METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION

MINUTES OF MAY 18, 2006

 

 

MEMBERS PRESENT: Allen Sharp, Bob Bell, Don Bailey, Joe Statler, Asel Kennedy, Bob Roberts, Mike Kelly, Ron Justice, Bill Byrne

 

MEMBERS ABSENT: Patty Lewis, Janice Goodwin, John Pyles, Frank Scafella

 

Ron Justice called the meeting to order at 7 PM

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Bill Byrne moved to approve the minutes of April 20, 2006 with changes. (Add John Pyles to members absent). Mike Kelley seconded it. The motion unanimously passed.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT:

 

Bill Rice: Commented on Morgantown’s rating for Small Cities reported in Inc. and Forbes magazines. Stated the University is not the driving force of our community. Everyone needs to be treated equally.

 

DIRECTOR’S REPORT:

 

1.  Correspondence received from Commissioner of Highways, Paul Mattox advising that this year, both highway and transit funds will be handled by the DOH. The state is also providing an additional match for federal dollars. Previously the breakdown had been 80% fed and 20% local match. Now it will be 80% federal, 10% state and 10% local match.

 

2.  2006 Metropolitan Transportation Planning Process Certification has been received from James Sothen;

 

3.  Susan O’Connell has advised that the MPO can spend a few thousand dollars over the next few months, as carryover funds need to be accounted for. It has been decided that we will begin working on a master transit plan with David Bruffy. It was also mentioned that Chet should contact Mr. Bruffy to do a presentation on the Park and Ride to the MPO;

 

4.  Chet advised there are two conferences he would like to attend; one is with the Transportation Research Board (for small and medium MPO’s) in Nashville; the other is through the Association of MPO’s in October. Bill Byrne moved to approve Chet attending these conferences. Bob Roberts seconded it. The motion unanimously passed.

 

5.  Action on the draft for the Unified Work Program will be taken in June. We are presently waiting on comments from Richard Warner and Don Bailey;

 

6.  A terrorism training course, sponsored by MECCA, is being conducted in Morgantown in June. Chet has been invited and will attend the training course that will be held over three days from June 13-15;

 

 

SECRETARY/TREASURER’S REPORT:

 

Bob Bell reported a beginning balance of $46,470.16, expenditures of $17,200.77 and one deposit of $4342.95, leaving an ending balance of $33,612.34. Mike Kelly moved for approval of the report. Asel Kennedy seconded it. The motion unanimously passed.

 

DOT REPORT, STATE:

 

Don Bailey reported any changes and/or revisions made. Bob Bell asked Mr. Bailey if the funding for the Iron Bridge at Cheat Lake has been pulled. It now has a scheduled date of 2010. Mr. Bailey advised he would get this information and report back at June’s meeting.

 

Bill Byrne commented that the Truck Traffic issue will be revisited by the Committee of the Whole meeting (June 27) and if at all possible, they would like to have a representative from the DOH, with some decision-making authority, to attend.

 

DOT REPORT, LOCAL:

 

None

 

SUBCOMMITEE REPORTS:

 

A public information meeting has been scheduled on May 24, 2006 at Westwood Middle School at 7PM for the 2030 Regional Transportation Plan.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

 

DIRECTOR’S EVALUATION: With no Executive Session on the Agenda to discuss the Director’s salary increase, it was decided that this will be dealt with, in Executive Session, at the June MPO meeting.

 

MPO AUDIT REPORT INVOICE 2004/2005: Bill Byrne moved to approve Tetrick & Bartlett’s invoice in the amount of $5200 for the 2004/2005 audit. Mike Kelly seconded it. The motion unanimously passed.

 

MEETING WITH SENATOR BYRD: Ron Justice, Dan Boroff, Bob Bell and Chet Parsons met with Senator Byrd and his staff to provide an update of where we are in the transportation plan. Also discussed the User Fee potential; advised we would be requesting consideration for 2.3 million in appropriations for the Airport Access Road. The Senator and staff were impressed with the work that has been done locally and was especially impressed with our initiative of trying to help ourselves. The Senator is also aware of West Virginia’s 6 Year Transportation Plan and the fact that there are no funds available. Follow up will be done with Carol Lawrence, the Senator’s staff member.

 

Bob Roberts moved to approve the invoice submitted for expenses related to the DC trip by the MPO Board Members (it is noted that the City has agreed to split the cost with the MPO) in the amount of approximately $800. Mike Kelly seconded it. The motion unanimously passed.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

 

BOARD OF EDUCATION REPRESENTATIVE: The BOE representative will change effective July 2006. Correspondence needs to be sent to the Board asking what they want to do as far as their representation on the MPO Board. Joe Statler advised this issue would be dealt with at the July 3, 2006 meeting. We may also want to think of someone to chair the CAC.

 

TRANSIT ACCOLADES: In the “Chronical of Higher Education” WVU has been ranked 22nd as one of the Best Workplace Commuter Businesses in the country. Only 72 college campuses were selected. Bob Roberts noted that PRT rider ship has increased.  Our PRT sets us apart from any other MPO in that out of the 3.4 million people carried by mass transit, 2 million were carried by the PRT. WVU is looking into the PRT running on the weekends so as not to be tied only to the WVU class schedule. WVU is also looking into running the PRT on the weekends.

 

Bill Byrne requested that Chet stay in touch with Don Oakes and whomever else we could to make sure that the PRT is an integral part of the Sunnyside Up development.

 

GIS LOCAL COORDINATION:  Chris Fletcher will be invited to next month’s meeting for a GIS update. Rodney Pyles, Jim Green, and Ron Kyle will also be invited to attend.

 

BUDGET REVISION: Bill Byrne moved that $5200 be transferred line item 2100/Equipment into line item 2200 Consulting Services for payment to Tetrick & Bartlett. Bob Roberts seconded it. The motion unanimously passed.

 

TIP AMENDMENT: Bill Byrne moved to approve ______________________, Joe Statler seconded it. The motion unanimously passed. Mike Kelly moved to approve the Federal Program Project Cost for the Willowdale Road sidewalk project. Bill Byrne seconded it. The motion unanimously passed.

 

CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR MPO/MCPC OFFICE MANAGER: Bill Byrne moved that the MPO approve splitting the cost of a web based computer course given by WVU for Kelli LaNeve, Office Mgr. The course is 4 hours and a cost of $1032, the split being $515 for the MPO. Joe Statler seconded it. The motion unanimously passed.