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 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/.
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 10:08 A.M.
James White, Ian Perrault, Rick Morin,
Allen M. Karon, Lisa Weber, Beverly Ann Rock, Mary Ann Murray, and Cheryl
Ravalli
MPO Staff:
Janie Guion and Matt Archer
Executive Board of Directors Discussion
The newly elected Board members were
welcomed for their 2013-2015 terms. The Board members participated in
discussions of AACT’s Code of Conduct, Board Member Code of Ethics, and
Conflict of Interest Policy. Members signed the documents stating that they had
received necessary the information.
Chairman
White stated that he is appointing Lisa Weber, from the Massachusetts
Rehabilitation Commission to the AACT Board of Directors to fill the seat
vacated by Tyler Terrasi. He noted that
according to the bylaws he does not need to take a vote. He has the authority
to appoint whomever he would like; he stated that just to make sure everyone is
in agreement he would take a vote.
BA Rock stated
that she is not opposing Ms. Weber’s appointment but would like to review the bylaws
for clarification on the rule.
Chairman
White stated that there is no condition for appointments.
MA Murray read that section of the bylaws which states in Article 4, Section 6, the Replacement of Officers (b): If any other elected office becomes vacant the Chairperson, with the approval of the Board of Directors, may appoint an interim officer from among the voting members of the AACT until such time as the vacancy is filled by an interim election or the bi-ennial election. If elected, they will be eligible to run again for two consecutive full terms of their own.
BA Rock stated
that she wanted go on record that the Chair has the right to appoint members
with the approval of the Board of Directors.
Motion
Rick
Morin motioned that the Board enthusiastically accepts Lisa Weber as a
member in accordance with AACT Bylaws in Article 4, Section 6: the Replacement
of Officers (b).
MA
Murray asked if Tyler Terrasi had officially resigned.
Chairman
White stated that he sent a written notice and officially resigned.
The AACT Board approved the appointment
unanimously.
The June 26, 2013, Executive Board
Meeting Minutes were accepted with one abstention.
The
Chair stated the following:
·
On July 16, he attended the In-Person Appeals Hearing
for the three people who were denied eligibility for THE RIDE. He noted that he
is waiting to hear the results of those determinations which are made in
writing in thirty days. He is concerned that the consumer was a mobility device
user; this appeared to be a surprise to the Appeals Hearing Committee. He
stated he thinks there is a problem when someone using a mobility device is “conditionally”
denied when the system is not 100 percent accessible, and the fact that this
person was classified as other than “non-conditionally” is a problem. He stated that he will be monitoring how
applicants are classified before he challenges the ruling.
·
He attended the Pre-Bid Qualification Meeting
for bidders for THE RIDE’s request for proposals. He noted that current vendors
and their staffs were on hand for the briefing as well as others.
·
Bidders were informed of two new policies: (1) the
expansion of the core area (Somerville,
Brookline and Cambridge) that will allow any of the three vendors to handle
pickups and returns in Boston; (2) the no-show policy which will include a
penalty after seven times that a consumer fails to cancel a trip in a timely
matter. He noted that there is a ruling in the Americans with Disability Act
that will allow those with proper medical documentation to not be penalized.
He took questions.
R.
Morin asked if the person was given
a new classification.
Chairman White stated the person was approved for two years and that he was not happy since the hearing should be based on existing conditions at the time of the hearing and not what will happen in the future. He also stated that he will be contacting Michael Lambert regarding how people with mobility devices are classified for THE RIDE.
He also
stated that during the assessment process all that information will be well
documented. He also stated that any consumer has the right to add a letter of
medical necessity to their profile at the Office for Transportation Access and with the vendor at any time. He also hopes
that people will act responsibly and call to cancel their trips.
MA Murray asked if there was any change to THE RIDE service area.
Chairman
White stated that there would be no changes to the area. He stated at the
meeting that only the core area would change. He suggested she seek an answer
at the Membership meeting later.
Chairman
White did not make any committee assignments.
R.
Morin, Vice-Chairman, Summit Meeting Committee Report
He reported the following:
On July 15, the AACT Board met to discuss a plan for the summit; he stated that two action items came out of the meeting: (1) a list of possible invitees; and (2) a timeline leading to the events. Ms. Weber presented the timeline. He presented a list of agencies and organizations that he is familiar with, and asked that others add to the list. He asked that a Board member make a motion that the timeline serve as the guideline for the task and deadlines that Ms. Weber had presented.
BA Rock
commented that members are not giving others the opportunity to speak, which
makes it possible that those waiting
could lose their train of thought.
Chairman
White asked that a letter be sent to Dr. Scott asking that she participate
in both the Summit and the Membership meeting. He is looking for support from
Michael Lambert to encourage Dr. Scott to attend.
BA Rock stated that Dr. Scott had just addressed AACT this past June. She thinks that she should make a short appearance. She went on to say that Dr. Scott’s staff is just as capable and knowledgeable participate in the upcoming Summit, and that as time goes on AACT may want Dr. Scott to appear at other events.
R. Morin stated that they are looking into two options --should they solicit information from others regarding the summit or should they prepare their own list?
Chairman White stated that he cannot cancel the Executive Board meeting, but believes the Summit should start at nine and try to incorporate the meeting into the summit at the beginning or the end. He is hopeful that the summit will give AACT more exposure and that those attending will return for monthly meetings, including on that day.
L. Weber
stated that she will work on the invitation to Dr. Scott.
R. Morin suggested that a program committee be named to plan the event in its entirety.
He moved that the timeline be accepted as the guideline for the task and deadlines that have to be managed, The motion passed, with three voting yes and two abstaining
BA Rock
moved that the Chair appoint a three-member
committee to meet, discuss, and execute the timeline and report back to the
Board at the next meeting; at that time the officers will be announced. Prospective members must have the time to
commit to meeting possibly three times a week. The motion passed, unanimously.
Chairman White named Rick Morin, Beverly Ann Rock, and Lisa Weber as the Summit Committee to plan and manage the Summit and included Ian Perrault as an observer.
Chair
White and Vice-Chair Morin-The AACT Accessibility Plan
Chairman
White suggested that several
issues discussed by Dr. Scott be included in the Plan --improved accessibility,
the fare increase, heavy rail Orange and Red Lines investment, and increased
funding.
R.
Morin commented that he would like AACT to contribute accessibility items
that they believe to be relevant to the Plan.
Chairman White/R. Morin suggested that a letter be drafted to Dr. Scott seeking guidance and direction on preparing an AACT Action Plan.
BA Rock
commented that Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization staff addressed
the transit accessibility issue in May in great detail.
Open Discussion
Chairman White asked members if they had read the Mass Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Transition Plan document forwarded by John Lozada.
R. Morin stated that he had reviewed and commented on the Plan and felt that there was not enough public participation; and that the public was not aware until after the fact. He also stated that he spoke with someone at MassDOT who stated that this is sample phase and that nothing had been finalized.
Chairman White stated that before the closing date he would like to send a letter in support unless there are sections that are negative.
R. Morin stated that he would draft a letter.
MA Murray is concerned that a letter is drafted without the support of the whole Executive Board.
Chairman White stated that if it becomes a matter of time the letter will go out without pre-approval. He promised that people will be notified of the letter’s content.
BA Rock stated that the Board should be able to add their comments to the letter in order to be more unified in their responses.
R. Morin stated that he does not want to violate the Massachusetts General Laws for public meetings and that Board members may send their comments to be incorporated into his draft. He noted that he was assured that this is for sampling and that there is no deadline for comments at this time.
MA Murray commented that if other agencies would like input from AACT, the information should be given in a timely manner for discussions, to make comments, and draft letters.
Chairman White explained that the document was sent over a month ago.
MA Murray commented that she is concerned about the Lynn consumers who often travel to Burlington, more specifically to the Lahey Clinic.
Chairman White suggested to Ms. Murray contact OTA.
The
meeting ended at 12:05 P.M.