CENTRE AREA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY
 REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES

January 27, 2003 4:00 p.m. STATE COLLEGE BOROUGH BUILDING
Conference Room 241, 243 South Allen Street

BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:
John Spychalski, Chairman
Donald Sherman, Vice-Chairman
Richard Kipp, Treasurer
Joseph Davidson Gary Powers

OTHERS PRESENT:
Hugh Mose, General Manager
Joseph Gilbert, Director of Transportation
L. Eric Bernier, Director of Service Development
Jacqueline Sheader, Marketing Coordinator
Diane Heichel, Executive Assistant
Richard McCarl, State College Borough Liaison

 

I. CALL TO ORDER
Vice-Chairman Sherman called the meeting to order at 4:11p.m.

 

II. ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS

A. Election of officers
Chairman Spychalski noted that, in accordance with the Authority's By-Laws, the election of Board Officers is to occur annually at the first regularly scheduled meeting of the new calendar year. The 2002 Board officers were: Chairman - John Spychalski, Ferguson Township Vice-Chairman - Donald Sherman, State College Borough Treasurer - Richard Kipp, Harris Township Asst. Treasurer - Judith Minor, CATA Director of Administration Secretary - Hugh Mose, CATA General Manager

Mr. Davidson nominated the incumbent slate of officers for re-election to serve in the year 2003. Mr. Powers seconded the motion. There being no further nominations, Chairman Spychalski called for a vote and the motion was passed unanimously.

 

II. PUBLIC COMMENTS - CITIZEN INPUT
Chairman Spychalski called for comments or input from the general public. No public comments were presented.

 

III. OLD BUSINESS

A. Approval of Minutes of November 25, 2003 Board Meeting
Mr. Sherman moved that the Board approve the minutes of the November 25, 2003 Board meeting as presented. Mr. Davidson seconded the motion. There being no further discussion, Chairman Spychalski called for a vote and the motion passed unanimously.

B. Receipt of the November and December 2002 Finance Reports
Mr. Mose reviewed only the December 2002 Finance Reports, as they are a continuation of the November reports. He noted that revenue is running at 51% at the halfway point of the fiscal year; however, Farebox revenue is only at 46% of the projected budget.

In response to Chairman Spychalski, Mr. Gilbert stated that the extreme cold weather has had a definite impact on the already overcrowded buses. Mr. Mose pointed out that although the reports show that ridership is only up somewhat from last year, the reduction in service hours means more people are riding on fewer buses.

Mr. Mose continued reviewing the Finance Report, pointing out that expenditures are below the projected budget for this year and commended staff for watching expenses.

Chairman Spychalski noted that it seems that ridership is down on the R/RE corridor. Mr. Mose stated that he feels the loss in ridership can be attributed to the trip reductions during reduced service, as well as the fare increase.

In response to Mr. Sherman, Mr. Mose reviewed the change in the U Route service, noting that it no longer goes to the Vairo Blvd. complexes, which obviously resulted in a reduction in ridership on that route.

Mr. Mose also pointed out that there may be as many passes being sold through the PSU "Ride for Five" program, as there are regular CATA OnePasses. Mr. Bernier noted that some of the people who used to purchase OnePasses are now riding less and paying cash fares. Mr. Mose added that the R Route seems to have the highest number of Ride-for-Five pass holders.

The paratransit service continues to have an increase in ridership. The non-senior / non-ambulatory participant group has seen the highest ridership growth on Centre Ride, up over 33%. Mr. Mose reviewed the expense to the Authority for wheelchair users on both Centre Ride and Centre Line.

In response to Mr. Davidson, Mr. Mose noted that the contribution to CRPA for the new Planner position will come out of the 2002/03 budget.

Mr. Powers moved that the Board receive the November and December 2002 Finance Reports. Mr. Sherman seconded the motion.

In response to Mr. Sherman, Mr. Mose stated that he would have to check with Ms. Minor regarding the two payments to Workers Compensation in one month.

There being no further discussion, Chairman Spychalski called for a vote and the motion passed unanimously.

Chairman Spychalski, on behalf of the Board and staff, congratulated Mr. Kipp on being reappointed as the Harris Township representative to the CATA Board of Directors.

 

IV. NEW BUSINESS

A. Timetable
Mr. Mose noted that the Budget Timetable is the same as it has been in past years.

Mr. Mose asked the Board to bring their calendars to the February Board meeting to schedule the March Work Session.

Mr. Davidson moved that the Board adopt the proposed 2003/2004 Budget Timetable as presented. Mr. Kipp seconded the motion.

In response to Mr. Davidson, Mr. Mose noted that it would be difficult to streamline or condense the full budget document for some recipients and give the entire document to others. He also added that he likes to use the budget as a vehicle to present some of the Authority's accomplishments to the elected officials.

Mr. McCarl noted that the Borough changed their budget process, stating that they put together a preamble to the budget that made the overall budget document easier to understand. He added that Mr. Mose has done such a good job on the CATA budget, making the process easier.

There being no further discussion, Chairman Spychalski called for a vote and the motion passed unanimously.

B. Resolution Authorizing the Execution of a Cooperative Memorandum of Agreement to Establish a Unified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Certification
Mr. Mose noted that three years ago, federal regulations governing the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program were extensively revised, with a new requirement that each state adopt a Unified Certification Program (UCP) to provide a standardized, statewide certification process for DBE firms. Last January, as requested by the staff of Pennsylvania's UCP, the Authority adopted a resolution authorizing the General Manager to execute and submit the Memorandum of Agreement required of each transit authority in the state.

Since that time, the UCP staff has revised the Memorandum to include provisions for financial support of its work, as permitted by law, and a new resolution is now required to authorize the signing of this Supplemental Memorandum of Agreement.

Under its terms, each transit authority will be assessed an annual fee ($2,500 for the first year) as a condition of its participation in the UCP. Despite the fact that the Authority routinely meets its annual DBE goal through its contract with Handy Delivery, Inc., all transit authorities who receive federal funds are required to participate in the UCP and pay the fee. Mr. Mose expressed his disappointed of this assessment, but added that it is required through the TEA 21.

Mr. Davidson moved that the Board adopt the resolution authorizing the General Manager to execute and submit the Supplemental Memorandum of Agreement certifying the Authority's participation in Pennsylvania's Unified Certification Program. Mr. Kipp seconded the motion. There being no further discussion, Chairman Spychalski called for a vote and the motion passed unanimously.

C. Equal Employment Opportunity Policy
Mr. Mose noted that the Federal Transit Administration conducts a thorough compliance review of each transit property every three years. CATA's most recent Triennial Review was completed last September for the three year period ending June 30, 2002.

One of the standard areas covered by the review is Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO). Although the Authority has always had a statement of its commitment to EEO, it has not been required to develop a full policy and program because previous reviewers have excluded federal earmarks when calculating the $1,000,000 annual funding threshold which triggers such a requirement. However, this time around, the review team determined that the Authority's FY 01/02 bus earmark should be counted towards the threshold. Therefore, a more formal policy is now required.

Once adopted by the Board, the attached EEO Policy, which has been developed in accordance with FTA EEO Program requirements, will be posted and made part of the Authority's Policy Manual

Mr. Sherman expressed his concern with the statement "and other terms and conditions of employment." Mr. Mose stated that this is a commonly used statement in such documents.

Mr. Davidson moved that the Board adopt the enclosed Equal Employment Opportunity Policy for inclusion in the Authority's Equal Employment Opportunity Program and authorize its submission to the Federal Transit Administration and other interested parties contingent upon approval from Bob Martin. Mr. Powers seconded the motion.

In response to Mr. Powers, Mr. Mose noted that to his knowledge there is no outside agency which monitors compliance, other than the statistics which are filed with the Federal Transit Administration. In response to Mr. Sherman, Mr. Mose noted that there is already an EEO section in the Policy Manual, but because the Authority receives federal funding, certain pieces are required which are not presently included.

There being no further discussion, Chairman Spychalski called for a vote and the motion passed unanimously.

D. Right to Know Policy
Mr. Mose reported that the Pennsylvania "Right to Know" law details procedures for third parties to request public records, as defined in the law, from CATA. Under recent legislative amendments, the Authority is required to adopt a policy covering how requests are to be made and how CATA must respond to such requests. The DRAFT policy inclosed in the Board packets has been prepared in accordance with the law and has been reviewed and approved by Bob Martin.

In response to Mr. Powers, Mr. Mose stated that requests for such information are very rare. In response to Mr. Davidson, Chairman Spychalski agreed that the rate for copying should be set at the commercially available rates at the time the request is made.

Mr. McCarl noted that the fee for faxes should reflect the cost of a long distance phone call if applicable. Chairman Spychalski expressed his concern with accepting personal checks, suggesting that all payments be made with cash, money orders or cashiers checks.

Mr. Davidson moved that the Board adopt the Right to Know policy. Mr. Kipp seconded the motion. There being no further discussion, Chairman Spychalski called for a vote and the motion passed unanimously.

 

V. OTHER BUSINESS

A. General Manager's Report
Mr. Mose reported on the following items:

B. Service Development Report
Mr. Bernier asked the Board to review the Service Development Report included in their Board packets.

Mr. Bernier noted that Patton Township has approved a plan to redevelop the K-Mart site into a multi-cinema complex. Mr. Bernier then reviewed some of the transit amenities for the new development, adding that the new sidewalks from the housing areas behind the center will make it easier for those residents to access the bus route.

In response to Mr. Sherman, Mr. Bernier noted that there was significant ridership on the late night buses during finals week.

Chairman Spychalski stated that as a daily transit user in the North Atherton Street corridor, he has noticed the delays in traffic. He would like to see the barriers in College Heights replaced with gates which could be used in emergency situations for buses and emergency vehicles. There was further discussion on construction and road closures along North Atherton Street.

Mr. McCarl noted that the Transit Signal Priority project will have to include emergency vehicles, but even so he feels it's going to be a real "sales job" to the Borough Council.

Mr. Kipp stated that he was very pleased to see the CATAlogs available to the general public on the buses and on the website, adding that this was extremely good information. The Board agreed that it is an excellent document.

Mr. McCarl noted that he was surprised at the comments by Dr. Spanier in last week's Daily Collegian. Mr. Mose noted that Teresa Davis, Director of Transportation Services at PSU, had suggested that the Authority not respond.

VI. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further discussion, Chairman Spychalski adjourned the meeting at 5:28 p.m.