APPROVED Advisory Board Meeting Minutes
The MetroWest Regional Transit Authority (MWRTA) Advisory Board met on Monday, October 7, 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: Karen Adelman-Foster/Natick, Ed Burman/Ashland - Clerk, Debra Galloway/Sudbury, Brian Herr/Hopkinton, Jack Hunter/Hudson, Jack Morgan/Wellesley, Carole Mullen/Hopedale, Trish Pope/ Marlborough, Joseph Nolan/Wayland – Chair, Thatcher Kezer/Framingham.
Not in attendance: Kathleen Bartolini/Southborough, James Gorman/ Sherborn, Craig Hughes/Dover, William Kingkade/Milford, Mark Ahronian/Holliston, Jean MacQuiddy/Weston, Susan Stocker/Disabled Community.
Also in attendance: Ed Carr/Administrator, Eva Willens/Deputy Administrator, Sara Scully/Assistant Deputy Administrator, John Glynn/CFO, Patrick Moynihan/General Counsel, Joy Glynn/Grants Management, Daniel Fitch/IT Consultant, Matthew Sarro/Financial Assistant.
Kiessling Transit, Inc.: Chuck Curran/General Manager
Public Attendee: Carl Damigella of Holliston, William LaBarge of East Street, Framingham. Framingham City Councilor Michael Cannon arrived at 11:20 am.
Chair Joe Nolan, presiding, declared a quorum was present and the meeting was called to order at 11:01 am.
A motion was made by Ed Burman: Approval of minutes from the Advisory Board Meeting of June 24, 2019.
Second by Brian Herr. The vote was unanimous. Abstained Framingham, Wellesley.
A request was made by Mr. Nolan for any public comments from the audience.
William LaBarge of 11 East Street, Framingham spoke with regard to the light pollution coming from the LED lights at the MWRTA. He stated that ever since the house located at 22 East Street was removed by the MWRTA the bright lights from the tops of the solar canopy and fuel tank canopy shine into his home windows and that others who live on East St. are also experiencing the same intrusion. He suggested MWRTA adjust the lights downward or place deflectors on them. He hopes for a solution or remedy within a month.
The Chairman appreciated his comments, however he expressed that the MWRTA has most likely improved the safety of the neighborhood with the installation of the lights.
Facilities Director, Gerry Hartwell, indicated MWRTA remedied the island lights in May with the installation of shields and that in a June 1st email from Mr. LaBarge, he acknowledged that the lights were off.
Nonetheless, Mr. Carr stated that he and Mr. Hartwell will meet again with Mr. LaBarge this week to assess the parking lot lighting situation.
Mr. Carr announced that on November 11th at 2 pm, MWRTA will host a re-dedication of a flagpole plaque to Class of ’63 Marian High School alumni, commemorating the service of Lance Corporal John M. Nealon who was killed in Vietnam. The plaque is being relocated from the recently closed Marian High School property to the flagpole located at the MWRTA Vietnam War Memorial. He extended an invitation to all Board members to attend the event.
Mr. Carr reported that the MWRTA received discretionary funding awards from MassDOT for the Sudbury Route 20 Shuttle Pilot and for the creation of a First Mile/Last Mile computer application. Daniel Fitch/IT Consultant made a brief presentation to the Board on the features of the computer app. MWRTA will continue pursuing community outreach to promote these projects. MWRTA Assistant Deputy Administrator, Sara Scully, is the contact for both projects.
The Chairman advised the Board that, with the recent departure of Jay Marsden (Holliston), a vacancy now exists in the position of Vice Chair. Mr. Nolan recommended that Ed Burman, Ashland, be nominated Vice Chair to replace Mr. Marsden and that Jack Hunter, Hudson, be nominated Clerk to replace Mr. Burman.
A motion was made by Brian Herr: To approve the Advisory Board Vice-Chairman and Clerk replacements as presented. Second by Jack Morgan. The vote was unanimous.
MWRTA recently updated the Title VI Program as required by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).
A grant was received in the spring of 2019 from the MetroWest Health Foundation in the amount of $26,000 which enabled the MWRTA to offer to its employee’s diversity, equity, and inclusion training in October.
This training has been incorporated into the MWRTA Title VI Program. In addition, Central Transportation Planning Staff (CTPS) provided updated versions of the MAPs and demographic data based on the census tract, in order to add the Town of Hopedale, MWRTA’s most recent community member, to the Title VI Program. In addition, MWRTA, as part of its ongoing commitment to its Title VI program, will now be providing LEP cards in each of the vehicles so that the drivers can assist passengers, as needed.
A motion was made by Jack Hunter: To approve the MWRTA Title VI Program 2019, as presented. Second by Ed Burman.
The vote was unanimous.
Ashland member Ed Burman thanked the MWRTA for the transportation assistance that was provided for two local homeless students who were housed in Boston for a short period of time. Both the MWRTA and the MBTA provided transportation support for these students until they were able to transition to local housing. The result was a very positive experience for these students.
The next Advisory Board meeting will be held in January, final date to be determined.
A motion was made by Brian Herr: To adjourn the meeting. Second Ed Burman: The vote was unanimous.
The meeting adjourned at 11:33 am.
The undersigned being the duly qualified acting 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 October 7, 2019.
________________________
Jack Hunter, Clerk
Advisory Board Meeting - January 27, 2020
Advisory Board Meeting - June 24, 2019
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