Nassau bus venture flawed from the start

A major Nassau County venture to farm out its bus service has been flawed almost from the start.

But unlike similar ventures that started, and then stalled -- among them the rebuilding of Nassau Coliseum and rehabbing the Aquatic Center at Eisenhower Park -- this one's going to make it through.

It will take Armageddon to stop a private company from assuming operation of Long Island Bus come Jan. 1, county and company officials already agree.

Which makes an upcoming public hearing on the contract, followed by what's certain to be quick approval by the county legislature and approval by a state control board almost farcical.

The public hearing was slated for last week, but because of a flawed meeting notice it'll now take place Dec. 12.

The vote is slated for Dec. 19.

The Nassau Interim Finance Authority, the control board overseeing county finances, then will have little choice other than to move it along.

That's because the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's contract to run Long Island Bus expires 12 days after the legislative vote.

Whoosh! Who knew government was capable of moving so fast?

There was no sane or open process -- a flaw which makes this mess unfair to bus riders, county residents and Veolia Transportation, the firm selected to operate the buses -- in June.

When did lawmakers formally receive the proposed contract? In November. Two days after Election Day.

There's been ample finger-pointing as to what happened and why -- and speculation as to whether Veolia's hiring of a consulting firm founded by former Sen. Alfonse D'Amato played a part in how the process was handled.

Meanwhile, a sister company, Veolia Water North America, is among three firms that passed Nassau's first hurdle on the path to becoming potential bidders to operate the county's wastewater treatment system.

The county and Veolia seem to agree, however, that one proposed contract has nothing to do with the chance of securing another one.

If -- no, make that when -- the bus contract is approved, it will become Nassau's first significant public-private partnership since the county hospital was spun off as a public-benefit corporation a decade ago.

As officials point out, the county had no template for the proposed bus transaction.

It took time to fashion an agreement. Nassau also should have built in enough time to dissect and, potentially, improve it.

The proposal should have been public months ago.

Veolia, officials said, has been gearing up for the transfer since June. They've hired workers, had buses inspected and met with the business community.

"We decided to move ahead last June after we were selected," said Mike Setzer, company vice president. "We couldn't wait to do all of the stuff we have to do to be ready to take over . . . We had to assume as if it were a done deal."

Brian Nevin, a county spokesman, said the company did so at its own risk.

Veolia has yet to have the opportunity to stand before lawmakers and answer critics who contend that the proposed contract is too one-sided.

Still, the company's had six months to plan a transition on a contract county officials are certain will go through.

Shouldn't riders -- and lawmakers -- have had the same chance?