CENTRE AREA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY

REGULAR BOARD MEETING

MINUTES

pdf version 

JULY 26, 2010

4:00 p.m.

STATE COLLEGE BOROUGH BUILDING

CONFERENCE Room 241, 243 S. Allen Street

State College, PA  16801

 

 

BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:                 John Spychalski, Chairman

                                                                        Joe Davidson, Vice-Chairman

                                                                        Gary Powers

                                                                        Kathryn Bittner

 

BOARD MEMBER ABSENT:                     Richard Kipp

 

STAFF PRESENT:                                         Hugh Mose, General Manager

                                                                        Louwana Oliva, Assistant General Manager

                                                                        Judith Minor, Director of Administration

                                                                        Sherry Snyder, Director of Operations

                                                                        Mark Kutzer, Director of Maintenance

                                                                        Eric Bernier, Service Development Manager

                                                                        Jackie Sheader, Marketing Manager

                                                                        Terri Quici, Commuter Services Manager

                                                                        Greg Kausch, Transportation Planner

                                                                        Marsha Kyper, Assistant to the General Manager

 

I.          CALL TO ORDER

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

 

II.        PUBLIC COMMENT
            The following members of the public were present to express their opposition to changes in CATA’s

            Carry-on Policy that was scheduled to take effect on August 21, 2010, specifically the exclusion of

            shopping carts.

 

                        Peggy Strayer, 120 E. Beaver Ave. Apt. 308 State College PA  16801

                        Jeanne Wennick, 120 E. Beaver Ave. Apt. 206, State College PA  16801

                        Julie Lemmon, 120 E. Beaver Ave. Apt. 207, State College, PA  16801

                        Denise Watts, 120 E. Beaver Ave., Apt 702, State College, PA 16801

                        Lillian Hutchison 120 E. Beaver Ave., Apt 612, State College, PA  16801

                        Hannah Futhey 120 E. Beaver Ave., Apt 403, State College, PA  16801

 

The following individual was present to gather information about the pending Carry-on Policy changes and spoke about the importance of State College Area Food Bank clients being able to take shopping carts onto CATA buses.

 

            Linda Tataliba- Director, State College Area Food Bank

 

 

Sherry Snyder responded that the new policy, which was designed to ensure the safety of all CATA passengers, would require that all carry-on items be able to fit within an individual’s seating area.  Sherry further stated that the policy would not affect recognized mobility devices but that shopping carts would not qualify as such.

 

Chairman Spychalski thanked those in attendance for their comments and closed the Public Comment portion of the meeting by stating that CATA staff would take under advisement the comments which had been received.

 

III.       OLD BUSINESS

 

            A.        Approval of May 24, 2010 Regular Board Meeting Minutes

Chairman Spychalski entertained a motion to approve the May 24, 2010 Board Meeting Minutes as presented.  Gary Powers moved and Kathryn Bittner seconded.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

            B.        Receipt of May 2010 Finance Repors

The May 2010 Finance Report was presented.  Judi Minor reported that the Auditors were on site this week; FY 2009-10 should end with a carryover of $250,000 and that based on preliminary estimates, funding should be sufficient to meet the requirements of the FY 2010-11 Operating Budget.  Hugh Mose noted that Advertising Revenue has increased by approximately 50% over last year at this time and that the 5.9% decline in Ridership is a result of there being one fewer Full Service days in May 2010 than May 2009.

 

Chairman Spychalski entertained a motion to receive the Finance Report as presented.  Gary Powers moved and Kathryn Bittner seconded.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

C.        Assessment of Public Transportation Services in Centre County- Final Report and Recommendations

Greg Kausch reported on the Final Report of Public Transportation Services in Centre County that was compiled and submitted by Abrams-Cherwony Group, a division of Gannett-Fleming, Inc., a copy of which was included in the Board Packets.  Greg cited the following final recommended steps from the report:

 

·         Initial formation of a Coordination Committee

·         Move toward partial coordination

·         Initial trial consolidation to either CCOT or CATA

·         Full consolidation to either CCOT or CATA

 

Hugh Mose and Chairman Spychalski expressed their appreciation to Greg and others from the Project Oversight Committee who were involved in this study.

 

Chairman Spychalski entertained a motion that the CATA Board act to formally receive the Final Report and Recommendation of the Assessment of Public Transportation Services in Centre County.  Kathryn Bittner moved and Gary Powers seconded.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

            D.        Summer Meeting Schedule

Hugh Mose stated that typically the Board does not meet during one or more of the summer months and that due to the likely lack of agenda items, staff wished to recommend that the August meeting be cancelled.

 

Chairman Spychalski entertained a motion that the Board should act to cancel the August meeting and direct the staff to advertise the meeting cancellation as required.  Kathryn Bittner moved and Gary Powers seconded.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

 

IV.       NEW BUSINESS

           

            A.        Annual Policy Review Schedule

Hugh Mose, on behalf of Julie Hartley, presented the schedule for the FY 2010-11 review of CATA’s Articles of Agreement, By-Laws, Pennsylvania’s Sunshine Law, the Right to Know Act and the policies contained in CATA’s Personnel and Policy Manuals. 

Chairman Spychalski entertained a motion that the Board adopt the schedule for reviewing CATA policies as presented.  Gary Powers moved and Kathryn Bittner seconded.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

            B.        Vanpool Mini-Van Bid Award

Hugh Mose reported that the bid process for three, eight-passenger mini-vans did not go as anticipated, with only one, non-compliant bid having been received.  As a result, the Board was not being asked to take the recommended action to approve contract award authority following PennDOT’s review and approval of the bids.  Hugh further stated that the project would likely be rebid and a recommendation for an award could possibly be forthcoming at the September Board Meeting.

 

Terri Quici reported that she had contacted PennDOT to ask whether local dealerships could be

contacted to inquire about the reason for their lack of response.  Judi Minor responded that it was permissible to do so.

 

            C.        Hardscape Contract Award

Hugh Mose reported that when CATA’s Cato Park facility was expanded in 2002, budget limitations precluded the installation of any landscaping and that since that time, other needs have emerged.  Earlier this year CATA entered into a contract for landscape design services from ELA Group, Inc. Engineers and Landscape Architects which was subsequently amended to cover the provision of construction administration services, including the work necessary for bidding and construction oversight of the hardscape portion of the project.  Last month, with the assistance of ELA Group, CATA issued an Invitation for Bids (IFB) for hardscape elements of the project.

 

Joe Davidson arrived at 4:58 p.m.

 

Marsha Kyper reported on the elements of the hardscape contract and that nine firms had requested the IFB packet and ultimately four bids were received, in order of lowest to highest:

LandServ, Inc., $116,745.00; Glenn O Hawbaker, Inc. $130,860.45; Stone Valley Construction, $146.323.00; BCS Construction, $166,768.98.  Based on their low bid, work of a similar nature that they have performed as well as references, Marsha recommended that the bid from LandServ, Inc. of Boalsburg be accepted.

 

Chairman Spychalski inquired whether there was Capitol Funding available for the project.  Judi Minor responded that there was funding available through a Federal Grant. Joe Davidson inquired whether a Performance Bond had been received from LandServ.  Judi responded that a Bid Bond had been required but that the FTA discourages Performance Bonds because such a requirement can discourage small businesses from bidding.

 

 

Chairman Spychalski entertained a motion that the Board approve the awarding of a contract to LandServ Inc. in the amount of $116,745.00 for Hardscape Construction Services at CATA’s Main Office.   Gary Powers moved and Kathryn Bittner seconded.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

V.        OTHER BUSINESS

 

            A.        General Manager’s Report

                        Hugh Mose reported that:

·         Jackie is working closely with Fullington to market its Altoona to State College commuter bus service through a “ten free rides” coupon campaign.

·         Innovation Solutions for Energy (ISE), the firm that had been advertising CNG Hybrid propulsion systems, is in financial difficulty and their ability to provide a CNG Hybrid is in question.

·         The University Club bus stop will be relocated by the start of Full Service, at which time the K, S and F Routes will be added to this stop.

·         Megabus has moved its stop location to the North Atherton Wal Mart.

·         There are currently no earmarks for Pennsylvania in the Senate Transportation Appropriations Bill

·         ATA service from the Philipsburg area will likely start this fall.

·         The final LYNX bus, #44, was placed into service earlier in the month and a recognition event was held for Shop employees to acknowledge their work on both the LYNX and IndiGO buses.

·         The 20th Anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) was observed at the Downtown Office with CATA accessible vehicles on display and a book signing by Annie Harris.

 

            B.        Service Development Report

                        Eric Bernier provided a written report at the meeting.

 

           

VI.       ADJOURNMENT

Chairman Spychalski entertained a motion to adjourn the meeting.  Gary Powers moved and Joe Davidson seconded.  The motion carried unanimously.  The meeting was adjourned at 5:20 p.m.