Trinity meeting canceled
A special meeting scheduled by Trinity Area School Board to discuss the transportation contract awarded April 1 to First Student Inc. was canceled Monday.
Andrews and Price LLC of Pittsburgh was appointed by the school district’s insurance carrier to handle litigation involving Trinity and GG&C Inc., and Tony Sanchez, an attorney for the firm, recommended the board cancel the meeting. Sanchez also advised directors not to discuss or vote on any transportation issues until Washington County Court President Judge Debbie O’Dell Seneca rules on whether two directors violated the terms of a court settlement with GG&C in which they agreed not to discuss or vote on Trinity transportation issues at a time when the board considered bids for awarding the new transportation contract.
As of April 10, O’Dell Seneca had 90 days to rule on whether directors Sandra Clutter and Jenene Hupp should be held in contempt of court for voting with the majority in favor of First Student’s $8.86 million contract April 1.
Andrews and Price LLC is replacing the school district’s solicitor, Makel & Associates, as legal counsel solely for the GG&C litigation.
Some school board members said they found out when they arrived at Monday’s meeting that Andrews and Price would handle the GG&C litigation.
Monday’s special meeting was approved at the April 18 school board meeting – which four board members did not attend – after a motion to amend the agenda to include a motion to rescind the April 1 vote to award the transportation contract failed by a 5-0 vote. The motion required six votes. Director Henry Clemens, who was included in the legal agreement between Trinity and GG&C not to participate in discussions and votes related to transportation issues, voted in favor of the motion. Dennis Makel said Monday Clemens’ vote was not a violation of that agreement.
The board’s next meeting is scheduled for May 2.