Board approves five snow‑removal contracts after debate over monitoring and liability
Summary
The New Haven Board of Education approved five snow‑removal contracts and a related finance package after staff outlined a new vendor monitoring plan and counsel described how injury claims are handled. One board member opposed two contract awards and urged stricter vendor accountability.
The New Haven Board of Education voted to award a set of snow‑removal contracts after a lengthy discussion about vendor oversight, payment tied to event outcomes, and how the district handles injury claims.
Dr. White, a district staff member asked by the board to summarize changes to contract oversight, described a new pre‑storm and post‑storm process: “What we are doing is, creating a system that we can monitor what's happening with each of our companies, doing real time checks on their work to make sure that they are doing what they're supposed to so that our students, families, and staff are served properly,” White said. He said pre‑storm vendor meetings will set mobilization times and a committee will review post‑storm conditions using photo evidence and principals' reports to identify deficiencies and require corrective action.
Board members pressed staff on details of timing and payment. One member asked whether payment is tied to satisfactory completion; White said payment is calculated per event and by zone, and that the district expects contractors to return to correct deficiencies because safety is paramount. Attorney Tony Alexiadis, describing the district's approach to claims, told the board the district reports incidents to its insurer and “the additional responsible parties are brought into the case, if appropriate,” and that the district typically defends snow‑ and ice‑related injury lawsuits while relying on contract indemnification and required contractor insurance.
During debate, board member Andrea Downer repeatedly urged stronger consequences for poor performance and raised concerns about privatization and the long‑term effect on wages and property owners. “We gotta do better. We gotta stop talking about it and do it,” she said, and said she would vote against two contract awards.
After discussion the board took the following recorded votes on agenda items listed under finance and operations: - Item 10.01 — Award contract to Tim's Enterprise LLC for Snow Removal Zone 1: motion carried; Downer recorded a “no.” - Item 10.02 — Award contract to Cheapscapes LLC for Snow Removal Zone 2: motion carried; Downer recorded a “no.” - Items 10.03–10.05 — Award contracts to Concrete Creations LLC for Zones 3–5: motion carried.
The board also approved an omnibus finance motion that included six abstracts, one ARPA agreement, three agreements, two amendments, three purchase orders and one data‑sharing agreement as listed on the agenda.
Board members said they expect a snow‑event report to appear at future Finance & Operations meetings after each significant storm so the committee and board can monitor vendor performance and any needed follow‑up.
