Access Advisory Committee to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
10 Park Plaza, Suite 2150, Boston, MA. 02116-3968
Voice: 617-973-7100, Fax: 617-973-8855, TDD: 671-973-7089,          E-mail: AACT@ctps.org

Executive Board of Directors Meeting Minutes

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Notables

The AACT Executive Board meeting will meet from 10 AM to Noon and the Membership meeting will meet from 1:00 PM to 3 PM on the fourth Wednesday of the month except when noted.

AACT has a page on the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization’s (MPO) website at www.bostonmpo.org; click on “Get Involved” then scroll down to “Access Advisory Committee to the MBTA.” Links can be found there for the following items: agendas, upcoming meetings, past meeting minutes, the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the MBTA and AACT, and the AACT bylaws, and ADA regulations. There are also links to the MPO’s newsletter, TRANSREPORT, and information on accessibility at the MBTA. This page includes the contact information for the AACT Coordinator.

Comments and questions concerning AACT should be directed to the Interim Chairman James White by contacting the AACT Coordinator, Ms. Janie Guion, at 617-973-7507 (voice); 617-973-7089 (TTY); 617-973-8855 (fax); AACT@ctps.org (email); or at c/o CTPS, 10 Park Plaza, Suite 2150, Boston, MA 02116 (mail).

The AACT meeting location is accessible to people with disabilities and is near public transportation. Upon request (preferably two weeks in advance of the meeting), every effort will be made to provide accommodations such as assistive listening devices, materials in accessible formats and in languages other than English, and interpreters in American Sign Language and other languages. Please contact the MPO staff at 617.973.7100 (voice), 617.973.7089 (TTY), 617.973.8855 (fax), or publicinformation@ctps.org.

The MPO complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other federal and state non-discrimination statutes and regulations in all programs and activities. The MPO does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, English proficiency, income, religious creed, ancestry, disability, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or military service. Any person who believes herself/ himself or any specific class of persons has been subjected to discrimination prohibited by Title VI, ADA, or other non-discrimination statute or regulation may, herself/himself or via a representative, file a written complaint with the MPO. A complaint must be filed no later than 180 calendar days after the date on which the person believes the discrimination occurred. A complaint form and additional information can be obtained by contacting the MPO (see above) or at www.bostonmpo.org.

Members needing service information or wanting to inquire about MBTA services should do so through the MBTA Marketing and Communications Department at 617-222-3200 or 800-392-6100, TTY 617-222-5146, Monday through Friday 6:30 AM to 8:00 PM and Sat/Sun from 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM, or the MBTA website at www.mbta.com/customer_support/feedback/.

Please sign in at all meetings.

Announcements are always welcome. Please be prepared to give as many details as possible: date, time, location, contact person, and phone number. A written notice is always appreciated.

The meeting opened at 10:30 A.M.

Reading of the Agenda

Introductions

Attendees:

Interim Chairman Jim White, Ian Perrault, Mary Ann Murray, Beverly Ann Rock and Tyler Terrasi

MPO Staff/Coordinator: Janie Guion

Approval AACT Executive Board of Directors Meeting Minutes

The January 23, 2013, Executive Board Meeting Minutes were accepted and approved.

Chairman’s Report

IC White commented on the following:

• On February 25, MBTA General Manager Scott called a special meeting to inform various advocacy groups (see page 7 of the minutes) of the Governor’s Transportation Plan and state of the MBTA Budget. He stated that she requested the following: 
• Group representatives spread the word about the MBTA financial crisis
• Groups work together instead of independently
• Groups work on a slogan campaign to stress the MBTA’s financial crisis
• Campaign to be funded through private donations
• In late January the Executive Board members attended a tour of THE RIDE Eligibility Center. 

He thanked Ian Perrault for attending the Salem Transportation Forum which included among the speakers the MBTA General Manager and Mayor of Salem.

Open Discussion

The Board of Directors discussed a variety of concerns about THE RIDE Eligibility Center (TREC) and its staff.

• A representative should attend the AACT monthly meeting just as other vendors do.
• The Office for Transportation Access (OTA) should give the Board a copy of the contract between Innovative Paradigm, Inc. (IPI) and the MBTA.
• Consumer notification status should be timely.
•  Applications should not be extended for three and four weeks; this is too long.
• There should be a checklist for details on counselor activity;  items to be tracked are:
• Number of consumers seen daily, weekly, and monthly
• Number of applicants waiting for interviews
• Number of applications approved conditionally and unconditionally
• The public elevator certification may not be current
• The signage and parking were inadequate

Other consumer concerns:

• Return trips from TREC are too long;  complaints were filed with the Massachusetts Office on Disability regarding extended trips
• There should be satellite offices in other cities and towns; are there plans to accommodate consumers outside of Boston?

Motion

The AACT Executive Board is in full agreement that a representative from In-person Assessment be required to attend the AACT Membership meeting to address concerns. A meeting with Melissa Dullea to discuss these concerns will be arranged.

The motion passed unanimously after much discussion.

IC White is concerned that the OTA is not considering AACT as a representative on In-Person Assessment panel for Appeals.

R Morin stated that Mike Lambert was a great help to AACT and his support is genuinely missed.

He also inquired about the February 12 meeting with Dr. Beverly A. Scott which was postponed and whether it has been rescheduled.

MA Murray is concerned about the number of inactive users in THE RIDE data base.

IC White stated the Office for Transportation is responsible for investigating returned mail from consumers.

Bylaw Revision     

• Discussions on recommendation to revise the language of the bylaws concerning replacement of officers for Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson. The discussion continues and will be presented to the AACT members at a later date.

MA Murray would like to see the Secretary/Clerk position given more discussion since other organizations elevate the clerk to Vice-Chairman.

IC White would like to eliminate the Interim election language. This would give the Chairman the authority to appoint a Vice-Chair. As the language now reads that there will be no new Vice-Chairman until the next election. 

BA Rock is recommending that the AACT Bylaws remain as they are.

MA Murray stated that IC White has denied her the right to speak her opinion of recommendations for the AACT Bylaws.

Meeting adjourned at 12:05 PM

(See page 3)

Advocacy groups invited to the special meeting on February 25 were the following: