Regular HTMMTS Board Meeting Minutes
September 25, 2024
City of Grand Haven
1. Meeting called to order by President Craig Bessinger at 4:30 PM.
2. Roll Call:
Present: Craig Bessinger, Bill Cate, Ashley Latch, Kevin McLaughlin, Cathy Pavick & Will Whittemore
Absent: Bill Cargo, Gordon Gallagher, Deanna McIntyre, & Joel TePastte
Also Present: Dana Appel, Scott Borg, Tom Burghardt Jr., Annelise Walker, & Jim Koens (Muskegon Area Transit System)
3. Approval of July 24, 2024 HTMMTS Board Meeting Minutes.
Motion by Pavick, second by McLaughlin to approve the minutes of the July 24, 2024 meeting minutes. Motion carried.
4. Additions/Corrections to the Agenda:
• Correct Item 7c to FY2024 and Item 7d to FY2024/25. Change the title of Item 9a to “Discussion/Action on Executive Director Performance Appraisal.”
5. Approval of Regular Agenda:
Motion by Pavick, second by McLaughlin to approve the regular agenda as corrected. Motion carried.
6. General Business/Call to Audience: None.
7. Consideration for Approval of Consent Agenda:
a. Discussion/Action of Payable Warrant
b. File/Receive Financial Report
c. Approval of FY2024 Final Amended Budget
d. Review FY2023/24 Budget pre-implementation review of budget.
i. Capital Projects
ii. COLA-Wage Scale
d. Approval of Fiscal Year 2024-25 Bi-Monthly Regular Meeting Dates
Motion by McLaughlin, second by Cate to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Motion carried.
8. Old Business
Discussion on Harbor Transit Laker Trolley Loop at the November Meeting
9. New Business
a. Discussion Action on Executive Director Performance Appraisal
• Dumbrell reported that Borg’s review was completed on Sep 10 and thanked all review participants. The Board approved an evergreen agreement last year so the Board will not have to approve an employment agreement any longer. The appraisal was a 360-degree appraisal and Scott received high scores from all. Scott is at the top of the wage scale, and he will receive a COLA increase beginning October 1.
• Pavick and McLaughlin thanked and congratulated Borg.
b. Discussion/Action to elect or re-elect HTMMTS Board Officers: President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Pavick moved that all current officers be nominated and elected to serve another year, second by McLaughlin. Motion carried.
c. Discussion/Action on Propane Contract
• Borg reported that Wesco submitted the lowest bid for propane for FY2024/25/26 at $1.1385 per gallon.
• Motion to approve by Latch, second by Pavick. Motion carried.
d. Discussion/Action on Construction Manager at Risk
• Borg recommended awarding the Christman Company the contract as Construction Manager at Risk for Harbor Transit’s new facility project and to instruct the Harbor Transit Executive Director to being contract agreement as presented.
• Motion to approve by McLaughlin, second by Pavick. Motion carried.
10.Reports
a. Marketing Report (Annelise Walker)
• HTMMTS is offering a free rides promotion to encourage non-riders to try Harbor Transit.
• HTMMTS is now advertising in the Four Pointes monthly newsletter.
• All municipalities within our service area will include information about HTMMTS in their newsletters.
• HTMMTS will participate in the Boomerang Career Event at Grand Haven High School.
• The new rate for bus wraps will be $200 beginning Oct 1, 2024 (up from $100).
b. Operations Report (Tom Burghardt Jr.)
• Total ridership continues to be down; currently by 22% YTD.
• Trinity at the Lakes ridership is comparable to previous years.
• Monthly on-time ratings for pick-ups and drop-offs is at 89% and 94% respectively.
• No-shows are down considerably, thanks to improved rider communication and accountability.
• There were no safety incidents since the last board meeting.
c. Transportation Director’s Report (Scott Borg)
• Rides on Coast Guard Saturday totaled 5,016, an increase of 823 over 2023.
• Rides for the Folds of Honor Golf Tournament totaled 1,307, a slight decrease from 2023 (1,371), but higher than 2022 (516).
• Aug 18 was Harbor Transit’s 49th Anniversary.
• The ASC Group is currently working on the NEPA Study for the 172nd Ave. property. The FTA granted a Categorical Exclusion (CE), but the property must still undergo a review to ensure no extraordinary circumstances exist that could lead to significant environment issues. ASC estimates that the NEPA will be completed by Apr or May 2025, so ground breaking could take place by May or June.
• The Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources for GHAPS sent an email to parents advising that they don’t believe Harbor Transit is a viable transportation option for elementary and intermediate school students. Borg estimates this caused a reduction in ridership of about 50. Borg and Appel are working with GHAPS to mitigate this situation and assure GHAPS that Harbor Transit want to continue working with them.
9. Board Member Comments: None
10. Meeting Adjourned at 5:05 PM.
11. Next Regularly Scheduled Board Meeting: 4:30 PM, Nov 20, 2024, City of Grand Haven, 519 Washington Ave, Grand Haven, MI 49417