Access-A-Bus

Accessible Transportation Advisory Committee

November 27, 2002 Meeting Minutes

PRESENT:

Todd Hacquoil
Carol Epstein
Catherine MacIntosh
Joanne Coffey
Edward Laverty
Margo Hoben
Lynne DeMont
Darrell Robar
Robert VonSchroder
Gary Russell
Donald Allen
Councilor Gary Meade.

ALSO PRESENT:

Kevin Hindle, Supervisor, Special Services

REGRETS/ABSENCES:

Ian MacArthur

1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order at 2:05 PM.

2. INTRODUCTION OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS & STAFF PRESENT

Round table introductions were made.

3. REGRETS/ABSENCES

Ian MacArthur was absent from the meeting

4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF MAY 2002 and October 2002

The minutes of the May meeting were approved as presented.
The October minutes were approved.
Corrections need to be made to the phone list.

5. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA AND ADDITIONS AND DELETIONS

The Following items were added to the Agenda;
9.7 Item 8.3 of the May Minutes
9.8 Item 9.1 of the May Minutes
9.9 Conflict of Interest
9.10 Use of Electronic Copies

6. BUSINESS ARISING OUT OF MINUTES

1. Halifax Meeting Locations, there was a brief discussion regarding holding meetings in Halifax every other month, to make it easier for committee members from Halifax to commute to the meetings and spend less time on the buses traveling. Joeanne Coffey will look into appropriate locations within Halifax and will bring forward possible meeting locations to the next meeting.

7. MOTIONS OF RECONSIDERATION

None

8. CONSIDERATION OF DEFERRED BUSINESS

None

9. CORRESPONDENCE, PETITIONS & PRESENTATIONS

9.1 Correspondence In/Out

In:
Q Straint Package. Kevin went over information that was received from Q Straint on a new product that they have available for harnessing passengers into a conventional seat.

The committee reviewed the product and material provided (Video was not viewed by committee do to lack of equipment in meeting room). It was felt, that at this time, there would be no practical use for this product, a concern of cost was also raised. Metro Transit will retain information on this product and if it is a client.

Out:
A letter was sent to Employment 2002, from the chairperson. The letter requested that information for Employment 2003 be sent out earlier, and the Accessible Transportation Advisory Committee and Metro Transit's interest in participating in next years event.

9.2 Petitions

None

9.3 Presentations

None

10. REPORTS

10.1 Committees:

1. Feedback Sub-Committee

There were 12 complaints / compliments received for the months of August through October. Questions about compliments were raised, wondering if compliments were passed along to drivers and office staff when they were received.

2. No-Show Cancellation Sub-Committee

A total of 16 letters were sent out to users of Access-A-Bus, notifying them that warning letters had been removed from their files. This action was a follow up resulting from a clarification of the Late Cancellation policy by the Accessible Transportation Advisory Committee in the October Meeting. One user who was suspended was compensated.

10.2 Transit Services

2. Statistical Reports.

The committee reviewed the Statistical Reports for the month of October.

11. MOTIONS

None

12. ADDED ITEMS

12.1 Chair Person’s Comments

The Chairperson made comments encouraging all committee members to help clients with concerns that clients may have and if you are acting as an advocate for clients to make sure that the client knows that you are doing this as an individual and that you are not representing the Accessible Transportation Advisory Committee, and that your views are that of your own, not the committee’s.

12.2 Late Cancellations Suspension For Summer Months

Joanne brought forward the idea of suspending the Late Cancellations policy for the peak summer months (July and August) to allow for greater independence of Access-A-Bus users during days that they may be able to make their trips without the aid of AAB.

There was a lengthy discussion on this matter, it was felt that if you suspend policy during special times of the year, there would be confusion regarding the policy. It was also felt that if a passenger has booked the bus, and then cancels it due to good weather, the buses would still go unused, resulting in the opinion that the buses drive around all day with only one passenger or no passengers.

Joeanne put forward the following motion “I move that the late cancellation policy be suspended for the high summer months (July and August) to enable people with disabilities to leave workplaces and drop off destination points who may want to travel on their own steam (ie with power chairs or scooters) without being penalized as a late cancellation.”

The motion was put to a vote of the committee and was defeated, 9 votes against, 2 votes in favor.

12.3 Escorts / Companions

A discussion regarding Escorts / Companions took place. Ed brought up the problem some passengers were having, finding out at the last minute that a companion that was booked to take a trip with a passenger, was not being accommodated or only getting a partial ride.

Kevin stated that passengers get priority when the batch is run, and asked, how would a passenger feel if he/she found out that there trip could not be accommodated because another passenger had a companion with them.

He further explained the difference between a medically required attendant (someone who for medical resins requires an attendant to travel with them for the trip, a attendant is indicated on the application form) and a companion (someone who travels from and to the same destination for convince, no attendant is required on the application form).

A brief discussion took place regarding passengers who have a visual disability and passengers who have a cognitive disability traveling with a companion, when they are traveling with a companion, is there disability over come, and do they need the Access-A-Bus service or should they be required to use conventional transit. This issue will be disused at a future meeting.

12.4 D409 (Low Floor Buses)

Legislation D409, witch deals with the Assessable Low Floor Buses, will be amended in the early New Year (April-May 2003). This will have an impact on the way wheelchairs use the Low Floor Buses in the future, the manner in which they are tided down. This is a provincial matter and will have an impact Metro Transit.

The existing fleet of Low Floor Buses (and buses that have already been ordered) will need to be looked at to see if they can be retrofitted to accommodate the new restraint regulations. If the existing fleet cannot be retrofitted we will have two types of restraint systems for wheelchairs.

12.5 December Meeting

There will be no meeting in December.

12.6 Christmas Party

The annual Christmas Party was discussed, and time and location has been set.

12.7 Item 8.3 May Meeting (7 year renewal)

Item 8.3 of the May meeting was discussed, this had to do with the requirement of a person with a permanent physical disability to reapply for service every 3 years. Kevin stated that for the protection of the passenger, it was felt that by reapplying every 3 years keeps the information on the clients file up to date. In the event of an emergency, the files are checked and information is passed along to emergency personnel. (i.e. emergency contact info and medical conditions). If the files were not kept up to date, misleading or wrong information may be passed on.

11.8 Item 9.1 May Meeting (Transportation Conference)

A question on what this conference was about was asked, and if it was a benefit to attend. Kevin responded that it was a worthwhile conference and outlined what the conference contained.

12.9 Conflict of Interest.

Clarification of the procedure, if someone on the No Show/Cancellation Committee felt that they where in a conflict of interest. This would also apply to anyone one the Accessible Transportation Advisory Committee. The individuals would remove themselves from the situation, and allow another member of the committee to handle that particular case. The affected individual would just state that they are in a conflict of interest and step back from the situation, without giving any information that my influence any other member of the committee.

12.10 Electronic Copies of Material

Donald asked if the Minuets and Agenda could be sent out via e-mail. Kevin stated that there was a problem with them going out electronically, the documents could me manipulated to alter their original state and words and/or actions could be added that did not occur.

NOTICES OF MOTION

None

ADJOURNMENT - DATE OF NEXT MEETING –

Next Meeting will be on Wednesday, January 22, 2003 2 – 4 PM

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