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Access-A-Bus
Accessible Transportation Advisory Committee
Minutes of October 27, 2004 meeting
1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER
Meeting called to order at 2 PM
2. INTRODUCTION OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT
Present: Catherine Macintosh, Margo Sims, Todd Hacquoil, Joeanne Coffey (Sec), Dawn Eyland-Reiss, Jen Powley (MAL), Nancy Josey (Chair), Robert Von Schroder, Gwen McLaughlin, Councilor Gary Meade, Larry Hilton (Supervisor Special Services), Carol Epstein, Gary Russell (Vice)
3. REGRETS/ABSENCES
Lynn DeMont (Sec)
4. REMARKS FROM THE CHAIR
Due to health reasons, Nancy is resigning as Chair. However, she is willing to remain on the committee. Gary Russell declined Chair, as he felt he does not have enough experience. Moved by Margo, seconded by Robert Von Schroder, that Todd be nominated to fill the position of Chair until the AGM in May, 2005, is completed. No other nominations were put forth. Motion carried.
5. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM SEPTEMBER 22, 2004
Moved by Gary Russell, seconded by Robert that the minutes from September 22 with corrections be approved. Motion carried.
6. APPROVAL OF ORDER OF BUSINESS, ADDITIONS & DELETIONS
Moved by Gary Meade, seconded by Gary Russell, that the order of business presented on the agenda be approved. Motion carried. There were no additions or deletions to the agenda.
6.1 Orientation: Larry gave a power-point presentation on the AAB service (Kevin Hindle's presented this show at the 2003 AGM). Orientation for new members covered hours of AAB service, eligibility requirements, approval categories, registration process, cancellation of requests. Some statistics were also reviewed (number of clients, wait times for new clients wanting to use AAB).
Questions were raised about the need for clients to reapply to the service every 3 years (many doctors charge to complete paperwork, condition of disability for many clients doesn't change). Soon, Larry will be compiling information from several accessible transit services across Canada to compare with HRM's AAB service (some systems in Canada do not offer service to the same persons with disabilities that AAB does). Soon, changes to who qualifies to use AAB is likely going to take place. The application process will be looked at when Metro Transit with legal services works out the new parameters of who qualifies to use AAB. Questions where also rased about the cancellation process. It was asked if all the cancellation calls could be directed to one place (490-6999 Press 3) rather than having 3 separate procedures, depending when the cancellation takes place.
6.2 Approval of Low Floor Bus Subcommittee Description: The second clause of the description passed out about this subcommittee is still being looked into by Larry (the second clause deals with this subcommittee monitoring complaints about ALF buses) Deferred to November's meeting
6.3 Brain Storming Items: See page at end of minutes
6.4 Date and Location of Christmas Get-Together: Todd will survey members to see what suits everyone. This will be set up soon.
6.5. Numbering of Interior of Buses: Larry has dealt with this and will recheck what the delay is.
6.6 Late Cancellation/48 Hours Notice Policy: See brainstorming item 6.3 h) and i)
6.7 Policy- Representation to the Media: Larry read a memo that states Lori Patterson is Metro Transit's official representative when it comes to conducting interviews about Metro Transit or ATAC matters with any news agency.
6.8 Progress Report Rapid Transit: Deferred to November meeting
7. BUSINESS ARISING OUT OF THE MINUTES
7.1 Eligibility Criteria: This is a large issue that Larry , Metro Transit officials and legal personnel will start to work on. ATAC will be kept informed about this matter.
7.2 Meeting Location for November: Keshen Goodman Library
8. MOTIONS OF RECONSIDERATION
None
9. CONSIDERATION OF DEFERRED BUSINESS
9.1 Late Cancellation/48 Hours Notice: See brainstorming item
6.3 h) and i)
10. CORRESPONDENCE
No correspondence In or Out discussed.
11. REPORTS
11.1 No-Show/Cancellation Subcommittee: One new appeal and 2 old ones will be dealt with Friday, October 29. In addition, 2 new appeals just received to be processed. One suspension letter sent to a repeat no-show offender.
11.2 Accessible Low Floor Bus Subcommittee: Report from this committee sent to Metro Transit with recommendations for future ALF bus routes in this years budget. This report will be sent to members with the November package.
11.3 Executive Meeting in October: No report submitted.
12. MOTIONS
None
13. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 4 PM
Next meeting: November 24, Keshen Goodman Library
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