CENTRE AREA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY

  Regular Board Meeting Minutes 

November 24, 2008

4:00 PM

pdf version

STATE COLLEGE BOROUGH BUILDING

Conference Room 241, 243 S. Allen Street, State College, PA

 

 

BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:     John Spychalski, Chairman

                                                            Joseph L. Davidson, Vice Chairman

                                                            Richard Kipp, Treasurer

                                                            Gary Powers

                                                            Kathryn Bittner

 

STAFF PRESENT:                             Hugh Mose, General Manager

                                                            Judi Minor, Director of Administration

                                                            Eric Bernier, Service Development Manager

Julie Hartley, Human Resource Manager

                                                            Deanne Brunner, Receptionist

                                                            Greg Kausch, Transportation Planner

                                                            Jacqueline Sheader, Marketing Manager

                                                            Sherry Snyder, Operations Manager

                                                            Jennifer Floyd, Temporary Assistant

 

OTHERS PRESENT:                         Ken Karlic, Design Consultant

                                               

           

I.                   CALL TO ORDER

Chairman Spychalski called the meeting to order at 4:05 p.m.

 

II.                PUBLIC COMMENT

There were no public comments.

III.             OLD BUSINESS


A.   Approval of October 27, 2008 Regular Board Meeting Minutes

Chairman Spychalski entertained a motion to approve the October 27, 2008 Regular Board Meeting minutes.  Kathryn Bittner moved to approve the minutes as distributed and Gary Powers seconded.  With no discussion, the motion carried unanimously.

 

B.      Receipt of the October 2008 Finance Report

Chairman Spychalski entertained a motion to receive the October 2008 Financial Report.  Gary Powers moved to receive the report and Joe Davidson seconded.  Judi Minor went over the financials noting several items of interest.   Hugh Mose provided an update on ridership.  Centre Line is up, although the UT Route ridership is down 37% and P Route ridership is down as well, both due to the impact of the free fare zone. Other routes are up as much as 50%.  The Fare Media Report indicates that One Pass sales are up over 25%, Ride for Five pass sales are up 16% year to date, and token sales are more than double what they were at this time last year.  Centre Ride ridership is comparable to a year ago, while Centre Line ridership numbers have increased by double digits.  The Centre Commute numbers also continue to increase.  There are currently 15 vans with 14 in active service, and there were 5 Guaranteed Ride Home trips in October, which may be the most we have ever had. With no further discussion, the motion carried unanimously.

 

C.     Policy Adoption & Review – Personnel Manual

Chairman Spychalski entertained a motion to adopt the policy charges reviewed at the October Board meeting. Joe Davidson moved to adopt and Gary Powers seconded.  With no further discussion, the motion carried unanimously.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Julie Hartley went on to explain specifics of the next sections of the Personnel Manual to be reviewed.  She mentioned Section 9.3 of the manual, regarding COBRA wording changes, and pointed out that a smoke-free workplace section was added, and that the travel policy was added and changed. The wording of the document will be cleaned up and the next draft will show these changes. 

 

D.    Rebranding Project Update

Jackie Sheader explained that CATAConnect will now be called CATACommute as per the committee’s recommendation.  Hugh Mose pointed out his error on the name change in the agenda memo.  Ken Karlic spoke and gave presentation on the new logo design and how it would be portrayed on the buses and newsletter.  Board members agreed that they like the new logo.

 

Note:  Richard Kipp arrived at 4:50 p.m.

 

Chairman Spychalski closed the conversation and asked for a motion to accept the concepts.  Joe Davidson moved, and Gary Powers seconded the motion.  With no further discussion, the motion carried unanimously.

 

E.     Resolution for State Capital Bond Application

Judi Minor explained that she had to remove state bond numbers from the online application for state capital funds, due to PENNDOT’s revision of portions of the initial application, and as a result a new resolution was required. Chairman Spychalski entertained motion to approve the revised document.  Kathryn Bittner moved and Richard Kipp seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.

 

F.     Transfer of Buses from LYNX (Orlando)

Hugh Mose spoke for Joe Gilbert, who was not present.  CATA has an opportunity to acquire ten buses and associated parts, which may include ten extra engines and ten extra transmissions. There are two buses that are not in service, and one of them has been used for parts. The buses are eleven years old, and LYNX is requesting that we acquire all ten of them.  Hugh distributed a handout outlining the costs involved with the acquisition.  Gary Powers asked if the transfer of the buses can be delayed, and Hugh Mose agreed that it may be beneficial to delay the transfer until Spring Break due to space and time constraints.  Chairman Spychalski entertained a motion to approve the transfer agreement.  Joe Davidson moved and Gary Powers seconded the motion, and it was carried unanimously. 


IV.             NEW BUSINESS

A.     December and January Board Meeting Dates

The Board members agreed to hold a planning work session on December 15, 2008 at 4:00 p.m. at CATA’s main office on Whitehall Road.  The Board agreed, at Hugh Mose’s suggestion, to cancel the December Board Meeting and instead hold it in conjunction with the January meeting.  Chairman Spychalski entertained a motion to cancel the December Board Meeting scheduled on December 22, 2008.  Joe Davidson moved and Kathryn Bittner seconded the motion.  Joe Davidson moved to hold the January Board Meeting on January 19th, 2009 and Gary Powers seconded.  Both motions carried unanimously.

 

B.     Pennsylvania Community Transportation Intitiative (PCTI) Potential CATA Candidate Projects

Greg Kausch addressed the Board regarding a new funding program from PENNDOT for “Smart Transportation”.  There is a timeline of two federal fiscal years to implement and use any funds awarded. Greg Kausch proposed three possible projects:  1) Planning for a Philipsburg park and ride lot, 2) Penns Valley commuter service operating funds, or 3) Phase II of the APTS.  The Board agreed that all three possibilities are acceptable.  No formal Board action was requested.

 

C.     MOU for Transportation Planning Responsibilities

Greg Kausch reported that in the Federal Transit Administration’s Triennial Review conducted earlier this year it had been noted that CATA’s agreement with the Centre County Metropolitan Planning Organization (CCMPO) had lapsed and needed to be renewed.  Greg referred the Board to a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that had been included in the agenda, and noted that it was patterned very closely after agreements in place in other small urban areas in Pennsylvania. 

 

Chairman Spychalski entertained a motion to adopt the proposed MOU with the Centre County Metropolitan Planning Organization.  Gary Powers moved and Richard Kipp seconded.  After brief discussion the motion passed unanimously.

 

 

V.                OTHER BUSINESS

A.     General Manager’s Report

Greg Kausch reported that the Old Fort Park and Ride meeting was very productive.  The American Legion agreed with an extension of the lease for 20 years from the date that construction is completed.  Eric Bernier mentioned the new electronic sign to be placed at Pattee Transit Center, as an extension of the APTS project.  Eric encouraged Board members to stop by the CATA office to view the sign and give feedback on it.  Julie Hartley reported that the Transportation Analyst position has been filled. The candidate, Ryan Harshbarger, will begin employment on December 22nd, 2008. 

 

B.     Service Development Report

Eric Bernier reported that Patton Township is conducting a study through Trans Associates to evaluate the safety of making left turns onto N. Atherton St. from Park Forest Avenue, and to determine if there should be a ban on making these turns.  Eric noted that there is a site plan that would also impact that intersection, and that CATA had gone on record to say that it would be best if a ban on left turns did not take effect until the site was developed. 

 

 

VI.             ADJOURNMENT

Chairman Spychalski called for a motion to adjourn the meeting.  Gary Powers moved and Joseph Davidson seconded.  The meeting was adjourned at 6:16 PM. After adjournment, Board members reconvened in Executive Session to discuss personnel issues.