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4. Advisory Board Meeting - October 4, 2021

Advisory Board Meeting Minutes of October 4, 2021

The MetroWest Regional Transit Authority (MWRTA) Advisory Board met on Monday, October 4, 2021, at 11:00 am at the call of Joseph Nolan, Advisory Board Chair/Wayland. Due to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, the meeting was held virtually, with Advisory Board members and the public provided access via global.gotomeeting.com.

A roll call of members present was conducted, in attendance were: Ed Burman/Ashland-Vice Chair, Thatcher Kezer/Framingham, Linda Marshall/Holliston, Carole Mullen/Hopedale, Kristina Johnson/Hudson, Michael Walsh/Milford, Robert Wolff/Sherborn, Debra Galloway/Sudbury- Clerk, Joseph Nolan/Wayland - Chair, Colette Aufranc/Wellesley, and Jean MacQuiddy/Weston

Also participating: Senate President Karen Spilka, Dennis Giombetti, District Liaison, Paul Spooner/MetroWest Center for Independent Living (MWCIL), Ed Carr/Administrator, Eva Willens/Deputy Administrator, John Glynn/CFO, Patrick Moynihan/General Counsel, Daniel Fitch/IT Consultant, Joy Glynn/Grants Manager, Paula Doucette/ Financial Assistant, Emily Van Dewoestine/Director of Fixed Route, Intermodal and Marketing, Rebecca Bessa/Director of Travel Training and Community Relations, Chase Modestow/Coordinator of Business Communications & Development, Jon O’Connell/KTI, and Chuck Curran/KTI.

Not participating: Dover/Advisory Board designee TBD, Mary Jo Lafreniere/Hopkinton., Trish Pope/ Marlborough, Karen Adelman-Foster/Natick, and Martin Healey/Southborough

With a quorum declared present, the meeting was called to order at 11:05 am with Mr. Nolan, presiding.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting:

Ms. Willens requested that the Board to amend the draft June 28, 2021 minutes by striking the heading in its entirety and inserting in its place “Approval of Final FY22 Operating Budget:” and by striking the motion in its entirety and inserting in its place “A motion was made by Mr. Kezer of Framingham: To accept the final FY22 operating budget as presented. Second by Ms. Aufranc of Wellesley. The vote was unanimous.”

A motion was made by Mr. Kezer of Framingham: Approval of minutes from the Advisory Board Meeting of June 28, 2021 as amended. Second by Mr. Burman of Ashland.  The vote passed.

Sudbury, Hudson, and Milford abstained.

Public Questions/Comments:

Mr. Nolan requested any public comments from the audience. No public comments were presented.

Senate President Karen Spilka address to the Board:

Mr. Nolan introduced Senate President Karen Spilka, an advocate for the establishment of a regional transit authority in MetroWest, and who, with Mr. Carr, drafted the legislation to form the MWRTA. Senator Spilka thanked the team including, Mr. Carr, Mr. Giombetti, and Mr. Spooner for their incredible vision and hard work in forming the MWRTA into what it should be, needs to be, and is. She also shared deep gratitude to Ms. Willens/Deputy Administrator, and all the people at the MWRTA for keeping the routes moving and providing regional equity in transportation, economic development, access to jobs, medical appointments, and environmental sustainability. She observed that the MWRTA offers people the opportunity to get to where they need to go, which is a valuable resource, especially for people with no other transportation alternative.

Ms. Aufranc of Wellesley commented on the need to network with other RTAs in an effort to make cross- connections. There is a need to get people out of their cars and onto public transportation.

Mr. Carr thanked the following people for the creation of the MWRTA:

• Senate President Spilka, for being the ‘Mother of the MWRTA;
• Dennis Giombetti for his political courage to spearhead and vote Framingham into the RTA; and
• Paul Spooner for being vocal, articulate, and providing guidance through the process.

Administrator Comments:

Mr. Carr discussed the following:

1)      Front Entrance Blandin (FEB) Project completion November 1^st and on budget

2)      FTA Triennial Audit - Excelled in Civil Rights

3)      MBTA Lease for the Framingham Commuter Rail Station

4)      Route 9 Park N Ride

5)      Driver Shortage (mentioning the possibility of underwriting child care as a benefit to entice potential drivers)

Discussion of Disabled Community Member (Marlborough):

Mr. Carr stated that the proposed legislation (authored by Rep. Alice Peisch of Wellesley at the behest of the MWRTA) amending Chapter 161B to expand the criteria for selection of disabled resident community members to RTAs, has stalled. If enacted, qualified non-residents (e.g. a representative from an organization that services the disabled) could be appointed which would ensure not only that disabled persons would have board representation, but it would also provide for the continuity, consistency, and expertise of the designated member for this seat. There is not currently a disabled resident community member from Marlborough, this year’s designated community. Paul Spooner is willing to serve as the representative.

Fare Policy - Continued Discussion and Approval of FY22 Policy and Option Section:

Mr. Fitch, MWRTA IT Consultant, presented the FY22 Fare Policy: MWRTA continues to work on the Fare Collection System that will provide riders with a more flexible payment method, newer technology (phone, credit card, validators). The technology is an account-based system with payment via card or phone, however, the chip shortage has impacted card availability. The hope is to have the cards by January 2022.

Ms. Aufranc asked how the new system will accommodate those who will need to pay for fares in cash. Mr. Fitch stated that the MWRTA will also continue to collect a cash fare on fixed route buses, for those who do not have access or cannot use an electronic system.

Mr. Spooner commented, having no fares sounds wonderful, but if we review the fare structure, and possibly cut the fare in half to start.

Mr. Nolan stated that at its last meeting the Board voted to move ahead with the so-called “Option #3,” which is the technology driven alternative, and that the post-pandemic fare structure was to be revisited at this meeting prior to its implementation. His sense of the Board at this juncture is that the item should again be tabled and revisited at the January meeting.

Mr. Carr indicated funding to cover the expense of continuing to offer free fares is not currently an issue. We will not implement the new fare policy without the Board’s final approval. As we are monitoring trends and growing microtransit, which is here to stay, we have to build up densities to expand. Mr. Carr agreed with the Chair, and suggested that implementation of the new fare policy and option implementation be tabled until January when the Authority will be further along with the technology issues and will have

identified the best way to implement the selected option. He also noted that the delay will allow the MWRTA to see where things are in light of the pandemic.

A motion was made by Mr. Kezer of Framingham: To table the FY22 Fare Policy and Option discussion until January. Second by Mr. Burman of Ashland. The vote was unanimous.

Committee Membership Appointments – Audit Finance Committee:

The Chair advised the Board that he has appointed Ms. Aufranc, Mr. Kezer, and himself (Mr. Nolan) to the Finance & Audit Committee..

A motion made by Mr. Burman of Ashland: To approve the Finance & Audit Committee membership appointments of: Ms. Aufranc of Wellesley, Mr. Kezer of Framingham, and Mr. Nolan of Wayland. Second by Mr. Walsh of Milford: The vote was unanimous.

General Counsel noted that the Finance & Audit Committee is a standing committee already established under the MWRTA By-Laws and that the Chair is the appointing authority. Therefore this does not require a vote of the Board.

Committee Membership Appointments – Administrator Search Committee:

Mr. Carr announced that his contract expires on June 30, 2022, and that he is required to advise the Board in January whether he wishes to negotiate a renewal or to retire. Mr. Carr informed that has decided to retire. Mr. Nolan acknowledged and thanked Mr. Carr for his leadership of the Authority over the years and expressed his regret over Mr. Carr’s decision.

Mr. Nolan stated that an administrator search committee will need to be formed, and suggested that it consist of three (3) board members. He also raised the possibility of including a few community members, as well. He stated that if any Board member is interested in participating on this committee they should contact Ms. Willens. She will forward this information to the Chair, who, in accordance with the By-Laws relative to the formation of special committees, will appoint the search committee at the January meeting.

Board Member Comments:

Mr. Burman announced Ashland is holding a drive-through clinic for Covid testing. Please invite your communities to participate so that the town can continue the program.

Upon the inquiry from Ms. Aufranc, Mr. Nolan stated that a detailed narrative of the options for fare collection and structure will be provided to Board members.

Ms. Galloway of Sudbury has an active disability member who is available to start. Taxi service from MAPC grant provided 855 trips and 533 Uber trips in Sudbury very successfully. Sudbury has formed a large transportation committee if anyone is interested in reaching out.

Mr. Carr stated that the next meeting date will be at the end of January 2022.

Adjourn:

A motion was made by Mr. Kezer of Framingham: To adjourn the meeting. Second Mr. Walsh of Milford: The vote was unanimous.

The meeting adjourned at 12:21 pm.

Certificate

The undersigned being the duly qualified acting clerk of the MetroWest Regional Transit Authority Advisory Board acknowledges that the foregoing minutes accurately reflect the actions taken at a legally convened meeting of the Advisory Board held on October 4, 2021.

Debra Galloway of Sudbury, Clerk

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