MINUTES

 

 

Greater Waterbury Transit District

Thursday, September 26, 2002

1:30 P.M.

Watertown Building Inspector Office

51 Depot Street

Suite 502

Watertown. CT 06795

 

 

Present: Doreen Pulisciano. Cheshire; JoAnn Cappelletti, Middlebury; Sally Schilke, Naugatuck; Carolyn Giguere, Vice Chairman, Thomaston; Ann LaPorta, Waterbury; Sheena Maynard, Waterbury; Richard Fusco, Treasurer, Watertown; Kim Hunt, Wolcott.  NET Staff: Barbara Kalosky, Marie Vaccarelli.  COGCNV Staff: Laurel Stegina.

 

 

  1. Roll Call, Introductions, Public Participation

 

Vice Chairman Carolyn Giguere opened the meeting at 1:35 p.m.  She welcomed Sheena Maynard, the new board member representing Waterbury.  Roll call and introductions were done.  A quorum was presented by municipalities and voting units.  There were no public comments.

 

  1. Administrative Items

 

    1. Minutes of June 27, 2002: On a motion by Richard Fusco, seconded by Kim Hunt it was unanimously

 

     VOTED:          To approve the Minutes of June 27, 2002 as      written.

 

b.      Financial Report: on a motion by Sheena Maynard, seconded by Ann LaPorta it was unanimously

 

VOTED:         To table the Financial Reports for June, July and August.

 

c.      Ridership and Service Report: Vice Chairman Giguere reported Ridership was about the same in July and August.  No Shows were still high in number.

 

Giguere asked Barbara Kalosky if the No Shows are receiving a warning.  Kalosky stated they are sending warning but that means putting more funds to the executive side and the No Shows are hard to suspend.

 

d.      Correspondence: see GWTD Report.

 

3.  GWTD Report

 

  Policy for drop off will continue as Curb-to-Curb Service with Door-to-Door assistance when requested.  ConnDOT plans to Form an ADA Task Force Group to create a statewide policy.

  New transit vehicles arrived in August and the logo is CT TRANSIT.

  The Website is paid up to July 2003.

  Will plan to take pictures of board members to post on Website.  Details to be discuss with Richard Fusco.

  Called Secretary of Transportation Chief Counsel Office in Washington on August 20, to support next day Paratransit service as written in the ADA (court case in Rochester, N.Y. challenging this).  Mr. Wong stated that DOT would continue to abide by the ADA on this issue.  We also discussed ‘common wheelchair’ issue, and fares for non-ADA service areas.

  ConnDOT budget for Waterbury ADA service for the first six months is $525,000.  The Non-ADA service budget for the first six months is $205,000 that includes DMR contribution.

   Re-certification for Paratransit should be finish by the end of September.  After finishing will meet with ConnDOT and NET to review the outcome.

   Cynthia Salcito of Waterbury resigned.  Spoke and send letter to Waterbury officials for a new appointment to the board from Waterbury.  

   Need copier!

   DSS has to decrease its transportation budget by $9 million for non-emergency Medicaid medical trips.  How will this impact our services?

   Send comments to US DOT on Re-authorization of TEA.  Laurel Stegina discussed TEA and TIA.

   If have not send in your comments to US DOT about re-authorization of TEA, then please do so before September 30, 2002.  Speak to Richard Fusco on the subject at 860 945-5264 or Yvonne Smith, Chairman.

   There will be a Public Hearing on Transportation in October for the Greater Waterbury Area.

Meeting

  September 10, 2002-Public Informational Meeting on Interstate 84 Corridor Transportation Investment Area (TIA) Twenty-Year Strategic Plan. Mailed comments to I84 Corridor TIA.

  September 10, 2002-CNV Planning Committee

  September 12, 2002-ConnDOT Transportation Budget Meeting.  ADA Task Force to be formed this fall.  Job Access funded by FTA for 2002.  TSB will fund projects to 2003.  ADA funding for the last 6months of the FY 2002-2002 will be the same as the first 6 months-$525,000. There was no increase since last fiscal year.  ADA is looking at a possible $1 million deficit.

  September 12, 2002-FTA Meeting on Apportionments to CT Urbanized Areas.  Urban areas >200,000 population will no longer receive operating expenses from FTA.  But are eligible for 10% for ADA and 1% for Enhancement projects.  Waterbury area is >200,000 population.

  September 13, 2002-COGCNV Board Meeting.

 

  1.  Non-ADA Ridership Service Report

 

There were extra days in July and August that contributed to the increase in Ridership for these months.

 

  1. North East Transportation (NET) Report

 

Barbara Kalosky reported that NET received ten new vehicles in August, but they where taken off the road on the second day because of mechanical problems.  They were back in service within two days.  Re certification is almost complete, should be finish in a couple of weeks.  In response to Giguere question, not many re-certification riders were denied for the Paratransit but exact number is unknown.  Had only two Appeals.  Had other Appeals submitted from non-ADA clients that were withdrawal.  In response to Sheena Maynard questions, Kalosky stated that the drivers were considered about the tree scratching the roof of the new vehicles.  She contacted property owners.  In response to Laurel Stegina question on the Kennedy Center teaching the disabled to use the fixed route bus system.  Kalosky response that the majority of the clients are considered unconditional.  Have a lot of conditional that can use the transit from October to March.   Kalosky explained the differences between PCA and a companion when using the transit.  

 

  1. Old Business

 

None.

 

  1. New Business

 

None.

 

  1. Next Meeting

 

October 24, 2002.  Discussions of place occurred but not yet decide.  Library still under construction.

 

  1. Adjournment

 

On a motion by Ann LaPorta, seconded by Kim Hunt it was unanimously

 

VOTED:         To Adjourn the GWTD Meeting at 2:14 p.m.

 

Submitted by

Yvonne Denise Smith, M.D.

Chairman

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