Lawmakers could still approve bus takeover

The leadership of the Nassau County Legislature said Thursday that it was prepared to approve the takeover of LI Bus by a private firm, but could back off if County Executive Edward Mangano changes his support.

The legislature issued a public notice Thursday that it would reconvene at 5 p.m. Monday to consider the contract with Veolia Transportation of Lombard, Ill.

Mangano told Newsday on Wednesday that he was taking another look at bids by two other firms after finding out Tuesday that Veolia's parent company was selling off its transportation holdings.

Representatives of the two other firms -- MV Transportation of Fairfield, Calif., and First Transit of Cincinnati -- said Thursday that they had not heard from Mangano or his aides about the possibility of a change in the bid.

A spokesman for Legis. Peter Schmitt (R-Massapequa), the leader of the Republican majority in the legislature, said he continued to support the takeover.

The takeover had been approved by the Rules Committee on Nov. 28 and was the subject of the mandatory public hearing before the full legislature Monday.

"We intend to put it on for a vote. He [Schmitt] supports it pending any major change from the county executive's position," legislative spokesman Edward Ward said.

Aides to Mangano would not comment.

The MTA, which now operates LI Bus with an annual subsidy from the county, had said it would continue to run it past the Jan. 1 scheduled takeover as long as the county provides a full operating subsidy.