Advisory Board Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, April 18, 2017
Not in Attendance: Jay Marsden/Holliston/Vice Chair, Harold Rhodes/ Milford - Alternate, James Gorman/Sherborn, William Buckley/Milford, James Errickson/Natick, Kathleen Bartolini/ Southborough, Susan Stocker/ Disabled Community, Craig Hughes/Dover, Jack Hunter/Hudson, Ellen Gibbs/Wellesley, Weston.
MWRTA Consultant/CFO: John Glynn.
MWRTA Staff: Eva Willens/Deputy Administrator, Carl Damigella/Outreach Coordinator, Sara White/Director of Marketing/Communications & Intermodal Operations, Joy Glynn/ Administrative Assistant.
Kiessling Transit, Inc.: Chuck Curran.
Chairman Joe Nolan, presiding, declared a quorum was present. A role call of members present was done and the meeting was called to order at 11:05 am.
Minutes of the previous meeting:
A motion was made by Joe Nolan: Approval of minutes from the last Advisory Board Meeting of January 9, 2017.
Second. The vote was unanimous. Deb Galloway/Sudbury abstained, stating she was not in attendance at the January meeting.
Public Questions/Comments:
A request was made by Joe Nolan for any public comments from the audience.
With no comments being expressed, the meeting continued.
Administrators Report:
Preliminary Budget: MWRTA By-Laws requires approval of the Preliminary Budget, which will be presented later in the meeting by John Glynn.
37 Waverly Street: At the January 9, 2017 Advisory Board meeting, the Administrator received approval to sell 37 Waverly Street for no less than $800,000. The closing for this property at $1.1M is scheduled for April 28, 2017. A portion of the proceeds of the sale will be used for the 22 East Street Project and we will have $100,000 in capital to roll over. Any remaining funds from the sale must go into the properties that we currently own.
CNG Facility: The CNG Project has been in limbo due to funding needs for capital operating equipment. MWRTA has recently obtained $700,000 in new funds to complete the project by June 30th. Legal counsel is preparing the CNG Operating License for Alternative Vehicle Service Group (AVSG) the successful respondent to the RFP that was completed last June. It is anicipated that pumping of CNG from the facility will begin no later than January 2018.
22 East Street: MWRTA had the recently purchased building at 22 East Street gutted and has determined it is not worth putting additional funds towards the structure. Accordingly, the building will be demolished and the Authority will review its options regarding the future use of this 1/2 acre property.
Framingham Intermodal/Commuter Rail Project: MWRTA will hold an event (invitations to Advisory Board members will be mailed in the near future) at the Framingham Intermodal facility on June 30th. Secretary Pollack will join us and possibly Governor Baker. The Framingham Intermodal Project is under budget and proceeding towards completion in record time.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial: Please reach out to Vietnam Veterans in your municipality for a pinning at the MWRTA on Sunday, July 2nd. As with the last pinning event. this ceremony is being conducted in partnership with the Massachusetts National Guard.
Upon completion of his report, the Administrator took questions from the Advisory Board.
In response to a question regarding the MWRTA's plans for fleet conversion to CNG and whether there is a market for use of the CNG Facility from outside agencies/entities and the public, the Administrator responded that the Authority plans to convert 20% of its fleet over the next 5 years. With respect to outside agencies, Natick and Framingham are still interested. In responde to a question regarding the capital investment required to convert existing RTA vehicles to CNG, the Administrator responded that grant money is available to convert the vehicles.
In response to a question regarding the benefit of opening the CNG Facitlity to the public, the Administrator explained that under the terms of the license agreement, the MWRTA will receive a per gallon royalty on the sale of CNG to outside agencies/entities.
Consultant/CFO John Glynn, presented the Preliminary Budget for FY2018. Anticipated expenditures of $9.8M for FY2018 were calculated by taking eight months actual expenses through February 2017, annualize those amounts and applying an increase 2%. The MWRTA is estimating Federal funds (5307 and 5310) to be $2.5M in keeping with past experience. The revenue coupled with estimated funds rased by the Authority during the year gives rise to an estimated net cost of service of $6.2M for Fiscal 2018. Net Cost of Service is offset with estimated State Contract Assistance and Local Assessments of $2.8M and $3.4M respectively.
MWRTA will provide a final budget in June, including the actual State and Federal funding levels. This Prelimiary Budget is based on a formula and does not reflect grant funds we hope to obtain.
A motion was made by Joe Nolan: MWRTA Advisory Board Approval of the Preliminary Budget as propsed.
Second. The vote was unanimous.
Board Comments:
Cheryl Tully Stoll of Framingham thanked the Administrator for stepping up with a transporation alternative when Senator Warren planned a town meeting at Town Hall. Although the event was moved to Framingham State University and MWRTA assistance was not needed, Ms. Stoll stated that the Administrator provided timely answers and solutons.
Ed Burman of Ashland, thanked the MWRTA for allowing the use of the 3rd floor meeting room for Emergeny Medical Training (EMT). The Administrator stated that anyone who would like to use the 3rd floor is welcome and should contact the MWRTA to schedule your meeting or event.
Motion made by Joe Nolan: To adjourn the meeting.
Second: The vote was unanimous.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:28 am. Next meeting will be scheduled for June 2017.
Certificate
The undersigned being the duly qualified clerk of the MetroWest Regional Transit Authority Advisory Board, acknowledges that the foregoing minutes accurately reflect the actions taken at a legally convened meeting of the Advisory Board held on April 18, 2017.
________________
Ed Burman, Clerk
Advisory Board Meeting - June 29, 2017
Advisory Board Meeting - January 9, 2017
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