Advisory Board Meeting - January 28 2019

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APPROVED Advisory Board Meeting Minutes

Monday, January 28, 2019

The MetroWest Regional Transit Authority (MWRTA) Advisory Board met on Monday, January 28, 2019 at 11:00 am, at 15 Blandin Avenue, Framingham, MA, at the call of Joe Nolan, Advisory Board Chair/Wayland.
A roll call of members present was conducted. In attendance were: Ed Burman/Ashland - Clerk,
James Errickson/Natick, Ellen Gibbs/Wellesley, Brian Herr/Hopkinton, Jack Hunter/Hudson,
William Kingkade/Milford, Jean MacQuiddy/Weston, Jay Marsden/Holliston – Vice Chair,
Carole Mullen/ Hopedale, Joseph Nolan/Wayland – Chair, Cheryl Tully Stoll/Framingham
Not in attendance: Kathleen Bartolini/Southborough, Debra Galloway/Sudbury, James Gorman/ Sherborn, Craig Hughes/Dover, Nick Milano/Marlborough, Susan Stocker/Disabled Community
Also in attendance: Ed Carr/Administrator, Eva Willens/Deputy Administrator, John Glynn/CFO, Patrick Moynihan/ General Counsel, Joy Glynn/Grants Management, Daniel Fitch/IT Consultant, Andrea Mondor/Accts Payable, Ieshia Price/Travel Training, Emily Van Dewoestine/Intermodal Operations, Katrina White/Executive Director, MetroWest Visitor’s Bureau
Kiessling Transit, Inc.: Roger Kiessling/Partner, Chuck Curran/General Manager
National Express: Corey Gagnon/NE Division Area General Manager
Chairman Joe Nolan, presiding, declared a quorum was present, and the meeting was called to order at 11:00 am.

Minutes of the previous meeting:
A motion was made by Joe Nolan: Approval of minutes from the previous Advisory Board Meeting of September 18, 2018. Second. The vote was unanimous.
Public Questions/Comments:
A request was made by Mr. Nolan for any public comments from the audience. With no comments being expressed, the meeting continued.

Administrator’s Report:
Appreciation to Brian Herr for his assistance with the MWRTA Solar Canopy Project.

Noted: Although Brian Herr was assisting the MWRTA there was no conflict of interest.

Mr. Carr, as a Governor appointed Administrator to the RTA Task Force, meets 2 -3 times per week to review RTA funding and Best Practices. There are 6 Administrators on the RTA Task Force (3 appointed by the Governor and 3 appointed by MARTA).

RTA’s share a Budget of $88M this year; $82M base for State Contract Assistance (SCA); $2M WRTA and PVTA for deficits; Competition for remaining $4M funding is available to RTAs for proposals submitted that include partnership and innovation. The MWRTA submitted 3 proposals: 1) First Mile/Last Mile Consumer App. 2) Shuttle Service on Route 20, Marlborough to Riverside on Green Line. 3) WRTA Workforce Connector along Route 9.

Q: Does the $4M grant need to be expended this fiscal year? Do you know the selection process for those grants?
A: $4M divided by 15 RTAs to be expended over eighteen months. MWRTA submitted 3 grants. Selection process is internal.
Administrator’s Employment Agreement. Mr. Carr expressed his continued interest in serving as MWRTA Administrator.
Fare Study Update:

At the previous meeting the board held off a vote regarding fare increases. The board requested information on fare comparisons to other RTAs. MWRTA fares equal in range to several other RTAs.

Q: What would a small uptick in fares (i.e. $0.10) do to revenue?
A: Raising fares less than $ .25, would be difficult to handle from a cash perspective. RTAs are waiting for the MBTA AFC 2.0 (Automated Fare Collection) update. RTAs will follow suit, shifting from Scheidt & Bachmann (S & B) fareboxes. The MWRTA should wait the anticipated 2 years, while the MBTA implements this change. Increasing fares, decreases ridership. A cost/benefit analysis will be conducted when a fare increase vote by the board is imminent.

Administrator’s Employment Agreement:

General Counsel is seeking a vote of the board today to:
1. Authorize the chairman to form a subcommittee to negotiate the next contract with the Administrator. The Administrator’s contract terms have been for 3 years, consistently. His current contract expires on 6/30/19.
2. Authorize the board to move forward and appoint a committee to report back to the board at the next meeting.

Under the terms of the current agreement with the Administrator, the board informs him by January 31st if it’s the intent of the board to negotiate a new contract.

Under the terms of the current contract the board will inform the Administrator by February 28th as to whether or not the committee can come to an agreement. The Administrator agrees to extend the February 28th date to allow the subcommittee to negotiate, on behalf of the board, and for the board to vote and ratify a contract.

A motion was made: To form a subcommittee with the intent of negotiating a new contract with Ed Carr as Administrator. Second. The vote was unanimous.

The previous subcommittee consisted of the Chair, Vice Chair and Clerk. Any board member interested in serving on this subcommittee should send an email to the Deputy Administrator or the Chair. The subcommittee will report contract negotiations at the next board meeting in April.

Ownership of Kiessling Transit, Inc. (KTI):

MWRTA received notice from service provider KTI, that they have been acquired by National Express, an international company. KTI has entered into long term employments contracts with National Express, in regards to KTI management, as expressed under the existing contract with MWRTA. MWRTA has been assured by KTI, that no changes other than with HR and improved training, to the contract expectations, will occur under this new ownership.

Demand Response and Fixed Route Contract Extensions:

KTI Demand Response (DR) is up for 2nd/final option year this 6/30/19 which will extend to 6/30/20. KTI Fixed Route (FR) is up for 1st option year this 6/30/19 which will extend to 6/30/20.
MWRTA will discuss combining the DR and FR Request for Proposal (RFP) for next year and not execute the final option year for FR. Board approval vote will be required for new contracts, but is not required to extend options years of existing contracts. Administration has the authority to extend the options years of existing contracts. MWRTA is aligning both DR and FR contracts, for ease of management, to go out to bid together so they become one contract, if applicable.
Discussion ensued on various potential contract issues. Counsel will explore and review terms and provide sound judgement in renewal of the contract extensions.

General Counsel RFP:

MWRTA current contract term with General Counsel is for 3 years effective 7/1/14 with 2 option years which have been exercised. MWRTA is currently working on a timeline to have the RFP out to bid by 3/1/19.
The board appoints two positions which require the vote of the board: Administrator and Legal Counsel.
An Evaluation Committee for Legal Counsel will be required and the RFP will include experience with RTA’s along with several criteria (i.e., financial) to measure the candidates. Current MWRTA General Counsel remains interested in the position here at the MWRTA.

Board Member Comments:

MWRTA will send out a notice for an April board meeting at which a DRAFT Budget will be presented for a vote. A meeting to approve the next FY’s Budget will occur in June.
The Administrator discussed the RTA Task Force deliberations and the importance of the Advisory Board to the RTAs). A first draft of the MWRTA Best Practices was distributed. At the April meeting more information will be available. Board Members are encouraged to collaborate and advocate with the Administrator or RTA Staff about their communities. Making an effort to communicate your ideas on a regular basis to the MWRTA with suggestions for improvements, enhances the strength of the RTA.

Q: Has the FTA shutdown affected MWRTA, are we worried for the future?
A: 5307 Federal Grants were impacted.

Next Meeting:
The next Advisory Board meeting will be in April 2019 (date to be determined).
A motion was made by Mr. Nolan: To adjourn the meeting. Second: The vote was unanimous.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:42 am.

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 January 28, 2019.

Ed Burman, Clerk

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