CENTRE AREA TRANSPORTATION
AUTHORITY
4:00 PM
STATE COLLEGE BOROUGH
BUILDING
Room 241, 243 S. Allen
Street, State College, PA
BOARD
MEMBERS PRESENT: John Spychalski,
Chairman
Joseph L. Davidson, Vice
Chairman
Richard
Kipp, Treasurer
Gary Powers
Kathryn Bittner
STAFF
PRESENT: Hugh
Mose, General Manager
Sherry
Snyder, Asst. Director of Transportation
Judith Minor, Director of
Administration
Eric
Bernier, Service Development Manager
Julie
Hartley, Human Resource Manager
Jackie
Sheader, Marketing Manager
Marsha
Kyper, Assistant to the General Manager
I. CALL
TO ORDER
Chairman Spychalski called
the meeting to order at 4:00 PM. The
Chairman noted that an Executive Session had been held on March 31, 2009 to
discuss personnel matters.
III.
OLD BUSINESS
A. Approval of March 17, 2009 Board Work Session Minutes
Chairman Spychalski entertained a motion to
approve the March 17, 2009 Board Work
Session minutes. Richard Kipp moved to approve the minutes and Gary Powers
seconded. The motion carried
unanimously.
Chairman Spychalski entertained a motion to approve the March 23, 2009 Regular Board Meeting minutes. Gary
Powers moved to approve the minutes and Richard Kipp seconded. The motion carried unanimously with
corrections noted. Under Policy
Adoption, add recommended that and be tabled to the second sentence and
under Bid Award change the to a in the third sentence.
Chairman Spychalski entertained a motion to receive the March 2009 Financial
Reports. Richard Kipp moved to receive
the Financial Reports and Gary Powers seconded.
Judi Minor reported that fuel costs were low due to the CNG tax credit
program. Hugh Mose commented that unless
Congress extends the program it will run out at the end of 2009. Sherry Snyder explained that the higher Drivers’
Labor figure was due to overtime resulting from voluntary and involuntary terminations. Hugh reported that Driver Benefits are lower
for the same reasons. Joe Davidson commented
about the price of natural gas versus what was budgeted.
Hugh Mose reported that: ridership on CENTRELINE is up 7% and LOOP and
LINK is up 8%, but that the date of Easter this year artificially inflated the
March figures;
the number of riders in the Free Fare zone is lower than last year; the
paratransit ridership is the same as the corresponding month last year; individual
One-Pass and Ride-for-Five sales are ahead of this month, last year, by double
digits; and that CENTRE COMMUTE was slightly better than breaking even for the
month of March, with vehicle maintenance being higher on the vehicles with the
highest mileage.
With no further discussion, the motion carried unanimously.
Chairman
Spychalski stated that under this section the Board would review and provide
comments on the selected policies and that there would be one item, (Criminal
History Records Investigation Policy review and adoption) requiring Board
action.
Kathryn
Bittner requested that the words “to the employee” be added to the
Modified/Alternative Duty Policy for Work-Related Injury/Illness. Joe Davidson
requested that Julie Hartley review the changes in this policy. Julie noted that the additions in red include
language consistent with CATA’s Insurance Pool standards. Hugh commented that the Insurance Pool is
working to standardize language among members and that the changes in the CATA
documents reflect additions to existing language in order to be consistent with
member policies. Chairman Spychalski suggested two editorial changes: to add the words CATA designated physician to paragraph eight, page one, and to add of employees to page eight under Transit
Pass Program, bullet number four.
Kathryn
Bittner inquired as to whether there should be a more extensive list of
examples of sexual harassment under the Sexual Harassment Policy to lessen the
chances of an employee claiming innocence because their behavior was not listed. Judi Minor responded that there is a sentence
included stating that “this list is not all inclusive” in order to address that
possibility. Julie Hartley commented
that the Insurance Pool recommends combining the Sexual Harassment and Unlawful
Harassment Policies into one.
Joe
Davidson inquired about the local travel policy regarding non-reimbursement for
personal vehicle use less than ten miles.
Julie Harley responded that it is consistent with the personnel policy.
Hugh Mose and Judi Minor both commented that the policy was developed to address
employee requests to be reimbursed for incidental use of personal vehicles. With
no further discussion the suggestions by Board members were noted and will be
acted on by the CATA staff.
Chairman
Spychalski entertained a motion to adopt the Criminal History Records
Investigation Policy as presented. Richard
Kipp moved and Kathryn Bittner seconded.
Hugh
Mose reported that adoption of this policy had been tabled at the previous Board
meeting because Julie Hartley was absent, and that the language has since been
simplified. Joe Davidson inquired as to whether
an internal applicant is disqualified if they do not authorize a background
check. Julie Hartley and Judi Minor responded
that, yes, an internal applicant who does not authorize a background check is
disqualified as a candidate.
With
no further discussion the motion carried unanimously.
Eric
Bernier reviewed the highlights of his written report. Chairman Spychalski inquired as to whether
the changes in service are in response to public comment received. Eric responded “yes.” Richard Kipp inquired as to whether extended
service to Willowbrook had been requested.
Eric responded that we have received a request from one resident, and
that the adjacent B (Boalsburg) Route will be moved closer to regular riders.
Gary Powers inquired as to how CATA will reach riders of the G (Gray’s Woods)
Route to let them know about the route change.
Eric responded that is would be through Geisinger, and in the usual ways,
including the newsletter. Jackie Sheader
responded that information will be posted on buses. Joe Davidson questioned how he should explain
to College Township officials why service to East Brach Road did not get
reinstated. Eric answered that there
were few requests for it, and that it is not a priority given the formula used
to focus priorities. Chairman Spychalski entertained a motion to adopt the
proposed service changes as presented.
Richard Kipp moved and Joe Davidson seconded. With no further discussion, the motion
carried unanimously.
Joe Davidson inquired as to whether the statement on the Budget cover memo, “we will initiate regional commuter bus service in at least one of three corridors leading into the Centre Region” was too aggressive. Hugh responded that the statement is preceded by the statement “if we can secure state and/or federal assistance,” but that he will look for opportunities to soften his statement during meetings with municipal officials.
V. NEW BUSINESS
Hugh
Mose stated that CATA submits a request for discretionary funding nearly every
year. This year in addition to the
annual Transportation Appropriations process, CATA is requesting an earmark in
the Reauthorization of SAFETEA-LU, the underlying surface transportation
legislation. The proposed project is the expansion of the bus maintenance,
servicing and storage areas of CATA’s Cato Park facility.
Hugh
Mose reported that in response to recent scrutiny of “earmarks,” this item was
included on the agenda to document CATA’s efforts to provide more opportunity
for public comment, and to document that CATA has made requests to Representative Thompson, and Senators Casey and
Specter. Chairman Spychalski opened the
floor for public comment. No public comment was made.
VI. OTHER BUSINESS
Hugh
Mose highlighted the fact that CATA has been designated for a $1.0 million
earmark in Representative Thompson’s 2009-2010 Appropriations request. This is different from the Reauthorization
earmark request discussed earlier. He
also stated that we are winding down to start Reduced Service and that new
procurements include the tire lease and two Taurus sedans, for which Mark
Kutzer indicated no bids have been received. The paratransit RFP should be in
the paper this week and the staff is very close to completing the technical
specifications for the procurement of 10 new buses.
Hugh,
Julie Hartley and Judi Minor commented on the new 65% subsidy CATA will receive
for employees who are eligible to purchase healthcare under COBRA while in
layoff
status. Joe Davidson inquired about the
effect on the budget. Judi responded
that it would have no effect as CATA will eventually get the 65% back.
Jackie
Sheader added that CATA had recently received a Governor’s Award for Local
Government Excellence for the CENTRE COMMUTE program, and that an Employee
Appreciation Barbecue is being held on Thursday, May 7.
Chairman
Spychalski and Joe Davidson inquired about the status of the Rebranding Project. Jackie Sheader provided an update, indicating
that the Rebranding Committee members did not like any of the bus paint schemes
developed by the consultant as much as CATA’s current look. However, recently several ideas have been
developed in-house that are very promising.
Three will be put on mockups using CAD. Hugh Mose stated that the choice
is being narrowed down to one final recommendation for the Board, but that if
the Board prefers, staff can return with more than one option for their consideration.
Gary Powers indicated that South Hills Business School has CAD and that he
thought they would be very interested in the project.
Hugh
Mose requested a brief Executive Session following the General Meeting.
B.
Service
Development Report
Eric Bernier stated
that he had provided a written report in the Board packets. Eric commented on the Woodycrest developer’s
willingness to consider transit needs in their plans. Gary Powers inquired about the electronic
signage at the Pattee Transit Center.
Eric responded that they are up and running and that the problem was a communication
issue within the radio itself. Joe
Davidson inquired about the new iPhone application and how many are being sold
and whether CATA is receiving a cut.
Eric responded that the staff does not know how many are being sold and
that although CATA has an agreement with the student who developed the app, it
was decided not to include a revenue share.
Chairman
Spychalski called for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Gary Powers moved to adjourn the
meeting. Richard Kipp seconded. The meeting was adjourned at 5:25 PM.
VIII. EXECUTIVE SESSION
An Executive Session was held
to discuss personnel matters.