MICHIGAN PUBLIC TRANSIT ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 18, 2009 IRONWOOD, MICHIGAN

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1 MICHIGAN PUBLIC TRANSIT ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 18, 2009 IRONWOOD, MICHIGAN Board Members Present: Board Members Absent: Others Present: Sylvester Payne, STARS, President Debbie Alexander, CATA, Vice President Bill Worth, Delta Area Transit (for J. Hutchison) Jim Mildren, Gogebic Transit (for E. Benning) Larry Alpert, SATA Richard Collins, Ludington Rochelle Cotey, ALTRAN Maureen Daugherty, Roscommon Chuck Moser, EUPTA Jennifer Kalczuk, The Rapid, (for P. Varga) Carol Wegher, Lapeer Ed Bergeron, Bergeron Marketing Jim Fetzer, SMART Dawn Gabay, AATA Bill Schomisch, Kalamazoo Lovevett Williams, DDOT Clark Harder, MPTA John Stapleton, Schoolcraft County Delynn Klein, Marquette Kay Peters, Marquette Vicki White, Ontonagon Jodi Reynolds, Houghton Glenn Anderson, Hancock Rita Oman, Gogebic Vedra Gant, Yates Scott Erickson, Ironwood 1.0 Call To Order President Payne called the September 18, 2009 board meeting to order at 8:30 am. Jim Mildren introduced Ironwood City Manager, Scott Erickson, who welcomed MPTA to Ironwood. President Payne thanked Scott. President Payne noted the following proxies: Bill Worth for Jerry Hutchison, Jim Mildren for Ed Benning, and Jennifer Kalczuk for Peter Varga.

2 2.0 Approval of Agenda Chuck Moser moved approval of the agenda, supported by Carol Wegher. Motion passed unanimously. 3.0 Approval of Minutes Rochelle Cotey moved approval of the August 19, 2009 minutes and elections, supported by Jennifer Kalczuk. Motion passed unanimously. 4.0 Treasurer s Report 4.1 August Income Statement and Balance Sheet In Jerry s absence, Clark reported Net Income through eleven months as $125,690 and Retained Earnings of $246,067. Questions were asked about the fines and penalties on the credit card summary. Clark stated that, during the hectic preparations for annual meeting, the credit card was inadvertently paid late. Board members suggested calling the credit card company to have the fines waived. Dick Collins move acceptance of the Treasurer s Report, supported by Chuck Moser. Motion passed unanimously. 5.0 Action Items 5.1 Clark to contact attorney re: Social Security Number Policy Clark reported that he has contacted our attorney and this item will be completed in October. The attorney is also reviewing the Executive Director s contract. 5.2 Recommendation re: two-year financial band-aid for Michigan Clark reported that he does not have a recommendation yet. He has been talking to Bill Zaagman about this issue and asked that this item remain an action item. 6.0 New Business 6.1 Approval of new Associate Member: Disabled and Handicapped Services Board members requested additional information about this applicant before approving membership. Larry Alpert move to table this item, supported by Debbie Alexander. Motion passes unanimously.

3 6.2 Approval of Board Meeting Dates Fiscal year 2010 Proposed Board Meeting Dates were included in the Board Packet. Delynn Klein, Marquette, offered to host the September 2010 Board Meeting. Below are the proposed meeting dates: 11/12/09 10:00am MPTA Offices 12/10/09 10:00am MPTA Offices 1/14/10 10:00am MPTA Offices 2/18/10 after midyear Kellogg Center, E. L. 3/11/10 10:00am MPTA Offices 4/08/10 10:00am MPTA Offices 5/13/10 10:00am MPTA Offices 6/10/10 10:00am MPTA Offices 7/8/10 10:00am MPTA Offices 8/20/10 8:00am Shanty Creek Resort 9/10/10 9:00am Marquette 10/14/10 10:00am MPTA Offices 11/11/10 10:00am MPTA Offices 12/09/10 10:00am MPTA Offices Jim Mildren moved approval of the proposed board meeting dates, supported by Chuck Moser. Motion passed unanimously. 7.0 Governmental Consultant Services Inc. Report Clark reported in Bill Zaagman s absence. Clark stated that the House version of the FY2010 Transportation Budget mirrors the governor s recommendation. It holds bus operating funds harmless, with cuts to bus capital. The Senate version diverts $11.5 million dollars from the CTF to the General Fund. Clark emphasized the importance of communicating to legislators the need to hold bus operating funds at $166 million. Because of the critical timing, contact must be made by phone or . Clark also suggested contact local media outlets. Clark asked for direction from the board as to whether he, Bill, and President Payne were still empowered to negotiate the best deal, knowing that maintaining bus operating funds is of the utmost importance. Through a show of hands, the majority of board members agreed to maintain MPTA s current position, placing a priority on bus operating funds and to continue to provide Clark, Bill, and President Payne with the latitude to negotiate the best deal.

4 It was mentioned that DDOT s FY2007 audit reflects a $6-7 million shortfall. If this is true, it would cause a significant shortfall in the CTF. Clark stated that he would investigate. 8.0 Executive Director s Report Clark distributed the flyer he prepared entitled 166 Million and 19 reasons to belong to the MPTA. Clark is very concerned about continued membership of our larger urban systems. If we lose any major MPTA members, it would create a significant cash flow problem for MPTA. We will be o.k. for FY2010, but beyond that would have to make substantial cuts. Losing members also equates to losing legislative clout. Clark thanked Jim Mildren for hosting the board meeting. He commended all of the Upper Peninsula managers for attending the meeting and stated that they are well represented on the board by Rochelle Cotey and Chuck Moser. Clark is extremely proud that all of the U.P. agencies are MPTA members. Chuck Moser commented that a current and former legislator both stated how valuable Clark s expertise is and what a great job MPTA does in getting their message to legislators. Clark stated that it is going to be a tough economic year, but we will get through it and no one will be left behind. 9.0 President Report President Payne thanked Jim Mildren for hosting the board meeting and also thanked all of the U.P. managers for their support. President Payne congratulated Rochelle Cotey for being named the Great Lakes Region representative on the CTAA board of directors Communications None 11.0 Committee Reports Administrative Committee Program Committee

5 Networking Committee The committee will meet in October to continue work on the transit brochure update. Maintenance /Training Committee Beginning in October, this committee will be split into two separate committees; the Training Committee and the Maintenance Committee Operators Committee Loudenslager Committee Local Training Coordinator 12.0 Old Business None 13.0 Member Comment Bill Worth commented that, as a new manager, MPTA has been very helpful. He encouraged all new managers to take advantage of the services MPTA has to offer. Clark introduced John Stapleton, new manager at Schoolcraft County Transit. Ed Bergeron commented that MPTA should update our strategic direction Adjournment Rochelle Cotey moved to adjourn, supported by Jennifer Kalczuk. Motion passed unanimously and the September board meeting was adjourned at 10:25 a.m. Respectfully submitted by Cindy Zolkowski

6 Action Items 1.0 Recommendation re: two-year financial band-aid for Michigan 2.0 Clark to investigate possible DDOT shortfall for Fy Tabled item: acceptance of new associate member: Disabled and Handicapped Services