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

At 6:10 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 Multipurpose Room at Union Station., One Union Place, Hartford, Connecticut. The following Directors were present: Joan Gamble (arrived at 6:30 pm), Bloomfield; Marilyn Pet, East Hartford (arrived 6:50 pm ); Stephen F. Mitchell, Enfield; Russell G. St. John, Granby; Jesse J. Smith, Frank Lord, and Melvin D. Pettigrew, Hartford; James R. McCavanagh and Craig L. Perra, Manchester; William G. Hall, Newington; Kenneth D. Goldberg; Rocky Hill; Ferguson R. Jansen, Jr., Simsbury; Mary Oliver, Vernon (arrived at 6:35 pm); Richard F. Messenger, West Hartford; Brendan T. Flynn, Wethersfield; and William D. Chiodo, Windsor. District staff present were ; Vicki L. Shotland, Executive Director, Kimberly A. Dunham, Director of Fiscal and Administrative Services; DJ Gonzalez, Operations Administrator, Patricia Williams, Director of Paratransit, and Sam Wilson, Fleet Coordinator. Also present was Bradshaw Smith, a resident of the Town of Windsor (arrived approximately 6:50 pm).

The Chairman acknowledged a new board member from Rocky Hill, Ken Goldberg and also recognized the departure of Craig Perra who served on the Board for six years and served as Chairman of the Building Committee during his tenure.

The Chairman next asked if there were any members of the public who wished to be heard. There were none.

Mr. Chiodo then asked for consideration of the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of November 2, 2006. Mr. Flynn moved adoption of those Minutes. Upon seconding by Mr. Smith, the motion passed by a vote of 20.61 yea, 0.00 nay and 9.22 abstention (Mr. Hall, Mr. Perra, Mr. Lord, and Mr. Goldberg.)

The Chairman recessed the Regular Meeting at 6:15 p.m. and called to order the Public Hearing to accept comment on the recently published Revised Fiscal Year 2006 and Adopted Fiscal Year 2007 Budgets. As there was neither comment nor inquiry regarding same, Mr. Chiodo closed the Public Hearing at 6:17 p.m. and reconvened the Regular Meeting. Ms. Dunham advised that rather than publishing and adopting only line items that exceeded recently adopted appropriations, as had been the agency’s practice in the past, the District shall begin to publish the budget in its entirety at the end of the fiscal year. Following brief discussion regarding the budget, Mr. Messinger motioned full appropriation of funds outlined in the final FY2006 budget. Upon seconding by Mr. Flynn, adoption of the budget was unanimously approved by a vote of 29.83 yea, 0.00 nay and 0.00 abstentions.

The Chairman then requested presentation of the Monthly Financial Report. Ms. Dunham reviewed year to date actual figures as well as projections through the end of the fiscal year. A number of line items have been identified to exceed original expectations during the year, including Real Estate Taxes and utility costs for Union Station; Interest and Disposed Vehicle/Inventory Income; Parking Revenue; as well as Charter Bus Maintenance expenditures. She also discussed annual cost savings of $25,000 recognized through the efforts of DJ Gonzalez, Operations Administrator, in renegotiating current contracts for snow, phone lines, and trash removal. Additional savings is anticipated based on the planned bid process for a number of primary contracts over the next few months. Final negotiated additional rent assessments will add more than $33,000 this year to rental revenue. Mr. Jansen commented on the report format and expressed interest in the inclusion of F2005 totals as a supplementary comparison resource, which will be incorporated in future reports.

Ms. Dunham further commented that the Audit Committee had met on December 11th and that the Certified Annual Financial Reports for Fiscal Year 2006 will be distributed to board members over the next two weeks. Mr. Flynn, Committee Chair, will present the report at the January 2007 meeting in conjunction with an overview provided by Reed Risteen of Blum Shapiro and Company. There being no further discussion, a motion was made by Mr. Goldberg to accept the Monthly Financial Report as presented, seconded by Mr. Flynn, and accepted unanimously by a vote of 29.83 yea, 0.00 nay and 0.00 abstentions.

Mr. Chiodo then asked for Program Presentations. Ms. Williams distributed an ADA/DAR handout on passenger statistics and a new report reflecting ADA certification statistical data to the Board. Ms. Shotland next addressed operational issues. She stated that the District was exploring build-out opportunities on the second floor and taking a look at leasing the District’s current occupied first floor space. Ms. Shotland mentioned that the GHTD was pursuing the securement of an agreement to house a medium-sized vehicle fleet at the Spruce Street lot. Ms. Shotland further stated that the fuel cell bus will arrive in CT in approximately three weeks. However, it will not be in service until the spring. She was also pleased to announce that the District was awarded administration of the Statewide Transit District Insurance Consortium for an initial term of 5 1/2 years with 5-one year extension options. Ms. Shotland stated that there was nothing to report this month regarding the CRCOG Transportation Committee meeting.

Mr. Mitchell indicated to the Board that the Parking Lot Panel had met on December 4, 2006 to discuss a revision to the event parking rate based on profit and utilization. It was the recommendation of the panel that the full Board adopt an event rate of $5.00 and the new rate would become effective December 15, 2006. Upon motion by Mr. Messenger and then seconded by Mr. Lord, adoption of the revised event rate was accepted unanimously by a vote of; 35.79 yea, 0.00 nay, and 0.00 abstention.

Before the adjournment of the meeting, Chairman Chiodo offered the public another opportunity to be heard since the meeting started one hour earlier this month. Again there were none.

There being no further business brought before the Board, Mr. Flynn moved that the Meeting be adjourned. Upon seconding by Mr. Pettigrew, the motion passed by a vote of 35.79 yea, 0.00 nay, and 0.00 abstention. The Meeting was adjourned at 6:57 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,