AACT Executive Board Meeting Summary
July
25, 2012
The meeting opened at 10:25
A.M.
Introductions
Attendees: I. Perrault, J.
White, B. A. Rock,
Absent: M.A.
Murray and R. Morin
Public Attendee: Tyler Terrasi
Correction to the June 25 meeting
minutes: This information was not reported.
Rick Morin stated that due to
a conflict of interest he will step down as Chairman of the Transportation
Committee for the Bay State Council for the Blind to focus on AACT issues.
IC James White and members of
the Executive Board discussed the following:
·
The AACT Bylaws Regarding Replacement of Officers
The AACT members consulted with the AACT Bylaws and IC
White cited the following sections.
Article IV.
Board of Directors
Section 6. Replacement of Officers
a) If the Chair becomes vacant, the
Vice- Chairperson shall become Interim
Chairperson until such time as an
interim election or the annual election
fills the Chair. When the Vice-Chairperson assumes
the duties of the Chairperson, no vacancy
is created in the Vice-Chairperson’s
position. Upon election of a new Chair, the
Interim-Chair will return to their vacated position of Vice-Chair
for the remainder, if any, of
their two-year term. Time spent as
Interim-Chair will be considered as part of their
two-year term as Vice-Chair.
Article
IV. Voting
Section 3.
C. Members Eligible to Hold Office
3. In order to run for position of
Chair, candidates must be eligible voting members for at least one
(1) year before the
date of election.
· IC White gave a summary of his meeting with General
Manager Davis’ Special Assistant Michael Lambert
- IC White
biggest concern was the proposed implementation of a bus stop elimination
program on 15 bus routes; AACT was not notified about this
proposal; he noted that the bus stop elimination may have
an adverse effect on the new assessment program for THE
RIDE
-AACT was unaware
any public meetings
-At the August
22 AACT meeting there will be a presentation from Bus Operations regarding
the Bus Stop Elimination Project
· IC White stated that he would like a briefing of THE
RIDE In-person Assessment Program before
the full membership
· IC White encouraged all members to read the Easter
Seals Project ACTION Determining ADA Paratransit Eligibility
-He is asking for monthly updates from
the MBTA regarding
the in-person assessment
-He discussed the idea of Executive
Board members
observing the assessment teams in action
with potential subscribers
·
Michael
Lambert suggested
the consolidation of the AACT Executive Board meetings with the full AACT meetings
· There is concern that
AACT members are disrespectful of the OTA staff. IC Chairman stated that this
may be open to interpretation
· AACT will make a
brief tribute to the retiring Kathy Cox and she will be presented flowers from
the group
· There is concern
about the Taxi Cab Subsidy Program
-IC White stated that drivers; in this
program should go through the same
professional passenger sensitivity training
as THE RIDE drivers. He is also concerned whether
the service will be limited to
people with specific disabilities
· Michael Lambert offered AACT the opportunity to have information on AACT included
in the OTA Premium Service Mass mailing in an effort to increase the AACT
membership
· The Executive Board discussed THE RIDE implementing a
no-show penalty
-He stated that there are too many variables such as:
reaching dispatch, unforeseen emergencies, and
last minute issues
-He would also like more information on ADA guidelines on a no-show penalty and feels that
abusers should be penalized
· IC White is concerned about the impact study regarding
the fare increase; he spoke about getting a printout to view the increase or
decrease of THE RIDE activities of before and after the fare increase; he was
advised that the figures would probably be misleading due to the holiday
· He stated that after reviewing the report by the 530
Commission it does state that anyone transporting persons with disabilities
must be qualified and trained; he asked that the Board members read the report
and highlight areas of interest
· He discussed how the vendors’ staff are having driver trainees
on the road during peak rush hour which results in passengers being on THE RIDE
vehicle for long periods
Meeting was adjourned at 12
Noon.