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NATIONAL COALITION OF SCHOOL BUS SAFETY NEWS 2007
DMV Chief Takes Some Heat
January 30, 2007
WEST HARTFORD -- Department of Motor
Vehicles Commissioner Robert Ward came under fire by state
legislators Monday night for failing to discipline employees
handling the licensing and investigation of a school bus driver with
a criminal record who was found to have cocaine in his system at the
time of a fatal accident.
"At some point in time there has to be accountability for doing a
horrible job," said state Sen. Thomas P. Gaffey, D-Meriden, at a
sparsely attended public hearing on school bus safety held at West
Hartford Town Hall.
Gaffey had asked whether the employees
involved in the "debacle" were still working in the agency.
Ward, who until weeks ago worked alongside the legislators as the
House minority leader, said they were. He explained that he wanted
to avoid an employee discipline process that could take up to a
year. He said he instead decided to focus on making systemic changes
to prevent tragedies like the death of Dean Carlson, a 65-year-old
pedestrian who was struck and killed by a bus driven by a man who
never should have received a license. "I saw mistakes at all
levels," Ward said. "It may be a wrong decision, but it's the way I
decided to go."
Ward also reminded the legislators that one of his first gestures as
commissioner was to make public a report that is highly critical of
the employees who handled the licensing of driver Robert Fountain.
But Ward's response was not sufficient for certain members. Rep.
Andy Fleischmann, D-West Hartford, noted that a man lost his life,
and "there are children who are at risk."
"To me, for someone not to be held accountable, it just doesn't seem
right," said Fleischmann, chairman of the education committee.
Ward testified before members of both the education and
transportation committees, clarifying changes he has made in the
school bus licensure process in the month he has served as
commissioner. Namely, he has ordered that school bus drivers be
subject to the same statutory screening standards as teachers and
coaches.
Ward's predecessor, now deputy commissioner William Ramirez, halted
the issuing of temporary school bus driver's licenses, a practice
that allowed Fountain to first obtain a license before a complete
criminal background check was complete.
Fountain, 48, was issued a temporary school bus driver's license on
Sept. 8 despite having misdemeanor convictions that would have
disqualified him. On Oct. 20, while still operating under the
temporary license, he struck and killed Carlson. An investigation
determined that he had cocaine in his system at the time of the
accident.
Among other changes, Ward told legislators that over the next few
weeks the DMV will implement technology that will allow staff to
check bus driver's criminal records against the state judicial
branch's records. The department has relied on the state police
criminal database, which is said to have a 28-month backlog.
Another witness at the hearing, Patrice Peterson, the secretary
treasurer of a local chapter of the Connecticut School Employees
Association, urged the legislators to take a "holistic approach"
when looking at the issue of school bus driver safety.
"Their wages are horrible, their lack of benefits are horrible,"
Peterson said. She was also critical of Double A Transportation, the
company that hired and employed Fountain, for failing to adequately
screen him. "That employer had responsibility for putting that
driver in that seat."
By KATIE MELONE, Courant Staff Writer
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