Region 9: 2014 Meeting Minutes (9/11)

HSTP Region 9

Quarterly Meeting Minutes

September 11, 2014

Attendees:

Sheila Niederhofer	South Central Transit
Michele Suwe	Glen Carbon Sr. Center
Joe Domer	MCT\ACT
Susan Thomas	MCT\ACT
April Blount	Challenge Unlimited\Residential Options
Wendy Settles	IMPACT CIL
Sara Berkbigler	Main St. Community Center
Nathan Nichols	Central Il. Public Transportation
Linda Vidmar	Il. Valley Rehab-Gillespie
Sherry Hicks	FAYCO Enterprises, Inc.
Andrea Ramsey	Opportunities for Access CIL
Barb Nelson	Community Link
Chris Markel	Beverly Farms
Mable Kreps	Rural Transit Assistance Center (RTAC)
Jill Jones	Bond Co. Transit
Kimberly Rogers	Macoupin Center for the Developmentally Disabled
Kathy Malloy	Il. Valley Sr. Center
Lacey Miller	Il. Valley Rehab-Jerseyville
Kent Tarro	Macoupin Co. Public Transportation
Terri Finn	HSTP Coordinator

The quarterly HSTP Region 9 meeting, held at IMPACT Center for Independent Living in Alton, was called to order at 11:10am by HSTP Coordinator, Terri Finn.  Introductions were done by all attending.

The meeting minutes from May 8, 2014 were reviewed.  A motion was made by Sheila Niederhofer and 2^nd by Barb Nelson to approve the minutes.  Motion carried.

The Committee had a discussion about project planning and the changing transportation needs that their agency may be having.  A good strategic plan and communication with other transportation providers would determine whether or not to apply for 5310 CVP funds.  If coordination between agencies is attempted during the strategic planning process support from the public provider at application time would likely be viewed as a more reasonable request for funding.

This conversation then led discussion about CVP presentations and the voting\endorsement process and form that has been used by the Committee.  Terri Finn presented a revised voting\endorsement form.  All 3 regions (9, 10 & 11) are being asked for input to make this a more useable document when deciding whether to endorse an agencies application for 5310 vehicles.  Committee members discussed the changes and had many ideas of what more could be added.  Terri will take these comments, as well as those from Regions 10 & 11, and revise the form.  The new document will be emailed to this Committee before the December meeting and any further suggestions can be emailed back to Terri.  This form will need to be finalized before voting occurs at the May 2015 meeting. 

General Discussion:

Mabel Kreps gave updates on RTAC activities.

Child safety seats: The question had been brought to Terri Finn as to what should providers do about child safety seats since IDOT’s rules are rather grey. 

MTD has 4 child seats on paratransit vehicles and all passengers must use seat belts. 

Bond Co. doesn’t provide the seats but does require seat belts for all riders.

SCT requires seat belts for everyone but adults accompanying an infant are required to provide a safety seat.    

MCPT follows seat belt laws and does provide safety seats.

CIPT requires everyone use seat belts.  On 14 passenger or larger vehicles, safety seats are not required but if the accompanying adult must provide a safety seat if they want the child restrained.  Smaller vehicles, adults are required to provide the safety seat of an infant\child is being transported.

Policies vary between providers depending on the amount of liability the agency is willing to take on if drivers would be responsible for installing and other safety requirements that providing seats would entail.

Another issue that has been brought up to Terri Finn is the lack of coordination that occurs when someone is attempting to schedule a ride and the local provider can’t make that trip happen.  These are usually private pay &\or long distance medical trips.  All providers were asked to discuss with their scheduling department about transferring these types of calls to a mobility manager or supervisor to attempt to work with the rider to coordinate the trip as best they can. 

Terri Finn informed the Committee that at the December meeting there will be an election of officers for the next 2 year term and quarterly meetings for 2015 will be scheduled.

The next meeting is scheduled for December 11^th.  Challenge Unlimited volunteered to host that meeting.  

A motion was made by Jill Jones to adjourn the meeting and 2^nd by Sherry Hicks.  Motion carried.  Meeting adjourned at 12:03.  

These minutes approved on 12/11/2014