Accounts committee asks auditor to meet with superintendent and solicitor over school transportation procurement

The Brockton accounts committee on Sept. 18 voted to ask the city auditor to meet with the superintendent of schools and include the city solicitor if necessary to press for compliance with a local ordinance that requires open competitive bidding for transportation contracts.

"I'd like to make a motion to ask the auditor to meet with the superintendent of schools and include the solicitor if necessary to discuss how we can obtain compliance with our own ordinance," counsel Farwell said during the committee's warrants review; counsel Levy seconded the motion. The chair called a voice vote and the motion carried with no roll-call tally recorded.

Members said the move responds to repeated audit findings and concerns that the school department had not completed bid specifications for transportation, potentially costing the city hundreds of thousands of dollars. The committee discussed that special education transportation can be exempt from Chapter 30B but that the city ordinance seeks to require open competitive bidding regardless; the motion requests the auditor and solicitor determine avenues for compliance or legal challenge if the school department objects.

The committee asked the auditor to follow up and report back with the superintendent and the solicitor about timing and next steps. Council members also discussed arranging a site visit to the school transportation office to review fleet size, service rates and contract terms before further action.

The committee recorded no roll-call vote; the motion passed by voice vote and members directed staff to pursue the requested meetings and reports.