MINUTES

Greater Waterbury Transit District

Wednesday, February 16, 2005

10:30 A.M.

The Village at East Farms

Arts and Crafts Room

180 Scott Road

Waterbury, CT 06705

Present: Doreen Pulisciano, Vice Chairman, Cheshire; JoAnn Cappelletti, Middlebury; Gary DellaRocco, Naugatuck; Ann LaPorta, Waterbury; Yvonne Denise Smith-Isaac, M.D., Chairman, Waterbury. COGCNV Staff: Sam Gold, Regional Planner. NET Staff: Barbara Kalosky, President of NET; Maria Vaccarrelli, Supervisor. Guest: Randy James, Waterbury Republican-American reporter.

1. Roll Call, Introductions, Public Participation

Chairman Yvonne Smith-Isaac called the meeting to order at 10:51 a.m., called roll and introduced Randy James. There was a quorum by municipalities. There were no public comments.

2. Administrative Items

a. Minutes of January 19, 2005: on a motion by Ann LaPorta, seconded by JoAnn Cappelletti it was unanimously

VOTED: To approve the Minutes of the January 19, 2005 Meeting.

b. Financial Report for January 2005: Chairman Smith-Isaac reported the balance is $17,573.21. NET was paid $2,417.00. Board expenditures were $61.95. The percent spent to date is 30.06%. The City of Waterbury paid their membership dues for the Financial Budget last month. The major bills for the board our not due yet. On a motion by Doreen Pulisciano, seconded by Ann LaPorta it was unanimously

VOTED: To accept the Financial Report for January 2005.

c. Ridership and Service Report: See chart below.

	January
Operating Days	25 21/4
# of ADA Ridership	4190
# of CDOT Ridership	1844
# of Escorts	2
# of PCAs	76
ADA%	69.44
CDOT%	30.56
Denied Trips	23
Late Cancellations	38
No Shows	92
Missed Trips	0

Ridership for both ADA and Non-ADA trip decreased due to the extreme cold weather and the snow days. Denied trips were for Non-ADA trips and were not affected by the weather. No Shows are still high and letters are still being sent to those riders. There has been no suspension of trips due to No Show because no one has been a No Show for six times in a sixty day period. This is still causing money because the vans are going out.

d. Correspondence

3. GWTD Report

• The FY 2006 DOT budget proposal, recommends a funding level of $7.781 billion for the federal transit program, an increase of $134 million or 1.8 percent over the FY 2005 final appropriation.
• The Governor's Budget recommended for SFY 2005-06 the Handicapped Access Program (ADA Mandated Services) $14,879,804; for Dial-A-Ride (Bridgeport, Hartford, Middletown, New Haven and Milford) $ 2.5 million; and Bus Operations $82,602,242.SFY 2006-07 for the Handicapped Access Program (ADA Mandated Services) $16,271,378; for Dial-A-Ride (Bridgeport, Hartford, Middletown, New Haven and Milford) $ 2.5 million; and Bus Operations $ 88,128,229.
• Emailed letters to Connecticut State legislators to support CGS 13b-38bb-State Matching Grant for demand ride service for elders and for persons with disabilities.
• Emailed letters to Connecticut’s US Congresspersons to support the reauthorization of the Transportation Equity Act (TEA) with the ConnDOT recommendations.
• GWTD Membership dues have all been paid.
• Proposal Bill 6338 in your packet is in the process of being drafted.
• Letters to Mayor Jarjura and Waterbury’s City Clerk to inform them of Mr. John Hubert removal from the GWTD board.
• Received a complaint letter which I forwarded to NET and ConnDOT.
• Collected data on Senior Center’s transportation and who GWTD can coordinate with them if CGS 13b-38bb is funded.
• Computer monitor is making noise and Gateway will replace it.
• CACT legislative breakfast meeting on February 24, 2005 in Hartford.
• Fax back to ConnDOT the MOU for DBE UCP.
• There is a new reporter at the Waterbury Republican-American covering the transportation beat named Randy James. Chairman Smith-Isaac spoke with him.
• Wrote letter of support for replacement vehicle for Middlebury Senior Center under the 5310 Grant.
• Rep. Beamon and Rep. Noujaim send email of support for CGS 13b-38bb.

Meeting

• CACT Meeting on January 20, 2005: Connecticut Commission on Aging spoke on transportation and the elderly. CACT discuss their financial problems and plans to solve it by increasing certain membership dues

4. Non-ADA Paratransit Report

Due to the weather the number of trips decreased. Chairman Smith-Isaac discussed the service percentage as being stable.

5. North East Transportation Report

Maria Vaccarrelli reported that Sensitivity Classes for the employees is completed on February 8, 2005. Barbara Kalosky stated that she mailed letters to Connecticut Representatives and Senators to support the funding of CGS 13b-38bb, and the Legislative Breakfast. She and Maria Vaccarrelli will be attending the breakfast. Barbara Kalosky stated that she was able to collect some stories from riders for CACT. CACT will send stories from around the state to the legislators in order to put a face to people who depend on public transportation. Doreen Pulisciano asked if there where any paratransit transportation to Meriden. She is seeing more people going to the new Midway Hospital for care in Meriden. Barbara Kalosky response was they would have to use the Waterbury paratransit, and then transfer to the Greater New Haven Transit District paratransit to go to Wallingford. From there transfer to the Wallingford-Meriden paratransit. This is a long trip and connections have to be on time. KUHM do medical trips.

6. Old Business

None

7. New Business

Chairman Smith-Isaac stated that if CGS 13b-38bb is funded a Sub-Committee will be form which will include Doreen Pulisciano, JoAnn Cappelletti ad Gary DellaRocco.

8. Next Meeting

The next meeting will be March 16, 2005 at the schedule place and time.

9. Adjournment

On a motion by Doreen Pulisciano, seconded by Ann LaPorta it was unanimously

VOTED: To adjourn the GWTD Board Meeting at 11:50 A.M.

Submitted by

Yvonne Denise Smith-Isaac, M.D.

Chairman

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