Advisory Board Meeting - June 9, 2014

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MetroWest Regional Transit Authority

Advisory Board Meeting Minutes

Monday, June 9, 2014

The MetroWest Regional Transit Authority Advisory Board met on Monday, June 9, 2014 at 4:30 p.m., at 37 Waverly Street, Framingham, MA, at the call of Mr. Charles Hughes, Chair.

In attendance were:Edward Carr/MWRTA Administrator, Charles Stevenson/Counsel, Charles Hughes/Natick, Ed Burman/Ashland, Jay Marsden/Holliston, Tim Cummings/Marlborough, Charlie Sisitsky/Framingham, Deb Galloway/Sudbury, Joe Nolan/Wayland, Ellen Gibbs/Wellesley, Kathleen Bartolini/Southborough.

Also in attendance were:MWRTA Consultants Patrick Moynihan, John Glynn, and Kathleen Vogel/First Transit. MWRTA staff:Eva Willens, Linda Murtagh, Joy Glynn, Carl Damigella, Sara White and Kevin Cotter.

The meeting began at 4:30 pm.

Mr. Hughes declared that a quorum was present.

Minutes of the previous meeting:

A motion was made by Joe Nolan to waive the reading of and approve the previous minutes as stated.

Second by Jay Marsden:No opposition – The vote was unanimous, one member abstained. (Kathleen Bartolini abstained indicating she was not present at the previous meeting).

Administrator’s Report:

Mr. Carr stated that the Blandin Ave. project is currently under budget and anticipates turnover/move in February 2015.

Mr. Carr gave an update to the Board on the Blandin Ave. project:The MWRTA received $1.2M for the CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) project and met with NStar last week.He anticipates being up and running in the spring of 2015. An RFP is being developed for the CNG project, which will include running the service in the requirements.

Charlie Hughes is very interested in the CNG and would like the RTA to keep the towns updated.

Mr. Carr: Framingham and Wayland are very interested as well.

The contract to convert the Framingham MBTA Banana Lot is progressing.

The RTA is working with the town of Holliston to centralize dispatch and provide a manifest for service with their Council On Aging (COA). The town will benefit by saving operation costs.

COA customers will now contact the MWRTA Call Center to book their trips. The call center’s software program will produce a schedule based on the trips booked.This would enable future ride sharing via the MWRTA as well as other COA possibilities.

Preliminary discussions with the MBTA have begun to take over the RIDE service in Wellesley, Weston & Dover within the next year.

Discussion continued:

Joe Nolan:The MBTA RIDE provides different services and different costs than we do.Will you bring our MW RIDE service into those areas?

Mr. Carr:Yes

Joe Nolan: Some growing pains/deficiencies along with the service changes.

Mr. Carr:This has been discussed.Customers/ grandfathered, the quality of service does not change, and public hearings will continue.

Questions and Comments from the Audience:None

Board Requirements:

Mr. Carr proceeded to review the 4 (four) Statutory Requirements of the Board:

1.Hire/Fire the Administrator;

2.Approve the Budgets;

3.Obligated to Set Fares;

4.Advocate for your town.

The most important By Law is to approve any contract over $500,000.This will not occur today but possibly at the next meeting for the CNG Project.

Old Business:

Audit Committee:

The Audit Committee for Roland Lambalot consisted of Joe Nolan, Jason Smith and Charlie Hughes.The committee is pleased with Mr. Lambalot’s performance and sees no reason to change. The committee stated that he has provided several suggestions and is very capable.

Charlie Stevenson recommended a motion to approve Roland Lambalot the Auditors five year contract renewal with reappointment annually.

A motion was made from Charlie Hughes to approve the Auditors Contract Renewal of 5 years, with reappointment annually.

Second by Joe Nolan:No opposition – The vote was unanimous.

Administrator’s Evaluation Committee:

Volunteers appointed to meet in the fall time frame:Kathleen Bartolini, Ed Burman, Ellen Gibbs, Jay Marsden and Joe Nolan.

2014 Budget Revised:

John Glynn indicated the Auditor asked that the Authority revise the budget and have the expenses reduced by $50,000.The reduction is the result of a well-managed Authority.

A motionwas made from Jay Marsden to approve the Revised 2014 Budget as presented.

Second by Kathleen Bartolini:No opposition – The vote was unanimous.

Disability Community Representative:

Weston is the next town in rotation to select a Disability Representative. Weston’s representative Toni Wolf, is having a difficult time and has not located anyone as of yet. Sherborn would be the next town, then Sudbury.Deb Galloway indicated she may have a representative from Sudbury and will advise.

Charlie Stevenson reminded everyone that this board shall appoint the disabled voter and this is a rotating process established by the Advisory Board.The Board of Selectmen does not have to appoint this individual.The representative can be anyone who lives or works with the disabled community in the town, a family member or an individual who has something to do with the disabled.Charlie also mentioned the law has changed, giving the disability representative a full vote on the Advisory Board.

New Business:

2015 Budget for Board Approval:

A modest and reasonable increase from $6,955,000 to $7,089,000 was requested.

Charlie Sisitsky commented on the difference between the FY budgets.Mr. Carr noted this was a result of the JARC Grant funding ending for the Routes 7 & 7C, which will roll into the regular MWRTA budget as the grant ends.

State Contract Assistance (SCA) amount for FY is $2.65M.

A motion was made from Kathleen Bartolini to approve the Final 2015 Budget as presented.

Second by Deb Galloway:No opposition – The vote was unanimous.

General Counsel recommendation for Board Approval:

Charlie Stevenson is retiring after providing 7 years of service to the MWRTA.

The Legal Ad for General Counsel RFP was published on the Massachusetts Municipal Association’ website, from March 31, 2014 through April 30, 2014.Four responsible bids were received.The maximum score was 50 points of which Patrick Moynihan & Associates, LLC scored the highest, based on the General Counsel Review Team which consisted of:Eva Willens, John Glynn and Charlie Stevenson.A recommendation was made by Mr. Carr to hire Patrick Moynihan & Associates, LLC firm to provide General Counsel services to the MWRTA Advisory Board.

A motion was made from Charlie Hughes to approve the 5 year General Counsel Contract with Patrick Moynihan & Associates, LLC,which complies with the RFP.

Second by Charlie Sisitsky:No opposition – The vote was unanimous.

Title VI Program Approval:

The MWRTA is in compliance with the US Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Title VI Program.The MWRTA confirms that all conditions of the program have been met and is working to ensure nondiscriminatory transportation in support of the mission to enhance the social and economic quality of life for all Americans.

A motion was made from Joe Nolan to approve the Title VI Program as presented.

Second by Jay Marsden:No opposition – The vote was unanimous.

Board Reorganization:

A motion was made from Charlie Hughes to nominate Joe Nolan as Chairman of the Advisory Board.

Second by Jay Marsden:No opposition – The vote was unanimous.

Joe Nolan discussed the nomination of the following officers to the Advisory Board:Jason Smith/Vice Chair and Jay Marsden/Clerk.

A motion was made from Charlie Hughes to nominate Jason Smith/Vice Chair and Jay Marsden/Clerk to the Advisory Board.

Second by Ellen Gibbs:No opposition – The vote was unanimous.

Other Business:

Sara White/Marketing Director for the MWRTA presented the following future programs:

-July: “All the Places You Can Go”

-Transitions Kickoff

-Boston Hospital Brochures

-Video production:“How to Ride the Bus/Flag Down”

Carl Damigella/Brand Management, Outreach and Travel/Training Coordinator provided the following update:

-Contracted shuttle with Boston Scientific Marlborough to Southborough Commuter Rail;

-Travel/Training took place at the MWRTA in May and we are now offering it to COAs;

-Ashland’s Pond Street revitalization is underway;

-Keefe Tech relationship / building MWRTA shelters (RTA supplies the capital).

-Current shelters are located at:Framingham DPW, Framingham High School, and Framingham Union Hospital. Boston Scientific in Marlborough will be next.

Board Member Comments:

Joe Nolan suggested distributing the marketing media to local towns/libraries. He also thanked the outgoing Chair of the Advisory Board, Charlie Hughes for his service.

Next Meeting:The next meeting was scheduled for September 15, 2014.

Adjourn:

A motion to adjourn was made by Charlie Hughes.

Second by Kathleen Bartolini:No opposition –The vote was unanimous.

The meeting was adjourned at 5:20 pm

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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 June 9, 2014.

Jay Marsden, Clerk

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