Council questions $93,000 in Transdev overages; staff to present contract and a repair‑approval policy

Munhall Borough Council on Jan. 21 directed staff to produce a clearer accounting of vehicle maintenance overages billed by Transdev and to draft a policy defining approval thresholds after council members raised concerns that driver behavior and lack of invoice oversight had driven repair costs above the contract amount.

Council members reviewed a summary showing about $93,000 in noncontract work and overages charged to Transdev over the covered period. The manager and public‑works staff described the overages as repairs not covered under routine wear, including damages they characterized as avoidable.

“There's $93,000 in noncontract work,” a council member said while reviewing packet materials, and asked who had authorized the invoices. The manager responded that he would provide a better‑organized report and the Transdev contract to show what is covered by the base contract and what constitutes an overage.

Council asked that the manager and solicitor develop a written procedure establishing financial approval thresholds for vehicle repairs and parts — i.e., what level of repair the public‑works director or police/fire chiefs can authorize without prior manager or council approval. The manager agreed to return with a revised policy and the full Transdev contract for review at the next workshop.

Council did not take immediate disciplinary action; members requested a breakdown by month and by vehicle to identify any patterns of unusual repair activity and to isolate nonwarranty costs.

Ending: Staff will provide the Transdev contract, a month‑by‑month invoice breakdown, and a draft repair‑approval policy for council review at the next workshop.