Judge to decide if Trinity School Board in contempt over bus contract
A Washington County judge is hearing testimony today on whether Trinity Area School Board should be held in contempt of court for violating an agreement that three board members would not vote to award a bus transportation contract due to potential conflicts of interest.
The courtroom is packed with supporters of GG&C Bus Co., which sued Trinity in December after the school board decided to seek bids for the expiring contract, claiming that board members Sandra Clutter, Jenene Hupp and Henry Clemens had conflicts because they had worked for the companies.
GG&C and Schweinebraten Bus Co. have the current contract. GG&C withdrew its preliminary injunction request in January for 60 days after the board agreed that the three would not participate in discussions or votes on the contract.
Then at a reconvened meeting on April 1, the board voted 5-3-1 to award the $8.86 million contract to competitor First Student. Clutter and Hupp cast votes in favor of awarding the contract to First Student. Clemens abstained. Board President Scott Day claimed that the agreement expired after 60 days.
At today’s hearing, the attorney for GG&C filed an affidavit alleging the the school board violated the state Ethics Act and the Sunshine Law. Board member Jennifer Morgan said that a straw vote on awarding the contract was taken in an executive session prior to the April 1 meeting.
President Judge Debbie O’Dell Seneca, who is hearing the case, said those were matters for trial and the issue she is deciding is whether the board was in contempt of the court agreement.