2011-05-25-TAC-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Transportation Advisory Committee Minutes —May 25, 2011 Members Present: Bill Levison, Sara Arnold, Elaine Dratch, Francine Stieglitz, Sally Castleman, Pete Levy Members Absent: Larry Link Liaisons: Hank Manz (Selectmen), Nancy Adler (Council on Aging) , Richard Canale (Planning Board) Guests: Carl Valente, Maryann McCall - Taylor, Bill Hadley, Staff: Pauline Burke A moment of silence was held in memory of Gail Wagner, Transportation Coordinator for the past 10 years. 1. Transportation Coordinator Position: Carl discussed the issues associated with transportation planning and transportation services and noted that no town committee or staff member is currently thinking comprehensively for the Town in terms of planning. He reported that this has been raised at past Selectmen goal setting sessions, and staff members have discussed the issue internally; however, no tangible progress has been made in identifying a strategy to pursue. It is anticipated that transportation planning will be a specific goal identified at the June goal setting session. While he has looked at the way transportation is handled in other towns, Carl does not believe Cambridge or Newton are comparable to Lexington, and he has no model in mind. Arlington was suggested as a possibility. Carl noted that he not only has the opening created by Gail's passing, but there is a half time opening in the Planning Department, and the Development Director is resigning. Before hiring a transportation coordinator, he wants to re- evaluate the way transportation issues are handled in the Town. Carl presented a list of transportation related tasks that had been identified by staff. TAC noted that marketing of transportation services needed to be added to the list. Carl anticipates creating a committee to review the town's transportation- related needs and best way to structure town employee support for those needs. He is starting with meeting with TAC and will be meeting with other stakeholders in the near future. Carl suggested that one or two TAC members be on the committee. Staff support will include Carl, Bill Hadley, Maryann McCall - Taylor. Carl noted that in addition to wanting time to review the transportation related staffing structure, hiring during the summer is a challenge. For these reasons, he doesn't anticipate posting the transportation coordinator position until September. It could take six months from now before there is a permanent employee in the transportation coordinator position. This concerned TAC, and Carl was asked about hiring a temporary fulltime person on an interim basis. Carl agreed that committee members could solicit potential candidates for this alternative. On an immediate basis, Carl discussed plans to have Pauline Burke cover the Lexpress office part -time. Pauline is retiring from her DPW position at the end of June, and will have some time to cover the Lexpress office until then. She may subsequently be available up to 28 hours a week, at least through July and August. In response to a question, Carl said that preliminary budgets are due in mid - October. It was noted that the Lexpress contract ends in June 2012, so it is necessary to issue an RFP for the service in the near future.