Green Mountain Transit Board of Commissioners Meeting February 16, 2021 - 7:30 A.M
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Green Mountain Transit Board of Commissioners Meeting February 16, 2021 - 7:30 a.m. 101 Queen City Road, Burlington VT 05401 The mission of GMT is to promote and operate safe, convenient, accessible, innovative, and sustainable public transportation services in northwest and central Vermont that reduce congestion and pollution, encourage transit oriented development, and enhance the quality of life for all. Due to current social distancing measures, this meeting will be held entirely virtually. To join the meeting via Zoom: Video Conferencing: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89305968523 Audio Only: (646)-558-8656 Meeting ID: 893 0596 8523 7:30 a.m. 1. Open Meeting 7:31 a.m. 2. Adjustment of the Agenda 7:33 a.m. 3. Public Comment 7:35 a.m. 4. Consent Agenda (Action Item) Pages 4-40 a. January 19, 2021 Board Meeting Minutes b. Check Register c. Finance Report d. Maintenance Report e. Planning, Marketing and Public Affairs Report f. IT Support, Administrative Support, Training and HR Report g. Ridership Reports 7:40 a.m. 5. VTrans Update 7:50 a.m. 6. General Manager Report – Updates and Opportunity for Questions on the Report Pages 41-45 101 Queen City Park Rd, Burlington, VT 05401 | T: 802-540-2468 F: 802-864-5564 6088 VT Route 12, Berlin, VT 05602 | T: 802-223-7287 F: 802-223-6236 375 Lake Road, Suite 5, St. Albans, VT 05478 | T: 802-527-2181 F: 802-527-5302 1 8:00 a.m. 7. Board Committee Reports 8:10 a.m. 8. Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (JEDI) Standing Committee Policy (Action Item) Pages 46-47 8:20 a.m. 9. FY20 Audit Presentation & Discussion (Action Item) Pages 48-100 8:30 a.m. 10. Purchasing Policy Update Presentation & Discussion (Action Item) Pages 101-144 8:40 a.m. 11. Paid Time-off (PTO) Policy Update Presentation & Discussion (Action Item) Pages 145-151 8:55 a.m. 12. Executive Session: 1 VSA 313(a) (1) (b), labor relations agreements with employees. Is there a motion to find that premature public knowledge regarding the upcoming Collective Bargaining negotiations would place GMT at a substantial disadvantage? Is there a motion to enter executive session pursuant to 1 VSA 313(a) (1) (b) to discuss labor relations agreements with employees? 9:20 a.m. 13. Executive Session: 1 VSA 313(a) (1) (e), pending or probable civil litigation or prosecution, to which the public body is or may be a party. Is there a motion to find that premature public knowledge of a pending civil litigation to which GMT is a party would place GMT at a substantial disadvantage? Is there a motion to enter executive session pursuant to 1 VSA 313(a) (1) (e) to discuss a pending civil litigation? 9:30 a.m. 14. General Commissioner Comments 9:40 a.m. 15. Adjourn Next GMT Board of Commissioners Meeting Date: March 16, 2021 NOTES 101 Queen City Park Rd, Burlington, VT 05401 | T: 802-540-2468 F: 802-864-5564 6088 VT Route 12, Berlin, VT 05602 | T: 802-223-7287 F: 802-223-6236 375 Lake Road, Suite 5, St. Albans, VT 05478 | T: 802-527-2181 F: 802-527-5302 2 • Persons with disabilities who require assistance or special arrangements to participate in programs or activities are encouraged to contact Jamie Smith at 802-540-1098 at least 48 hours in advance so that proper arrangements can be made. Hearing disabled patrons can contact GMT through the Vermont Relay Service (711). • Free transportation to and from GMT Board Meetings is available within the GMT service area. To make advance arrangements, please call GMT’s Customer Service Representatives at 802-540- 2468. • Municipal Clerks: Please post this public meeting notice pursuant to Act 78 of the Acts of the 1979 Vermont Legislature. Thank you. 101 Queen City Park Rd, Burlington, VT 05401 | T: 802-540-2468 F: 802-864-5564 6088 VT Route 12, Berlin, VT 05602 | T: 802-223-7287 F: 802-223-6236 375 Lake Road, Suite 5, St. Albans, VT 05478 | T: 802-527-2181 F: 802-527-5302 3 Green Mountain Transit Board of Commissioners Meeting January 19, 2021 - 7:30 a.m. 101 Queen City Road, Burlington VT 05401 The mission of GMT is to promote and operate safe, convenient, accessible, innovative, and sustainable public transportation services in northwest and central Vermont that reduce congestion and pollution, encourage transit oriented development, and enhance the quality of life for all. Present: Commissioner Davis Jon Moore, General Manager Commissioner Waninger Jamie Smith, Director of Marketing and Planning Commissioner Pouech Devin Mason, Transit Planner Commissioner Derenthal Chris Damiani, Transit Planner Commissioner Kaynor Kim Wall, Grants Manager Commissioner Buermann Trish Redalieu, Director of Human Resources Commissioner Dimitruk Nick Foss, Director of Finance Commissioner Spencer Matt Kimball, Capital Projects Manager Commissioner Baker Jordan Posner, Paratransit and Broker Services Manager Commissioner Polyte Ross MacDonald, VTrans Commissioner Bohn Public: Commissioner Brewer Laura Jacoby, Old Spokes Home Commissioner Wallis Spencer Smith, Member of the Public Commissioner Sharrow Absent: None 1. Open Meeting Commissioner Waninger opened the meeting at 7:31 AM. 2. Adjustment of the Agenda None. 3. Public Comment Laura Jacoby indicated self as present. Spencer Smith was present to hear VTrans report. 4 4. Consent Agenda (Action Item) Commissioner Waninger entertained motion to approve Consent Agenda or remove anything therefrom. Commissioner Kaynor motioned to approve but would like to make comments after second to motion. o Commissioner Baker seconded. Further Discussion o Commissioner Kaynor indicated error pertaining to labels in rural and ADA ridership report, as well as minor typos in minutes. Also commended GMT for training YouTube channel. Consent Agenda approved without abstention or opposition. 5 5. VTrans Update Received $26.7 million in CRRSSA funds. This is in addition to $13.3 million received in the spring of 2020. Ross MacDonald instructed by VTrans to add $5 million in funding for capital, which will likely allow the State to assist GMT with the purchase of additional cutaway buses. o Five or six buses will likely be purchased. o This week, VTrans is releasing an RFP and a scope for an electrification plan. o Commissioner Dimitruk: Will statewide funding allow providers to remain fare-free for FY22? Ross MacDonald: Yes, for 5311 (Rural) service. Cannot speak for 5307 (Urban) service. Commissioner Derenthal: Would fare-free service continue on the rural side, while fares are reinstated on the urban side? Ross MacDonald: This would be a decision for GMT’s Board of Commissioners. Commissioner Waninger: Would the capital purchases be 100 percent funded as well? Ross MacDonald: They will not; local match obligations would still apply. 6 6. General Manager Report – Updates and Opportunity for Questions (continued on next page). Kim Wall will be providing an update on CRRSSA funding, and any associated potential impacts. GMT has a service modification plan in the event of any Inauguration-related protests at the Vermont State House. o Jon Moore provided updates regarding staffing-related service suspensions. With additional candidates in the recruitment process, GMT hopes to reinstate suspended service once it can be reliably staffed. Due to low ridership, these service reductions should not affect capacity. GMT will be receiving $2.48 million in 5307 (Urban) CRRSSA funds and a $1.5 reduction in State operating funds. This may present an issue with regards to local match requirements. CRRSSA Presentation: Potential Impacts on Local-Match Funding Even with additional CRRSSA and COVID-19 relief funding, GMT is still projecting a local- match deficit of $555,962 for FY22. Commissioner Dimitruk: Would like to see VTrans not reduce GMT’s State operating funding by as much. Ross MacDonald: While the state is working to provide as much assistance as possible, it likely would not be feasible for VTrans to cover GMT’s local-match deficit. Commissioner Derenthal: Does the local match include urban fares? Jon Moore: It excludes cash fare but includes unlimited-access revenue. Commissioner Kaynor: Given that GMT is currently fare-free, why are unlimited-access fares being factored into the budget? Jon Moore: For budgetary reasons, fare-collection is set to resume in FY22. o Commissioner Kaynor indicated curiosity about the possibility of GMT obtaining revenue similar to that of the unlimited-access program without reinstating fare- collection. Commissioner Wallis: What are GMT’s options for closing the local-match deficit? Jon Moore: GMT may be able to increase urban assessments. Additionally, ADA funding could be shifted to 5307 (Urban) funding. Commissioner Polyte: For local matches, have any towns provided pushback? Jon Moore: Not thus far, though GMT has power of assessment on the urban side. 7 6 General Manager Report – Updates and Opportunity for Questions (continued from previous page). Commissioner Baker: Per the board packet, might some towns also see reduced assessments? Jon Moore: These pertain more to the impact of service cuts related to COVID- 19, in FY21. That remark does not closely relate to FY22. Commissioner Pouech: Hinesburg budget will be finalized January 20, by Australian ballot. GMT local match is not a separate ballot item. Bus Chargers: Contractual Challenge Chargers for Proterra buses were intended, per the original RFP, to be programmable to charge the buses only within specific windows of time; this allows for off-peak charging, when, per an agreement between GMT and the Burlington Electric Department, electricity rates are significantly lower. Due to programming issues and three instances of human error (one being by a Proterra service technician), GMT has seen utility costs increase by $20,000 for FY21, after buses were charged during peak hours. GMT is working to obtain reimbursement from Proterra for these expenses, which Proterra has thus far refused.