday 5:00 p.m. as to which routes that you will pay the differential if there is one in monthly installments through the end of the fisc year June God bless if you don't the 15 routes will be selected I assume they'll be the same ones but selected by the transportation department who has the final say in either scenario and then we will attack the bond immediately okay that's the motion please call and the 15 routes would be removed you say either way the 15 routes are removed either he's agreeing or he's being told which 15 Mr F yes M Gonzalez yes Miss mikio yes Mr dra Striker Mr sitler yes Mr Silver yes Mr slin yes that motion now passes you will have an opportunity we're going to excuse Gus I would just Gus did point out and I concur um we need to go to the next level because we don't want to go through this again we need to establish we're going to estab rephrase the busing people and Mr rotberg will establish uh for the sake of the children others who use that uh just get the right words for the sake of the children you will um establish some kind of mechanism where you will be to able to rate if you will his performance as you all heard um we will have you will establish that together in writing if that whatever that is is not adhere to at the next we will give it a 30 J window is that adequate time for both of you 30 days make sense yes Gus if that is not adhered to based on the criteria you will establish then the board will be seeking under 18a 39.3 disqualification of bidder could I have a motion on that please second second any discussion Mr F yes M Gonzalez yes Miss mikio yes Mr Al Striker Mr CER yes Mr Silver yes Mr SL yes okay are there any other issues with the we'll ask if we could just because we want to make sure we gave the full opportunity Mr can I one the 30 days that the second motion was is that after you take the runs away so we freeing up the bus yes no excuse me oh wait wait wait I may let me think let me think that out I'm sorry your 30 G what is your recommendation 30 days from 30 days from today you shouldn't have a problem because you told us and you told that that you are all ready Mr Rob I strongly urge you to do what you told me the other night when I met you at your compound uh get some help on the phones at your office that's a big big part of the complaints that I'm hearing from folks is that you're not answering your phones also through the chair uh let it be known to the public that Mr Rottenberg has previously agreed to contact principals as well as the Board of Ed that was agreed to one of our our previous meetings but can we all um all in favor of instructing officially Mr renberg should there be any issues with busing you are to immediately contact the school principal not they you but you then as well as the Board of Ed all in favor I anyone against thank you just be aware that most of the time when the problem arises it's 8:00 and the principal is nowhere to be found at 8:00 not no to be found it's not available can we have a recognition of the public that would be well that would be the next the next portion of our meeting yes we're now done with unless there's any if there's through the chair uh the board has taken action the public has heard that action um if there is anyone who wants to and feels it necessary at this point to discuss the issue of negba uh you have heard the action taken as to the 15 routes it's not a question now thanks to the board's efforts it is not question uh if now it's question of when you've also heard that 30 days starting Monday and that will be 30 calendar days okay um that was the intent of the board calendar days not business right right yes okay so 30 calendar days so you do hear the board of St process here uh to guarantee um that the children are picked up and that what we're paying for is being delivered so there's any member of the public despite all that uh who would like to address on this issue Mr um I I don't see a point of having to discuss NE anymore there no there will be no additional action taken and there's no reason to keep on eating a dead horse say um action been taken and and just keep in mind as well we appreciate we appreciate that is there any member is there is there any member of the public who feels a need to still a who has signed up there's a sign and Sheet who feels a need to address on the issue of Nea why don't you just say the names and they'll choose whether or not well we have to call is just different from the public yes it is Sir we're just we're just part of the hearing bar Mandel do you wish to discuss magba I'm sorry if I'm saying it wrong Lori lafal no if I said that right I hope close enough Bill H on neba go 30 School hous L uh December we reported several incidences with where a negma bus was discharging passengers on massachusett Avenue and on cross street just by pulling over and not enacting the flash actually if I could just for the sake of time respectfully we did review that if you recall because you did get me those emails once we realized something was bouncing back uh I been told at the time and I we did relate this to you that yes neba as well as other companies do private busing not through the board of bent they have the right to make money off schools on Sundays or hold on and we were I'm just telling what we were told we were told that this was not pursuant to the contract with the Board of Ed but this is when they were doing their private busing you recall that yes I did recall that however the way that uh the public doesn't realize that this is a private contract and are confused when a bus is stopped passengers are being discharged and there's no flashers on you know because we as the motoring public have been train that school bus is stopped and if that bus driver didn't put the flashers up you still better stop and therefore it is confusing to the public they should not be using School fully equipped school buses and then not activate the Flasher when discharging the passengers and actually dangerous and we agree with you uh we are here and you understand it it's a very valid right very valid concern what could be done for not just negba but Jay or Harnet I don't want to single anyone out is you could put up a sign saying you're doing a private Charter on the times that you are operating your bus not for the Board of Ed that may actually help your cause and help others causes I think so too some kind of sign said this is not school children or well it's school children but a private Charter in other words it's not the board of EDS it it but I think that those were weekends uh it would it be the same do they have private Charters during school hours they there are there are some schools who do that so that's why I'm saying guys would you agree with that recommendation yes the statute does permit the use of school buses for multiple use however uh we can require and it's something I work with the board on that vendors that choose to use those buses in that way will have flip signs on their school bus and then what happens is when it's being used for Charter they can either use a flip sign which we do electronically from the bus driver's position or you can simply get a magnetic sign that goes over the word school bus and says Charter and another thing that I did in Tom's River to assist uh the motorist to know have you seen the white strobe lights that many districts are using on their school bus we use them okay the white strobe lights are there to alert that there are are or pupils on board and to be alert that that bus will be activating its warning lights at some time during the route if you had non-ch on that bus that strobe light would not be on and it would help to lessen the confusion if the motorist were uh learning on the on the procedure thank you sir you're welcome again the safest thing would be just to drive your bus safely can I answer that I I believe that stop was a school and when you discharge by school you do not put your red lights on that's the look uh if you are discharging in front of a school at curbside on a public road um you are not required to put your School lights on if it's going to be for an excessive period of time correct the statue is excessive why don't we do this no no we're we're not we're not we're not a board president I ask you to we're not Mr and the three of you are invited to ride a bus Aaron Junger if you want if you want to speak direct your comment to the board that this way is this regarding Neo or are we no it's regarding NE sir hi my name is Aaron Jer 3 miles away I have a son and a daughter that ride neba every day I have a few points for the uh Department of Education and a few for negba I will moderate my prepar let me just say you have four minutes and not more um the Department of Education um you helped me but I'm still waiting for some phone calls to be returned um about half of the requested complaint forms that I've made have still not arrived and finally why are you so rigid with the way you accept the complaint forms I've asked for it to be made available online or to be emailed and I was told by the Department of Education people answer the phone and no it only has to be fact or mailed in the official form I've gone the other route now you mean education or Transportation Transportation okay um I myself personally created a form on online took me under an hour I put it up it's available for the public tel.com Lakewood anybody can do it nobody knows about it so I'm not getting a lot of hits over there but when I do I'll forward it to you and if you can forward it to michaelz at AOL um but but the board of should do the same thing get it we're going to it would be my recommendation that we allow electronic complaints as long as it applies to all bus companies equally so if you could get that to me Michael Iz at a that says us work I'm I'm happy to hear okay accepting what Mr rotenberg had said U trying to moderate moderate a little bit Communications with your company has been a chronic problem for years now that's my personal experience both as a parent and being heavily involved in two Local Schools if we were to accept the answers that you gave on your interview and over here if we were to accept his answers um then we would ask the following since you since he knew about these problems for some time now it's going back to October sting broken windows and all that uh which you knew he knew was firstly severely affecting so many children and adults why didn't he do something to at least communicate with the public I can give you a dozen easy reasons most of them wouldn't even cost you a penny to help out the public if we knew what we're dealing with we could carple we could help ourselves we could even help him we could have saved hundreds of children hundreds of hours waiting at subzero temperatures and dangerous street corners understand this Bo keeping our children's on street corners for longer than necessary exponentially increases the probability of a tragedy occurring in recent years lakid has experienced abductions people exposing themselves to Children shootings plenty of instances of cars jumping the curb frostbite and children who no longer have the drive the interest to go to school because they're waiting so long it's also a tragedy I want to conclude with one of my personal EXP experiences with Transportation on Monday January 24th last week it was 8° F outside this this week he met this week thank you uh it was 8° F my daughter's bus showed up at 8:57 a.m. this week when everything supposedly okay what time was it supposed to she goes out at 8:17 so probably supposed to be at 8:20 supposed to be 8:57 40 minutes late and the bus was empty which is unusual a bit later because bus was empty and because I picked up my daughter and still hadn't arrived school yet my wife got concerned for my daughter's safety she called the school and both life for school and my wife tried contacting negba as usual they couldn't get through my wife began panicking and left several messages over there um frantic messages with details begging for someone to call back with status did this bus driver Drive off of their some uh until today those messages have still not been returned what was the uh problem your daugh wasn't picked up and then what was the fear she was picked up on an EMP bus when the bus is usually mostly full did you contact the board transportation department yes my wife is in P yes thank you and and my wife is blowing the things for Bill who's not here anymore bill is here in spirit only right okay um and as I said I've gotten help I have gotten help despite my other complaints I've gotten help from from the board oh thank you Patty um I will leave out my last uh my concluding thing but communication if things are going wrong at at least we all through the board I'd like to recommend based on what Mr younger said and the cumulative effect of days or several meetings uh I'd like from now uh on Monday for Patty and Gus to reach out to all the bus companies in writing and telephonically uh we do have a website now again do certain communities use web or not I'm not giving a sanction to use it or not use it but we would require companies to be able to have the ability to log on to our website there must be a way I'm not a computer guy we have $100,000 computer guy can figure it out I'm sure that we could have bus companies automatically get onto our website and say these rats are not working these buses are not coming would that be a good idea work with Ben to get that resolved SMS text gone Ben is in spirit with will uh we have Mr trada who I will call out to meet with you momentarily if the board so accepts my recommendation yeah we ac number two would be to get your homemade device the Complaint Form to me and then for the next meeting we'll look at that all in favor thank you did you feel what the board did today was to your satisfaction sir absolutely go we like compliments here I I also I was very off yes as are we okay anyone uh let me see who else sign because I have rules here uh Bill HJ Aaron John younger or younger andette Kerney does she want to speak about neba no James Waters negba he's in spirit okay there are no more names signed so um that will be unless the board so directs me differently the chair can I this motion one at a time can iuce motion was table um last time I believe it was item 4 a we'll get to we'll get to the agenda a minute we public comment leave okay okay all right can we go out of order Mr Mr attorney uh a motion to go out of order is made seconded all in favor there you go you're out ofad motion to approve sorry I want and approve the whole agenda introduce a motion to um approve item that was TBL last time but it was item 4 a um T professional development for nonpublic teachers um and approve the whole agenda second there's a motion there's a second the motion as written and removing from the table the item that was on the agenda last time is that the recommendation of the assistant and superintendent after riew of the supporting documentation it isation upon the attorney's leg the board attorney's legal opinion is as follows provided there is no uh religious content and provided there will be a certification from the Tor prior to the convention that there is no religious content and it would be my recommendation Mr teraso are you here please approach the microphone please identify yourself Gabel Aaron go could you spell that Jackie didn't warn you fully did she uh Mr gab your position with the organ is why I am totally not affiliated I do the actual convention last year we got told involved two people are right now D so I just spoke to both this morning to ask me to speak on their behalf okay so you have authority from the organization to speak on their behalf and what you are saying you've heard the condition the condition is that there is no religious content because you need to be very careful about that in the United States of America you understand that correct that with both people invol and this morning they both told me the funding that's going to be is going to be for anything and if we get that if we can have that by Monday this board is my suggestion is that V be contingent on getting that but is that possible by Monday afternoon I can have by a email you it by Monday to my fact I'll give it to you okay is that okay mrlin with that position Miss uh doctor is that acceptable therefore it is my legal rule based on that that we should allow development of that is professional development to continue with the understanding that professional development money is non public money not public funds and that the schools have so selected to utilize those funds we can now have a call of that um Mr President I have an agenda yes please and I have a change excuse me one second we we we're going to vote first on this we're going to V we're going to vote first on the agenda with this agendum and then we can get some more there's a the what is that change the change to the agenda is under superintendent items um item one approve the cap Advantage SAT prep course to be held at the high school which is not to exceed $10,000 and the board will recall we use this last year we increase the participation as well as the rates Mr Zack since you made the motion is that acceptable to you that change thank you could we call it now please as amended roll call please Mr F yes Miss Gonzalez yes Miss m yes M Mr ostriker yes Mr CER yes Mr Silver yes Mr slin yes okay thank you my fact 732