MINUTES

Greater Waterbury Transit District

Annual Meeting

Friday, June 20, 2003

11 A.M.

Mad River Restaurant

10 Wakelee Road

Wolcott, CT 06716

Present: Robert DeZinno, Cheshire; Doreen Pulisciano, Cheshire; JoAnn Cappelletti, Middlebury; Alice Ostapko, Prospect; Carolyn Giguere, Vice Chairman, Thomaston; Ann LaPorta, Waterbury; Yvonne Denise Smith, M.D., Chairman, Waterbury; Richard Fusco, Secretary, Watertown; Kim Hunt, Treasurer, Wolcott. NET Staff: Marie Vaccarelli. COGCNV Staff: Laurel Stegina, Senior Planner. Guest: Ron Marciano.

1. Roll Call, Introductions, Public Participation

Chairman Yvonne Denise Smith, M.D. opened the meeting at 11:24 a.m., called roll and introduced others. A quorum was presented by municipalities and voting units. There were no public comments.

2. Administrative Items

a. Minutes of April 24, 2003: On a motion by Kim Hunt, seconded by Ann LaPorta it was unanimously

VOTED: To approve the Minutes of the April 24, 2003 Meeting.

b. Financial Report: Kim Hunt reported that there are two copies of the Financial Report and the correct one has Refund as a new line item on it. There was a refund at the beginning of the fiscal year to a municipality who paid too much in membership dues. Smith noted that Cheshire had over paid and was refunded. Hunt explained that all the numbers are the same in both copies except for the new line item. Other then that, we are still within budget. Under the column Budget Used To Date, some are at 100% and some are under 75%. In response to Smith question, Hunt stated that she put equipment warranty under equipment line item. On a motion by Richard Fusco, seconded by Carolyn Giguere it was unanimously

VOTED: To accept the Financial Report for May 2003.

c. Ridership and Service Report: Smith reported that for the months of April and May there were 26 service days with April having one more weekday day of service than May. The number of ADA and Non-ADA Trips remained the same. The Percentage of Trips, Denied Trip, No Shows, Late Cancellations and Missed Trip remained the same.

d. Correspondence: Received Mail from the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) to attend conferences.

3. GWTD Report

Senate Finance Committee Chair Sen. Grassley (R-IA) and ranking member Sen. Baucus (D-MT) have proposed the “Grassley-Baucus” proposal to reduce gas tax support for transit and fund the program with a new bonding mechanism. This would shift most of the federal gas taxes now dedicated to the Mass Transit Account to the highway program, replacing dedicated transit revenues with proceeds from a bond sale. Now the proposal would divert most of the 2.86 cents of the 18.4 cents federal gas tax that is currently dedicated to transit and transfer it to the highway portion of the Highway Trust Fund to fund highway programs. In turn, a tax credit bond financing mechanism would be created to fund most of the federal transit program except for a small portion of gas tax revenues that would remain in the Mass Transit Account to fund rural and small-urbanized area programs. A template letter created by APTA to oppose this proposal and to encourage increase funding to transit was sent to Sen. Dodd and Sen. Lieberman.

The State’s Appropriation Committee recommended increasing the funding to Bus Operation for FY 2004 and 2005 from what the Governor proposed-Bus Operation-$76,503,116 ($74,965,116) for FY 2004 and $79,303,000 ($76,120,158) for FY 2005 (Governor’s amount). They did not recommend increasing the funding to Handicap Access Program or Dial-A-Ride Program.

Reauthorization of TEA 21 is still in progress and now being called SAFE TEA. They are proposing to change 5300’s meaning, change formulas for funding program 80/20 to 50/50 (federal fund/state fund) and to eliminate capital funding.

Connecticut Department of Transportation Commissioner James A Byrnes, Jr. is the president of the Northeast Association of State Transportation Officials (NASTO). NASTO Principles are included in your package. NASTO sent package of their concerns to Washington.

Invoices were mailed out on May 1, 2003.

Mr. Robert Bohannon, Director of Human Services of Cheshire, sent a letter stating that Cheshire would not be paying its membership dues. Chairman Smith spoke with Mr. Bohannon, Doreen Pulisciano, First Selectman Dick Crane of Woodbury, Peter Dorpalen of COGCNV, Council Chairman Stretton of Cheshire, Cheshire Town Manager Assistant Ms. Talbot, GNHTD, the MTD and Michael Sanders of ConnDOT about this matter. A letter was sent to Mr. Stretton for him and the Town Council to reconsider and pay the membership dues. Town Council met on June 10, 2003 and I was told that 70% of the meeting agenda was tabled to June 18. At the June 18 meeting only Northeast Utility was discussed. I called the Town Manager office but he and his assistant Ms. Talbot were unavailable this morning. Will try to contact them next week.

The municipalities of Middlebury, Naugatuck, Prospect, Thomaston, and Wolcott passed their budget with our membership dues included. Waterbury, and Watertown have not passed their budget but our membership des are included. Middlebury did not include the one time $500.00 and therefore the riders from Middlebury will pay an extra $0.25 per trip.

There are still vacancies on the board from Naugatuck and Waterbury. Wrote letter to Mayor Ronald San Angelo to address this problem.

Attendance record for FY 2002/2003 is in your package. The Bylaws covers Attendance to Board meeting. The Bylaws that Chairman Smith received from COGCNV does not show the changes that were voted on during Richard Fusco chairmanship.

Board member’s term dates are included in package

There has been an increase in trips for mental health in Naugatuck, Wolcott and Watertown for their elderly and disabled vans. Medicaid no longer pays for trips to private psychiatrist but pays for trips to clinics and day programs.

Received two new power buttons for the CPU from Gateway.

On website have link to Ride Safe to teach wheelchair owners about traveling on vans and buses with wheelchairs. It explains the proper equipment, how to secure the wheelchair and how to secure the rider.

On website is North East Transportation Paratransit policy.

On website is new bus route schedule for 22 Wolcott bus

On website had information about Connecticut Department of Transportation Public Hearing on Bus Fare Increase

Website had 3761 hits.

APTA asked us to join the Public Transportation Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAC). ConnDOT has yet to decide if they will join this program, therefore we will not join.

APTA has a website now that is grassroots for the reauthorization of TEA 21 (SAFETEA). This site explains TEA (past and present), what is going on in congress and links to contact your congress ional leaders. The website is www.apta.com/transitaction

Medicare Reform Bill Section 186 (s)(7) of the Social Security Act to be amended to have transportation for non-emergency health services- this would decrease the use of ADA and Non-ADA Paratransit service for Medicare appointments and decrease the some of the financial burden for these trips, for example dialysis trips. This amendment would also help the municipality’s elderly and disabled van expenses. Sen. Dodd office was contacted by phone in support of this change on June 12, 2003.

At the June 5, 2003 CPTC Meeting Chairman Thomas Cheeseman stated that there will be no more state matching funds for Paratransit vehicles and other Paratransit capital needs.

Received a list of the municipalities and riders for three different months that were denied trips. Surprisingly Thomaston did not have any denied trips.

Meetings

COGCNV Emergency Planning Committee Meeting on May 30, 2003: Presentation of Preparation for Terrorism, what Congress is doing, what the State has done and what are the goals

CACT Annual Meeting on June 12, 200: Overview of Highlights of this year activities and plans for next meeting.

Public Hearing on Proposed Bus Fare Increase on June 17, 2003: A 25% increase on fares-$1.25 for buses and $2.50 for Paratransit. There was a good attendance and everyone was opposed to a fare increase.

Western Connecticut Transportation Forum: Workshop on transportation for the elderly. They wanted us to develop creative ways to do transportation for the elderly.

In response to Doreen Pulisciano question, Smith replied that the purpose for the membership dues for Non-ADA Ridership was to limit the financial burden off the riders. Each municipality would pay $1.00 per trip plus an extra small amount this year. If Cheshire does not want to pay for its Non-ADA resident’s trips then the burden goes back to the rider. No one in Cheshire has the right to tell anyone not to call for a Non-ADA trip. As for the membership dues for the financial budget of $418.00, is not a hardship or a financial burden to any town. Cheshire will be billed until it pays just like I did with Waterbury. COGCNV voted to accept this responsibility. Laurel Stegina interjected that COG members are volunteers. “So when a town passes something at a COG meeting that means they volunteer to agree to something.” Smith and Richard Fusco reminded everyone that the budget is in the GWTD Bylaws and that GWTD was formed by COGCNV.

4. Non-ADA Ridership Report

The Non-ADA Ridership is stable. The number of rides is about 2,000 a month. List of municipalitiy users for the month of May was mailed out in the requesting board member’s package. In response to Doreen Pulisciano question, Smith replied that if Cheshire Council continues to refuse to pay the membership dues for Non-ADA she would need a letter from the Town Manager. But no one will be refused a trip from Cheshire and ADA is not affected in this matter. Otherwise all the invoices have been mailed.

5. North East Transportation Report

Marie Vaccarelli reported that the Nextel cellular phones are all hooked up and are in use. All NET employees are wearing company ID badges including the drivers. Three of the five new vehicle arrived on Monday and the other two should arrive today. NET is in the process of arranging Sensitivity Training with the Kennedy Center for key personnel in the late summer or early fall. Key personnel would include Barbara Kalosky, one of their drivers, Human Resource person and herself.

6. Nominating Committee Report-Election of Executive Officers for FY 2003/2004

The Nominating Committee consists of Sheena Maynard, Alice Ostapko and Sally Schilke. Maynard chaired the committee and was unable to attend the meeting. Chairman Smith reported for her stating the slate of Executive Officers for FY 2003/2004 is:

Chairman	Yvonne Denise Smith, M.D.
Vice Chairman	Carolyn Giguere
Secretary	Richard Fusco
Treasurer	Kim Hunt

On a motion by Kim Hunt, seconded by Richard Fusco it was unanimously

VOTED: To approve the Nominating Committee slate of Officers for FY 2003/2004.

7. Planning for FY 2003/2004

Not discussed.

8. Old Business

None.

9. New Business

A discussion about the Bylaws on the topic of Attendance occurred. On a motion by Richard Fusco, seconded by Kim Hunt it was unanimously

VOTED: To change Article VIII Section 6 to read:

If a Director fails to attend three (3) consecutive duly called meetings or is absent more than fifty (50) percent of said meetings within a six (6) month period he or she may be removed from office. If a vacancy arises, the Chairman shall notify the Chief Elected Official to appoint a new Director.

The Board of Directors honored Ron Marciano for his distinguished service to the board with a plaque. Michael Goodiel was unable to attend. Secretary Richard Fusco and Chairman Yvonne Smith will honor Michael Goodiel with his plaque next week.

10. Next Meeting

The Village at East Farms at 11 a.m. on July 24, 2003.

11. Adjournment

On a motion by Kim Hunt, seconded by Carolyn Giguere it was unanimously

VOTED: To adjourn the Annual GWTD Meeting at 12:30 p.m.

Submitted

Yvonne Denise Smith, M.D.

Chairman

BACK