Minutes 12 09 04
Cape Fear Public Transportation Authority MINUTES OF THE CAPE FEAR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY December 09, 2004 Ms. Christine B. McNamee, Chair, Presiding MEMBERS PRESENT Ms. Christine
McNamee, Chair Mr. Jeff Bellows, Vice-Chair Mr. Robert Ronne, Secretary Mr. William Bryden Ms. Nancy Pritchett Ms. Laura Padgett Mr. John Stukes Ms. Maureen McCarthy Ms. Barbara Kane
STAFF PRESENT Mr. Albert Eby, Director Ms. Raquel Wilson, Administrative Assistant CONTRACT MANAGEMENT STAFF PRESENT Mr. Corey Johnson, General Manager, First Transit Mr. Lamont Jackson,
General Manager Paratransit, First Transit Ms. Gayle Gray, Director of Labor Relations, First Transit Ms. Tammy Jacobs, Dispatcher, First Transit Ms. Gloria Holmes, Dispatcher, First
Transit Ms. Theresa Cobbs, Dispatcher, First Transit Mr. Bill Harned, Senior Operations Analyst, First Transit Mr. Jim Sullivan, Paratransit Consultant, First Transit Ms. Lillie Carroll,
Administrative Assistant, First Transit Ms. Kathy Williams, Administrative Assistant, First Transit Mr. Oswaldo Brau, Maintenance Supervisor, First Transit Mr. Peter Pecori, Operations
Supervisor, First Transit GUESTS PRESENT Mr. Kemp Burpeau, Deputy County Attorney, New Hanover County Ms. Dolores Williams, Assistant City Attorney, City of Wilmington Ms. Lawless Bean,
Transportation Demand Management Coordinator, City of Wilmington Mr. Jonathan David, Associate Transportation Planner, City of Wilmington Ms. Annette Crumpton, Director, New Hanover
County Department of Aging Mr. Ricky Meeks, Citizen Ms. Michelle Andrea, Citizen CALL TO ORDER Chairman McNamee called the meeting to order at 12:20pm.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES A motion to approve the minutes from the November 12, 2004 regular meeting of the Wave Transit Board of Directors was made by Ms. Padgett. The motion was seconded
by Mr. Stukes and carried unanimously. PUBLIC COMMENT The Chair asked if anyone in attendance had public comment. Ms. Andrea stated that she would like the Authority to consider
transit service to Blair and Noble Schools in the Ogden area on North Market St. Mr. Meeks requested that passenger windows on the buses be allowed to opened by passengers on warm
days. Mr. Eby stated that the windows were locked for safety reasons and to prevent heat and air conditioning loss from opened windows. Hearing no further comment, the Chair closed
the public comment period. RECOGNITION Mr. Eby recognized the senior members of First Transit present at the meeting. Mr. Eby recognized First Transit General Manager Mr. Johnson
to introduce his staff. Mr. Eby recognized First Transit Paratransit General Manger Mr. Jackson to introduce his staff. The Chair recognized the Assistant City Attorney, Ms. Dolores
Williams, and Deputy County Attorney, Mr. Kemp Burpeau for their outstanding legal assistance to the Authority. She presented each a plaque for their service. LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE
REPORT The Chair recognized Committee Chairman Mr. Bellows to present the report. Mr. Bellows reported that the New Hanover County Commissioners unanimously approved the Authority’s
request to become designated recipient for federal and state public transportation funds at their November 18, 2004 meeting. Mr. Bellows also reported that the County Commissioners
failed to approve the Authority’s request to seek state legislative approval for a $5.00 countywide vehicle registration fee at their November 18, 2004 meeting. The committee made
a motion that the Authority postpone pursuing legislation approving a countywide vehicle registration fee until additional study for alternatives and education can be undertaken. The
motion carried unanimously. The Committee Chair stated the Authority’s request for designated recipient status was scheduled to be discussed at the December 14, 2004 meeting or the
Wilmington City Council. Ms. Padgett stated that she would remove the $5.00 vehicle registration fee request from the Council agenda. Ms. McNamee suggested that a committee be assembled
to undertake the study of possible funding alternatives. The Committee would be charged with studying legislative issues, marketing and education issues and financial issues. Mr.
Bryden suggested that an ad hoc committee be formed from a member of the marketing committee, the finance and budget committee, and a member of the legislative committee. Mr. Ronne
volunteered to serve on the committee representing the legislative committee, Ms. McCarthy agreed to serve from the marketing committee and Mr. Bryden agreed to serve from the finance
and budget committee.
Due to the political nature of additional funding sources, Ms. Padgett and Ms. Pritchett were also asked to serve on the committee. Mr. Bryden agreed to chair the committee and scheduled
the first meeting for January 13, 2005 at 12:00pm in the Wave Transit Board room. BUDGET AND FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT The Chair recognized Committee Chairman Mr. Bryden to present
the report. Mr. Bryden had no report. PERSONNEL COMMITTEE REPORT The Chair recognized Committee Chairman Mr. Ronne to present the report. Mr. Ronne reported that a candidate had
been identified for the Assistant Director position. He briefly reviewed the candidate’s qualifications. Formal offer of the position was contingent upon passage of a drug test.
Mr. Ronne presented the Cape Fear Public Transportation Authority Policies Manual for Board consideration. He stated that some changes to the document were presented at the last
minute. Mr. Ronne recognized Attorney Ms. Williams to review the policy manual. She stated that some changes, based on the last minute comments were outlined in red in a copy being
distributed to the Board. She identified the changes as family member definition, jury duty leave and bereavement leave. She stated that references to the Director referred to the
Authority Director, references to the Chair referred to the Board Chair, and references to the Board referred to the Authority Board of Directors. Jury duty leave was defined as leave
when subpoenaed for jury duty selection. Leave for plaintiff and defendant leave, not directly to Wave Transit business is not reimbursable. Mr. Stukes asked for clarification of the
relative definition. Ms. Williams stated that immediate family was at the discretion of the director for the purposes of bereavement. Employment of family members regardless of relation
is prohibited under the proposed policy. Mr. Bryden asked if the policy specifically covered military leave. Ms. Williams stated that the issue should be addressed when applicable.
Mr. Stukes asked for clarification of Article 2 §1.3 regarding acceptance of gifts, specifically the term “anything of value.” Ms. Padgett stated that there is a general standard
of $50.00 for acceptable gratuities. Ms. Pritchett inquired about seniority for Authority employees that came from the City and County. Mr. Ronne stated that employees would have
their service with the City and County used in calculating vacation leave. Sick days would be carried over from the City and County. Ms. Pritchett suggested that the Director be
able to use his years of service while employed for the management contractor as General Manager of the WTA in calculating vacation leave. Mr. Ronne stated that the Director had three
years of service with the contractor as GM of the Authority and that if the Board was agreeable to Ms. Pritchett’s suggestion, it be added to the Personnel Policy. Ms. Williams stated
that changes to the vacation leave policy could be addressed by Board Resolution.
Article 3 §2.4 was amended to include former employees of CCL Management who were employees of the Authority. A motion to approve the Cape Fear Public Transportation Authority Policies
Manual with the changes identified by Ms. Williams was made by Committee Chairman Mr. Ronne. The motion was seconded by Ms. Padgett and carried unanimously. Mr. Ronne reported that
he and Budget Committee Chair, Mr. Bryden met with the Director to discuss the monetary subsidies for benefits that the Authority would allow its employees. He stated that staff had
researched health insurance options and recommended the plan offered by the North Carolina League of Municipalities Municipal Insurance Trust. Although more costly, the health insurance
benefit was comparable to the plans offered by the city and county. Dental benefits, and retirement benefits were nearly identical to the city and county. A recommendation for the
Authority to offer matching contributions to the NC 401(k) up to and including 4.5% was part part of the recommended benefit plan. Mr. Ronne reported that the City currently offers
a non-matching 401(k) plan of 4.5% of an employee’s salary. The County does not provide a 401(k) program. Mr. Bryden stated that funds for the proposed plan would fall within the
current year operating budget. A motion to accept the benefit structure as presented was made by Mr. Ronne. The motion was seconded by Mr. Stukes and carried unanimously. The Chair
stated that the Committee had completed its assignments to date. MARKETING COMMITTEE REPORT The Chair recognized Committee Chair Ms. McCarthy to present the report. Ms. McCarthy
set the next meeting of the Marketing Committee with TalkPR for January 10, 2005. She reported that the meeting would be to discuss the outline of the marketing plan with TalkPR.
She further reported that the Excellence in Transportation Award recently accepted by the Board was to be presented to the Board by the Wilmington Mayor’s Committee at the Wilmington
City Council meeting on December 14, 2004. FACILITIES COMMITTEE REPORT The Chair recognized Mr. Eby to present the report in the absence of Committee Chair Mr. Howard Capps. Mr.
Eby stated that he had discussed the facilities projects with Mr. Capps. After evaluating the identified property for the transfer and administration facility, staff had instructed
the site selection consultant to attempt to identify other sites. The difficult decision to move away from the selected site was based on ground water contamination levels present
on the site. Although the contamination was believed to mitigatable, the time period for cleaning up the contamination was not conformant with the Authority’s construction schedule.
Mr. Eby stated that staff has identified some NCDOT property that may work as a site for both the transfer/administration as well as the maintenance/operations center on one site.
Staff and the consultants were studying the site and had scheduled wetlands delineation as well as environmental and civil civil engineering. Traffic impact in the area was also
a staff concern and would be addressed by the consultant.
Mr. Eby reported that the restructured routes passed by the Board could be modified by staff to meet the location of the facility. MANAGEMENT SERVICES REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS Chairman
McNamee recognized Ms. Williams to present the item. Ms. Williams asked for Authority approval to move forward with a Request for Proposal (RFP) for management services. The RFP
had been drafted by staff and was in legal review. The RFP would be based on a combination of provisions of the existing contracts between the City of Wilmington and First Transit
and between New Hanover County and First Transit. She further explained that staff had included the General Manager’s salary and fringe benefits as part of the management fee. The
agreement would be for a period of three (3) years. Mr. Eby reviewed the important dates proposed in the RFP. Mr. Bellows asked for details concerning how the Board would receive
information concerning the RFP. Mr. Eby stated that the responsive and responsible bidders would be identified by staff. Bidders determined to be both responsive and responsible
would be required to submit an executive summary of their proposal to be distributed to the Board prior to candidate interviews at the regularly scheduled Board meeting on April 14,
2005. Mr. Bryden asked if the RFP had budget implications. Mr. Eby stated that the agreement should be within the restrictions of the current contracts and budget. A motion authorizing
the Director and the Authority Attorneys to issue an RFP for Transit Management Services was made by Ms. Padgett. The motion was seconded by Ms. Kane and carried unanimously. ADOPTION
OF WAVE TRANSIT MISSION STATEMENT AND GOALS In the interest of time, the Chair tabled the item until a later date. STAFF REPORT Chairman McNamee recognized Mr. Eby for a staff report.
Mr. Eby had no report. OTHER BUSINESS, SCHEDULING OF NEXT MEETING The Chair stated that the next scheduled meeting would be Thursday, January 13, 2005. The Director is scheduled
to be in California for a final inspection on two buses being manufactured by Gillig, Corp. on this date. The Chair asked if there were any business that could not wait until the following
scheduled meeting on February 10, 2005. Hearing none, the Chair scheduled the next meeting of the Board for February 10, 2005 at 12:00pm in the Wave Transit Board room. Hearing no
further business a motion to adjourn was made by Mr. Ronne. The motion was seconded by Ms. Kane and carried unanimously. Respectfully Submitted, Albert Eby Director