CENTRE AREA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY
BOARD MEETING
MINUTES
OCTOBER 26, 2009
4:00PM
STATE COLLEGE BOROUGH BUILDING
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
Mark
Kutzer, Director of Maintenance
Eric
Bernier, Service Development Manager
Jackie
Sheader, Marketing Manager
Julie
Hartley, Human Resource Manager
Greg
Kausch, Transportation Planner
Marsha
Kyper, Assistant to the General Manager
OTHERS PRESENT: Theresa Lafer, State
College Borough Liaison
I.
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Spychalski called the
meeting to order at 4:04 PM.
Chairman Spychalski noted the
addition of an item to the agenda, under Old Business, item D, CATA
Downtown Office Signage
Design.
II.
PUBLIC COMMENT
There were no public
comments.
III.
OLD BUSINESS
A.
Approval
of Minutes of September 28, 2009 Board Meeting
Chairman Spychalski entertained a motion to approve the September 28,
2009 Regular Board Meeting Minutes as presented. Richard Kipp moved and Gary Powers
seconded. The motion carried
unanimously.
B.
September
2009 Finance Reports
The September 2009 Finance Reports were
presented. Judi Minor reported that due to vanpool fares being lowered after the budget was approved, that line
item will not be met, and that the CNG Tax Credit program ends in
December. Judi went on to report that
the Marketing Support figure is high, because payment for the new Streaming
Videos could not be spread throughout the year.
Hugh Mose commented that Paratransit ridership remains flat, while the
growth trends in One Pass, Token and Ride-for-Five sales continue. Fixed Route Ridership on the A (Park Forest),
B (Boalsburg), C (Houserville), F (Pine Grove) and K (Cato Park) has declined,
which is opposite of last year, while ridership is up substantially on routes
serving the student corridors. Hugh
further noted that there are fewer NV trips, due to the increase in trips on
the N (Martin St. Aaron Dr.) Route and V (Vairo Blvd.)
Routes and that Campus Service ridership is flat. Hugh went on to report that the $1,400 CATACOMMUTE vanpool expense was for
replacement of tires, brakes and rotors on van number 4353.
Chairman Spychalski entertained a motion to approve the September 2009
Finance Reports as presented. Joe
Davidson moved and Richard Kipp seconded.
With no further discussion, the motion carried unanimously.
C.
Policy
Review – Personnel Manual
Julie Hartley presented the non-represented Staff Policy Manual Introduction; Appointment Procedures,
Introductory Periods, and Organizational Structure; Performance Review;
Promotions; Demotions and Reclassifications; Work Week; and Types of Leave policies
for the Board’s review. Julie stated
that the recommended changes to the Time
Sheet policy reflected internal procedural improvements and Types of Leave policy changes reflected
allowable incremental usage of vacation and personal time.
Hugh Mose stated that these portions of the Staff Policy Manual document
were provided for review and comment only, and that final document revisions
will be presented at the November meeting for formal approval.
D.
Downtown
Office Signage Design
Jackie Sheader reported that the first of two Request for Proposals
(RFPs) for replacement of the Downtown Pass Sales Office canopy signage
resulted in no responses, while the second received one response for a price
significantly over the amount budgeted for the project. Jackie further stated that after canvassing
local businesses with signage similar to what staff had in mind, she is
recommending that Sekula Signs of DuBois,
PA be retained as the sign design vendor.
Jackie Sheader referred to handouts of the canopy and plaque designs, and
passed around a photocopy of what the canopy sign will look like when back-lit
at night. Jackie noted that the final
price quote was $18,000, over double the original $8,000, due to the decision
to expand the sign to encompass the entire canopy and to add the wall plaque. Joe
Davidson inquired whether there was money to cover the increase. Judi Minor added that there was money left in
the original project grant; if that is not sufficient operating funds can be
used to make up the difference. Jackie
further reported that the sign design had received the approval of the Beaver
Avenue Streetscape Committee, and will be presented to the Downtown Design
Review Board for approval and then shared with the Library Board for its affirmation.
Chairman Spychalski entertained a motion to authorize the General
Manager to award a contract to Sekula Signs, DuBois, Pennsylvania for Downtown
Office Signage Design and Installation, not to exceed $19,000. Joe Davidson moved and Gary Powers
seconded. The motion carried
unanimously.
Note: Kathryn Bittner arrived at 4:25 PM.
IV.
NEW BUSINESS
A.
Receipt
of FY 2008/09 Audited Financial Statements
Judi Minor reported that the year-end financial statements and the
federally-required single audit reports completed by Reinsel Kuntz Lesher, LLP
were included in the Board packets. Judi
further stated that the information included in the audit was also reflected in
the June Finance Reports distributed at the last Board meeting, and that a copy
of the auditor’s report to the Board, which replaced the management letter of
previous years, was also included in each Board packet.
Judi Minor reported that this year there was one finding included in the
single audit report, regarding an over-draw of federal operating assistance,
which turned out to be lower than the mid-year estimate on which the operating
subsidy requirement was based. Judi
stated that the Authority’s corrective action response to that finding is included in the report. Judi further commented that the report to the
Board notes two insignificant deficiencies, related to internal accounting
controls.
Joe Davidson noted that there was no comment in the documents regarding
the farebox theft. Judi Minor responded
that the theft was not considered an internal control issue and therefore was
not addressed as part of the audit.
Hugh Mose expressed appreciation to Judi Minor and her staff for the
excellent work that they had done in preparing for the audit.
Chairman Spychalski entertained a motion that the Board receive the FY
2008/09 year-end financial audit and single audit reports and authorize their
distribution to interested parties.
Richard Kipp moved and Gary Powers seconded. With no further discussion, the motion
carried unanimously.
B.
Resolution
Authorizing Filing of FY 2009/10 Federal Formula Assistance Grant
Judi Minor stated that each Board packet included a copy of a resolution
authorizing the filing for federal operating and/or capital funds under Section
5307 of the Federal Transit Act. Judi
noted that adoption of the required resolution at this time would allow staff
to prepare and submit the grant as soon as funding levels have been announced.
Chairman Spychalski entertained a motion that the Board adopt the resolution
authorizing the filing of CATA’s FY 2009/10 federal formula assistance
grant. Joe Davidson moved and Gary
Powers seconded. The motion carried
unanimously.
C.
Resolution Authorizing Transfer of Buses
Hugh Mose noted that each Board packet included a copy of a resolution
authorizing the transfer of buses between CATA and IndiGO, the transit
authority in Indiana, PA. Hugh stated
that the transfer of two 35’ CATA buses for two IndiGO 40’ New Flyer buses was
authorized at the June 22, 2009 Board Meeting.
Hugh Mose further stated that, after further discussion among CATA staff and, subsequently, with IndiGO staff, the recommendation has been revised to reflect the exchange of only one of the 35’ LYNX buses and the replacement of the second with two Ford CNG cutaway vans. Hugh explained that this recommendation is based on CATA’s inability to effectively use the two CNG cutaways, for the following reasons:
1.
CATA no
longer needs a light-weight bus for the C Route, because it no longer utilizes the Trout Road
bridge.
2.
The cutaway vans seat only 16 passengers, and
are therefore, too small for just about every assignment.
3.
With a range of less than 100 miles, the cutaway
vans can only be used for part of a day before refueling is needed.
4.
Their short range and their use of CNG also make
the vans impractical for paratransit service.
Hugh stated that the cutaways have not quite reached the end of their
federally-mandated life expectancy, and consequently, each has a remaining
federal interest of $13,705 that will need to be transferred to IndiGo. Judi Minor noted that IndiGo has to pass a
resolution of its own before the exchange can be finalized.
Chairman Spychalski entertained a motion that the Board adopt the
resolution authorizing the transfer
of one 35’ New Flyer bus (from LYNX) and two Ford CNG cutaway vans to IndiGO in
exchange for two IndiGO 40’ New Flyer buses. Kathryn
Bittner moved and Gary Powers seconded.
The motion carried unanimously.
V.
OTHER BUSINESS
A.
General Manager’s Report
Hugh Mose reported that he will be on vacation from Wednesday, October
28 through Monday, November 16 and referred to his Bi-Weekly Memo from October 16
for details about activities at CATA.
Hugh also commented on the challenges facing Operations due to Supervisor
and Driver illness leaving them shorthanded.
B.
Service Development Report
Eric Bernier provided a written report for the Board’s review. Eric reported that as a result of the loss of
power to the APTS during the snow storm on Thursday, October 15, 2009 he was
checking into a power back-up source.
Hugh Mose asked Greg Kausch to comment on the Assessment of Public
Transportation Services in Centre County, Task IV Report that was included in the
recent Board mailing. Greg stated that
the report compares and evaluates the various paratransit service delivery
options outlined in the study and that Walt Cherwony is scheduled to attend the
November CATA Board Meeting to make a formal presentation of the report. Greg further commented that the report was
being provided at this time so that the Board could review it in preparation
for the presentation and subsequent discussion.
Theresa Lafer suggested that the staff provide a list of issues related
to each alternative for the Board to consider prior to the presentation. Chairman Spychalski inquired whether there
was a consensus to develop a comprehensive list of questions and concerns from
Board members and staff to be considered prior to the presentation. It was agreed that there was a
consensus. Greg Kausch will develop a
list of issues and questions that can be addressed during the November Board
Meeting presentation.
Hugh Mose recommended that a Work Session be scheduled in follow-up to
the presentation. Chairman Spychalski concurred, and asked that staff identify
a Work Session date.
VI.
ADJOURNMENT
Chairman Spychalski called for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Richard Kipp moved and Kathryn Bittner
seconded. The motion carried
unanimously. The meeting was adjourned
at 5:17 PM.
VII. EXECUTIVE
SESSION
The Board reconvened in Executive Session to discuss personnel matters.