Brookville Area School Board Member Questions Legal Expenses

BROOKVILLE, Pa. (EYT) –A Brookville Area School Board member wants to review the district’s legal spending, but not all board members agree with the move.

Board member Roberta Ganoe requested information on the expenses paid to the district’s legal counsel over the past several years, but the information wasn’t available during the August 17 meeting.

Board member Steve Neil dismissed the request and said it isn’t worth pursuing the matter right now.

“Why don’t we just let it go?” Neil asked. “It’s a moot subject.”

Ganoe remained undeterred.

“I understand what you’re saying, but we’re talking about $500,000.00 over ten years. We were just arguing over (smaller amounts). This is a large amount compared to any other area school district, and I’d like to know how effective it is when that money could be used to help our students,” Ganoe said.

Neil said more information is needed.

“The only way we can talk about it is we have to see what we’re into, because if you go back a few years we did a lot of things where it was needed. Until we get that in front of us there is no way to talk about it, and trust me, it’s not going to make any difference,” Neil said.

Board president Kerith Strano-Taylor said information will be sent to all the board members since it was requested and suggested the issue be reviewed at least annually.

Fuel Bids

The board approved extending its fuel contract with Lockard Company at the current rate of $.08 per gallon above their cost of gasoline and $.085 per gallon above their cost of diesel fuel.

Board member Fred Park asked for more information.

District Business Manager Ellen Neyman said there was no history of bids in the district over recent years.

“This was a five year bid and this was the only company that had bid on it. I spoke to them because they were the only bid the last time, and when they were willing to keep the same rate as the last five years I felt like that was a win for everybody to give me more time to look into what we might want to bid out in the future, and I am looking to bid in the future. I believe it was done for five years because it matched our contract for bus contractors, and we don’t bid out for fuel delivery since our contractors do not have tanks, which they would have to lease from us and for us to buy them and fill them is expensive. This method is because we are using their pumps rather than having it delivered,” Neyman said.


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