MONONGALIA COUNTY URBAN MASS

 

TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY

 

BOARD OF DIRECTOR’S MEETING

 

OCTOBER 12, 2005

 

AUTHORITY MEMBERS PRESENT:                                          Bob Roberts

                                                                                                            Larry Calemine

                                                                                                            James Manilla

                                                                                                            Jenny Dinsmore

                                                                                                            Kevin Buckley

Asel Kennedy  

                                                                                                            David Flynn                             

                                                                         

OTHER PERSONNEL PRESENT:                                                 David Bruffy

Wayne Pifer

                                                                                                            Sheila M. Wolfe

                                                                       

CALL TO ORDER:

 

The Transit Authority Board Meeting for October 12, 2005 was called to order at 6:00 P.M.

 

READING AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES (September 14, 2005)

 

David Flynn made a Motion to accept the September 14, 2005 Board Meeting minutes. Larry Calemine seconded the Motion.

 

For: All Present and Voting                           Opposed: None         

 

PRESENTATION

 
A.      September 2005 Driver of the Month

 

The Board announced the Authority’s September 2005 Driver of the Month, Mr. Robert Lee. The Board also recognized Jim Huffman, Paul Gutta, Mary Rogers, and Bobby Dille for their outstanding performance during the month of September 2005.

 

OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS:

  

There were no comments offered by the Public.

 

Monthly Data Summaries/Correspondence

 

The General Manager stated that the passenger trips for September 2005 were 53,870 and were up

38 % compared to September of 2004, and were up 5 % for total passenger trips for the calendar year 2005 compared to calendar year 2004. Disabled passenger trips were down 14 %, senior passenger trips were down 12 % and West Virginia University “Ride with I.D.” was up 80 %. For the month of September the Transit Authority traveled 59,151 miles, made 8,817 schedules, answered 85 Rail Trail questions, answered over 2,800 phone calls and had 230,476 hits on the web site.

 

The General Manager stated that the employees hired during September include Larry Murray for the position of full-time Driver and Cathy Starkey for the position of part-time Receptionist.

 

The General Manager presented a slide show including a hand out to share with community interest groups to show what options and opportunities Mountain Line Transit has for future initiatives. The General Manager presented the Mountain Line Transit Authority Board members with six different proposals for possible future service increase to the community.

 

Bob Roberts stated that the question that they want everyone to start considering is “Where is Mass Transit going?” The community, student body, and businesses in Morgantown are growing and we need to start thinking about how the transportation sources in the area can start working together to be more efficient.

 

FINANCIAL REPORT:

 

A.      Approval of the September 2005 Monthly Financial Report

 

Jenny Dinsmore Made a Motion to accept for audit the Financial Report as presented for July 2005. Larry Calemine seconded the Motion.

 
For: All Present and Voting                           Opposed: None

       

OLD BUSINESS:

  

A.     WVU Service Agreement Update

 

The General Manager stated that West Virginia University has requested to add to the service agreement with Mountain Line Transit by adding two more buses to the Campus PM Service for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. This brings the total Campus PM service to three buses. West Virginia University will be transferring their night time service to Mountain Line Transit.

 

B.     Medicaid Services Update

 

The General Manager stated that the Department Health and Human Resources is still looking at Medicaid for possible cut backs that will reduce service.

 

C.     In-Touch & Concerned Lease Agreement

 

The General Manager stated that the lease agreement had been signed and In-Touch & Concerned will be moving in on November 1, 2005.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

  

A.     Proposal to Televise Monthly Meetings (Jim Manilla)

 

The General Manager asked Jim Manilla to present the proposal from the City Council to televise the Transit Authorities Board Meetings.

 

Jim Manilla stated that Councilman Frank Scafella brought up the idea of having the Mountain Line Transit Authority meetings televised. This would be good advertisement for the Transit Authority and would help to keep the community informed of what is going on with Mountain Line Transit. Jim Manilla stated that the General Manager could work with Jeff McCorskey on the details for setting this up.

 

Bob Roberts asked the General Manager to get back to the Transit Authority with the details concerning this matter.

  

B.        $2000 dollar Grant For Grand Opening Ceremony

 

The General Manager stated that the West Virginia Department of Transportation has given Mountain Line Transit a $2000 dollar grant for expenses for the Grand Opening to be held on November 17, 2005 at 11:00 AM.

 

Bob Roberts appointed Jenny Dinsmore, Kevin Buckley and Asel Kennedy to the Grand Opening Committee.

             

C.     Proposed Greyhound Inter-line Service Agreement

 

The General Manager stated that the proposed service that Mountain Line Transit would provide would inter-line with the Greyhound service by providing a service from Clarksburg, to Fairmont, to Morgantown and then to Pittsburgh Greyhound station and the International Airport in Pittsburgh. He stated the funding would be provided by Greyhound, the state of West Virginia and the state of Pennsylvania for this service. In order to efficiently provide this service some new personnel would need to be hired. The Transit Authority would need to hire six new employee’s for the Transit Authority to be able to operate the new service there would be one full-time mechanic, two full-time drivers, two ticket agents, and supervisors for evening and Sunday’s because this service will operate seven days per week. The Transit Authority can’t become a Greyhound ticket agent for approximately three months, after receiving Federal Motor Carrier Permits.

 

D.    Proposed Equipment lease for Greyhound Service

 

The General Manager stated that the Transit Authority will need to purchase equipment for this new Grey Line service and requested Board Authorization to make this emergency procurement.

 

The General Manager asked the Transit Authority Board to authorize the General Manager to enter into a inter-line service agreement with Greyhound and to purchase or lease equipment needed to make sure that the Grey Line service is ready to operate on October 31, 2005.

 

Jenny Dinsmore Made a Motion to authorize the General Manager to enter into an inter-line service agreement with Greyhound. Larry Calemine seconded the Motion.

 

For: All Present and Voting                           Opposed: None

 

Jenny Dinsmore Made a Motion to authorize the General Manager to enter into purchase or lease equipment needed to provide the service and hire personnel consisting of two ticket agents, one Mechanic, one Supervisor, and two drivers working within the budget as presented to the Transit Authority Board. The General Manager is to consult with Asel Kennedy for expenditures outside of the presented budget. Jim Manilla seconded the Motion.

 

For: All Present and Voting                           Opposed: None

 

E.     Proposed Wallace Theatre service Agreement

 

The General Manager stated that the proposal would include service to the new Wallace Theatre at the University Towne Center and add on additional service for an additional Campus PM service. This service would operate seven days per week. There would be service until 11:30 AM in the evening. The route would run from Towers, to Morgantown Mall and then to the University Towne Center.     

 

Jenny Dinsmore Made a Motion to authorize the General Manager to enter into agreement with the Wallace Theatre for the seven days a week service for November 1, 2005 to June 30, 2006. Jim Manilla seconded the Motion.

 

For: All Present and Voting                           Opposed: None

 

F.      Proposed Orange Line service increase

 

The General Manager stated that West Virginia University would like to start a service by October 17, 2005 that would extend the Orange Line service. This would provide an extra $50,000 dollars in revenue. This service will run for thirty-two weeks during regular West Virginia University school schedules. The days of operation would be Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

 

Kevin Buckley Made a Motion to authorize the General Manager to enter into agreement with West Virginia University to begin the extended Orange Line service. David Flynn seconded the Motion.

 

For: All Present and Voting                           Opposed: None

 

G.    Charitable Collection Policy Proposal (Jenny Dinsmore)

 

Jenny Dinsmore stated that the Transit Authority Board should have a policy in place when collecting charitable contributions on the buses.

 

Bob Roberts asked that the General Manager to research existing charitable contribution policies and present them at the next Transit Authority Board Meeting.

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

Jenny Dinsmore Made a Motion to adjourn at 7:15 P.M.