MINUTES

 

 

Greater Waterbury Transit District

Wednesday, March 16, 2005

10:30 A.M.

The Village at East Farms

180 Scott Road

Waterbury, CT  06705

 

 

Present: Doreen Pulisciano, Vice Chairman, Cheshire; Gary DellaRocco, Naugatuck; Sally Schilke, Naugatuck; Carolyn Giguere, Treasurer, Thomaston; Yvonne Denise Smith-Isaac, M.D., Chairman, Waterbury; Richard Fusco, Secretary, Watertown; Douglas Coley, Wolcott. COGCNV Staff: Michael Flood, Regional Planner. NET Staff: Barbara Kalosky, General Manager; Maria Vaccarrelli.

 

 

 

1.       Roll Call, Introductions, Public Participation

 

Chairman Yvonne Smith-Isaac called the meeting to order at 10:37 a.m. and called roll. A quorum was presented by municipalities and voting units. There were no public comments.

 

2.       Administrative Items

 

a.       Minutes of February 16, 2005: Correction on item 7 New Business should change the word form to formed. On a motion by Doreen Pulisciano, seconded by Douglas Coley it was unanimously

 

VOTED:         To approve the Minutes of February 16, 2005 with the correction.

 

b.       Financial Report for February 2005: Treasurer Carolyn Giguere reported that the financial report balanced with the bank statement. On a motin by Doreen Pulisciano, seconded by Gary DellaRocco it was unanimously

 

VOTED:         To accept the Financial Report of February 2005.

 

c.       Ridership and Service Report for February 2005: See table below.

 

 

 

 

January

February

Operating Days

25 21/4

24 20/4

# of ADA Ridership

 4190

 4607

# of CDOT Ridership

 1844

 1860

# of Escorts

 2

 0

# of PCAs

 76

 84

ADA%

 69.44

 71.24

CDOT%

 30.56

 28.76

Denied Trips

 23

 23

Late Cancellations

 38

 45

No Shows

 92

 70

Missed Trips

 0

 0

 

Explanation of late cancellation occurred. In spite of the snow storms and a short month the numbers of trips were high. Barbara Kalosky stated that the Cheshire ADA route is not in the computer and needs to look up on the map. The new employee is learning to do this now. Chairman Smith-Isaac stated that when she called for an ADA trip to Cheshire that the new employee denied the trip and had to be informed that the trip was ADA. The employee response was that “I’ll let you have the trip”. Barbara Kalosky said she will talk to her employee.

 

d.       Correspondences: APTA conferences notices, membership manual and surveys.

 

3.       GWTD Report

 

  • On Thursday, March 10, the House passed the Transportation Equity Act, a Legacy for Users (TEA-LU; H.R. 3) by an overwhelming vote of 417-9.  The bill, which reauthorizes federal transit and highway programs, passed the House with broad bipartisan support. The bill authorizes $52.3 billion in guaranteed funding for the federal transit program through Fiscal Year (FY) 2009.  It authorizes a total of $283.9 billion over a six-year period for transit and highway programs.
  • State Level: Transportation Committee Bill No. 6338-an act concerning demand responsive program of transportation for elders and persons with disabilities. The words to be funded with available funds from the General Fund have been taken out of CGS 13b-38bb.
  • Handout of Connecticut Department of Transportation response to CPTC recommendation to fund Matching Grants for Dial-A-Ride Service. ConnDOT is in favor of the program as long as the money does not come from their budget.
  • ConnDOT plans to increase fare by $0.25 on the fixed route bus system and $0.50 on the paratransit. Public Hearing is planned for April 28, 2005 at Silas Bronson Library from 3 p.m. to 5 p. m.
  • The Waterbury Republican-American newspaper had an article by Randy James for the need of board members from Waterbury. The response was good. Four names were sent to the City Clerk to fill the two vacancies.
  • Emailed the 2004 Census for Municipalities.
  • The Transit Access Report increased in price from $295.00 to $325.00.
  • Paid $49.00 for the Domain Name for two year. The price decreased by $1.00,
  • CACT Legislative Breakfast: Handouts are available. Douglas Coley and Gary DellaRocco would like a copy.
  • Discussion on enforcing the Bylaw for attendance occurred.
  • On a motion by Richard Fusco, seconded by Douglas Coley it was unanimously

 

VOTED:         To approve appropriation of funds for travel and meal expenses incurred for the attendance of meetings related to the GWTD for the Chairman. 

Meeting

  • Increased Fare Meeting at ConnDOT on March 3, 2005; Increase in paratransit to $3.00 a one-way trip. Public Hearing April 28, 2005. Chairman Smith-Isaac and Ann LaPorta attended.
  • I-84 & Route 8 Needs and Deficiencies Study Advisory Committee Meeting: On March 3, 2005, WINS review deficiencies on I-84 and Route 8. Chairman Smith-Isaac and Carolyn Giguere attended.
  • Transportation Committee Public Hearing on Committee Bill No. 6338. Testified in favor of bill for the enactment of CGS 13b-38bb on March 7, 2005. Barbara Kalosky testified and was interviewed by The Hartford Courant. Barbara Kalosky brought in the article.

 

4.       Non-ADA Paratransit Report

 

Vice Chairman Doreen Pulisciano inquirer if there was any transportation from Cheshire to Meriden. Barbara Kalosky stated that there was and the person would have to use Greater Waterbury Paratransit, then GNHTD to go to Wallingford, and then use Wallingford-Meriden Paratransit to go to the hospital in Meriden. This trip is too long for a dialysis patient.

 

5.       North East Transportation Repor

 

Barbara Kalosky stated that she testified in support of Committee Bill No. 6338.

 

6.       Old Business

 

None

7.       New Business

 

The 5310 Grant ranking from Council of Governments of the Central Naugatuck Valley (COGCNV) is available. The ranking is:

            1, Easter Seals

            2. Cheshire Senior Center

            3. La Casa Bienvenida

            4. Wolcott Senior Center

            5. Mount Olive Senior Center

 

8.       Next Meeting

 

 The next meeting will be on April 20, 2005 at 10:30 a.m. at the Village at East Farms.

 

9.       Adjournment

 

On a motion by Carolyn Giguere, seconded by Douglas Coley it was unanimously

 

VOTED:         To adjourn the GWTD Board of Directors Meeting at 11:38 a.m.

 

 

Submitted by

Yvonne Denise Smith-Isaac, M.D.

Chairman

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