MINUTES, REGULAR MEETING
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
GREATER HARTFORD TRANSIT DISTRICT
Hartford, Connecticut
January 5, 2006

William D. Chiodo, Chairman
Presiding............................

At 7:00 p.m., a quorum determined to be present, Mr. Chiodo called a Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors of the Greater Hartford Transit District (the "District") to order in the District's Training Center at the Union Station Transportation Center (the "Center"), One Union Place, Hartford, Connecticut. The following Directors were present: Joan Gamble, Bloomfield, Peter J. Bonzani and Marilyn Pet, East Hartford; Gilbert H. Bourgoin, East Windsor; Stephen F. Mitchell, Enfield; Jesse J. Smith and Jennifer Cassidy, Hartford; James R. McCavanagh, Manchester; William G. Hall, Newington; Frank S. Partridge, Rocky Hill; Ferguson R. Jansen, Jr., Simsbury; Marjorie S. Anthony, South Windsor; Mary A. Oliver, Vernon; Richard F. Messenger; West Hartford; Brendan T. Flynn, Wethersfield; Daniel Dowe and William D. Chiodo, Windsor. District staff present were Vicki L. Shotland, Executive Director; Kenneth D. Goldberg, Director of Operations and Facilities; Patricia M. Williams, Director of Paratransit Services; Kimberly A. Dunham, Director of Fiscal and Administrative Services; and Sam Wilson, Fleet Coordinator. Also present was Bradshaw Smith, a resident of the Town of Windsor, and Mr. Arthur L. Handman, former Executive Director the District.

The Chairman next asked if there were any members of the public who wished to be heard. Mr. Bradshaw Smith stated concern over the current condition of various bus shelters throughout the Town of Windsor. He emphasized that he was against the purchase of new bus shelters for the Town if the existing ones were not being maintained properly.

Mr. Chiodo then asked for consideration of the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of December 8, 2005. Mr. Bourgoin stated an error in his town of representation, and then asked for correction. Mr. Mitchell moved the Minutes as corrected. Upon seconding by Ms. Anthony, the motion passed by a vote of 30.30 yea, 0.00 nay and 7.50 abstention (Messrs. Partridge, McCavanagh, and Dowe, and Ms. Oliver who were not in attendance at that Meeting).

Gilbert Bourgoin, Audit Committee Chairman, indicated that the Committee had met on December 16, 2005 as a culmination to the audit process. He stated that the audit of the District’s financial records for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2005 was a “clean” audit and there were no findings.

Mr. Bourgoin then introduced Reed Risteen, Senior Partner at Blum, Shapiro and Company, who presented a synopsis of the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report as well as the State Single Audit and Federal Single Audit Reports. Mr. Risteen discussed the Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB) requirements and associated changes in reporting. He also elaborated on compliance aspects of federal and state grants and the systems currently in place that ensure the District’s fulfillment of said requirements. He delineated the auditor’s responsibility during the audit to review and assess, as opposed to Management’s responsibility which includes reporting the financial status of the agency in addition to maintaining systems and controls that make certain fiscal integrity. An opportunity was presented to the Board by Mr. Risteen to address any questions or concerns related to the audit and reports. There were no such inquiries. A motion was presented by Mr. Bourgoin to adopt the year end report as presented and was seconded by Ms. Oliver. The motion was passed by a vote of 37.80 yea, 0.00 nay and 0.00 abstentions.

Kimberly Dunham, Director of Fiscal and Administrative Services, then presented the monthly financial report. She stated that all funds are within budgetary expectations at this time, however, she commented on the extraordinarily high natural gas bill that was received by the District for the most recent period. Discussion ensued regarding cost containment measures taken to reduce this expense over the upcoming winter as well as comparison to similar periods in previous years. Ms. Dunham also relayed to the Board her intent to make changes to the financial reporting format and encouraged suggestions from members regarding the process. A motion was presented by Richard Messenger to adopt the monthly financial report. Upon seconding by Mr. Flynn, the report was adopted by a vote of 37.80 yea, 0.00 nay and 0.00 abstentions.

Mr. Chiodo then asked for Program Presentations. Ms. Shotland requested that Ms. Dunham update the Board on the District’s leasing initiatives. Ms. Dunham stated that a representative from the Economic Development Office in Hartford visited Union Station and they may be able to help locate tenants for the facility. She also mentioned that Hot Tomatos has moved their corporate office to the Great Hall, signing a long-term lease. Ms. Dunham also spoke about the advertising banner that the District has placed on the Asylum Street Amtrak trestle. Ms. Shotland added that District staff met with a website designer who will provide a cost proposal for updating and maintaining the District’s website. She also stated that a meeting will be held with Digital Design, an upstart company that is trying to promote Hartford through information technology. There are several types of products that they market, including kiosk touch screens and other digital signage solutions.

A question was raised by a member of the board regarding the noise that reverberates in the Great Hall. Ms. Cassidy stated that the University of Hartford has been studying similar issues and is looking at other buildings in the City, including City Hall. Ms. Gamble noted that banners should be looked into; they have a dulling affect on this type of problem.

Ms. Williams presented the Paratransit Program Update. She distributed the Operational Summary with ADA & Hartford DAR figures for the period of July 2005-December 2005. Mr. Jansen suggested that future reports provide year-over-prior-year figures. Ms. Williams then stated that there is a focus to improve the category indicating “No Show Trips.” Ms. Williams also noted that Trapeze mapping software is being updated and should help future productivity numbers.

Mr. Chiodo then asked Ms. Cassidy if there was anything to report on the Parking Lot. Ms. Cassidy asked District staff to report on the First Night event. Ms. Dunham said that only thirteen vehicles utilized the Spruce Street parking lot for that entire day. Ms. Shotland did not feel that this was a good indicator of what the future will hold for event parking. She stated that an evaluation of event parking will take several months, and then decisions should be made as to whether the program is a success or not. She stated that the Parking Lot Panel can meet and suggest rate changes if determined to be necessary. On another parking matter, Ms. Dunham told the Board that District staff is hoping to negotiate financial terms with Hot Tomatos regarding the parking of their restaurant patrons.

The Chairman then asked for other business properly brought before the Board. The Chairman continued by stating that this was Mr. Bourgoin’s last meeting as his resignation would take effect later in the month. He proceeded to read a resolution honoring Mr. Bourgoin’s years of service to the District including sixteen years as a Director, eleven years as the agency’s Treasurer and many years as the Chair of the Audit Committee. Prior to entertaining a motion for acceptance of Resolution No. GHTD-06-GEN-1, he asked if anyone else in attendance would like to say a few words on behalf of Mr. Bourgoin. Mr. Handman chose to speak and acknowledged the years of dedicated service that Mr. Bourgoin unselfishly provided to the District. Following these words, Ms. Oliver made the motion to accept Resolution No. GHTD-06-GEN-1, seconded then by Mr. Messenger, and approved unanimously by acclamation. (A copy of the Resolution is attached hereto and incorporated herein.)

The Chairman then stated that Mr. Bourgoin’s position of Treasurer needs to be filled, and he personally solicited a replacement by asking Mr. Flynn if he would be interested in filling the position. He felt that Mr. Flynn would be an excellent choice for this position. A motion was made by Ms. Anthony to replace Mr. Bourgoin as Treasurer with the appointment of Mr. Flynn, seconded by Ms. Oliver, and approved by a vote of 37.80 yea, 0.00 nay and 0.00 abstentions.

The Chairman also told the Board that Mr. Richard S. Krissinger was not seeking reappointment to the District’s Board of Directors. He showed the Directors a Certificate of Achievement that was going to be given to Mr. Krissinger for his years of service to the District. Mr. Chiodo also stated that he was seeking the interest of a volunteer from the Board to be appointed as a replacement for Mr. Krissinger on the Capitol Region Council of Government’s Transportation Committee. Ms. Cassidy stated that she was interested in serving on the Transportation Committee and was immediately appointed as the representative by the Chairman.

Ms. Oliver wanted to remind the other Board members that the R.C. Knox company situation should be watched carefully.

There being no further business brought before the Board, Ms. Oliver moved that the Meeting be adjourned. Upon seconding by Mr. Mitchell, the motion passed by a vote of 37.80 yea, 0.00 nay, and 0.00 abstention. The Meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

_______________________
JESSE J. SMITH
Assistant Secretary