Thread by @WritingAnderson

Hey! I'll be live-tweeting today's Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority Board of Trustees meeting for #CLEDocumenters @CLEDocumenters @NeighborUpCLE @GCRTA

@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA or RTA) is a political subdivision of the State, created under Chapter 306 of the Ohio Revised Code.

@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA All power and authority granted to RTA is vested in, and exercised by, its Board of Trustees, which is charged with managing and conducting RTA’s affairs.

@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA The Board also establishes overall RTA administrative policies, which are implemented by the General Manager.

@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA GCRTA’s Board of Trustees:
Rev. Charles P. Lucas, President
Karen Gabriel Moss, Vice President
Michael P. Byrne
Roberta Duarte
Terence P. Joyce
Paul A. Koomar
Valarie J. McCall
Luz N. Pellot
Leo Serrano
David E. Weiss

@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA Here’s a recent story about an RTA employee:
cleveland19.com/2021/09/30/gre…

@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA This meeting is being live-streamed on RTA’s Facebook page: facebook.com/riderta/
Here’s RTA’s website: riderta.com

@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA RTA’s Board of Trustees meeting 3-page agenda for today:

@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA Today’s agenda TL;DR: the board will be presented reports from all the RTA committees, managers, and the president. 9 Resolutions will be introduced involving spending contracts, rules & regulation updates, and participation in regional programs.

@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA Public comment can be made on the items on the agenda by calling 440-276-4600

@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA The meeting started live streaming at 9:05

@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA The president was greeting the room - roll call now.

@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA There are 10 people watching the stream on Facebook

@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA The President shares a few words about his life and abilities - a video is introduced about National Employment Awareness Month

@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA Pastor Lucas is presented a framed photo

@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA A round of applause and frames were handed out to a handful of citizens who acted in the video and have agreed to be on the sides of the buses.

@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA **Have agreed to have their images displayed on the buses

@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA 24 people are watching now

@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA The meeting agenda begins with approval of minutes from the last meeting

@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA Quick update on the NEXT GEN service redesign - Director of Service Management gives this information:

@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA

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@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA From an operational point, the NEXT GEN system focuses on the entire city's access to employment, healthcare, and education.

@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA The floor is opened up for questions - someone asks about the 17 people who are affected by the changes on Walden and wants to know how many other people are on the other buses. The answer is 55 people on the main line

@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA they add that the change allows the other routes to circulate more frequently, giving more mobility to a large number of people.

@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA Now public comment! There are 6 people on the line

@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA The first caller wants to say the new 15a route isn't as quick, and they request a line out to Strongsville. They also say they love RTA.

@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA The second caller is from ward 1 - they don't like the walk from Walden to Harvard and say the changes do not service the interior of the community

@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA Next caller no. 3, who says they disagree strongly with the route change on Walden

@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA Caller 4 says the facts have been misconstrued and gives a rundown of the line - their time is up.

@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA The next caller says they have called before and is calling now to check up on an email they sent

@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA Caller 6 is calling about 15a and says it did not only service Walden but also Barlett, and urges RTA to take a "closer look at what was done here" and says there are many more people than 5 who are mad about this.

@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA There is one civilian at the meeting to make a comment - They said they couldn't get to the meeting today on time because of the system redesign. They also say the buckeye area has been severely affected by the times that changed. "Please help. Thank you very much"

@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA Public comment is over, the board moves on to committee reports.

@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA Duarte speaks on the importance of community engagement and says they need "boots on the ground" to help connect with riders who do not have access to high-speed internet or don't use smartphones.

@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA Introduction of new employees and announcement of promotions is next..20 new hires and 2 promotions

@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA On to resolutions...

@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA The first resolution was tabled last month, motioned to take it off the table today.

@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA Retirees are introduced

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@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA Mr. McNeal says a few words: "it went by fast, they say 45 years, and I had to check my calendar!" "I thank the company, and I thank the instructors"

@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA The next resolution is a contract for taser equipment. Passed.

@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA Hastus software implementation passed.

@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA AT&T contract resolution is passed.

@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA Resolution for continued participation in the Multi-Jurisdictional Organized Crime Task Force is passed.

@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA Resolutions 98 & 99 codifying rules are both passed.

@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA Secretary's Report:

@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA Secretary's Report:

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@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA No questions from the board for the Secretary-Treasurer.

@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA RTA has been selected as Employer of the Year by WTS

@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA Big shoutout to Teresa Muti and her accomplishments!!

@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA What they've been up to in Elevating Women Together:

@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA How the new rail car funding is going:

@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA How the mobile vaccine bus is doing:
-demand is expected to be high with upcoming booster shots and possible flu shots too

@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA No questions from the Board for the General Manager - on to the President's Report, Old Business, and New Business

@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA The only New Business is a review of the 2022 schedule

@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA Now the floor is opened up to public comments on non-agenda items

@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA One person spoke in person about some concerns about marketing and rules.

@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA The first caller is concerned about the money being allocated for new tasers and wants that money to be used in a non-violent way.

@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA There's another civilian in-person commenting on development and overcrowding - they say the 10% greenspace guidelines are too high and wants a definition of "significant revenue". He says RTA is misrepresenting the use of their grant money that's supposed to be for greenspace

@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA A person on the phone wants mask dispensers to be installed on the busses and trains.

@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA The board replies to this by saying the operators do have masks available for riders who need one.

@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA The next caller doesn't like how the busses come every hour on the hour

@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA The next caller has concerns that citizens are being left out of the new route and that it's a safety issue.

@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA Another caller wants service to start at Marymount and the 15a to go back to its old route.

@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA A last caller is a person who we heard from earlier. They want to know if anyone has actually looked at any of the new plans before they approved them.

@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA The person who commented in person earlier has another comment: fare should be free.

@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA The next board meeting will be Tuesday, November 16th, 2021

@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA Meeting adjourned at 10:58. This concludes the Greater Cleveland RTA Board of Trustees meeting.

@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @GCRTA For more meeting coverage, check out documenters.org.
#CLEDocumenters @CLEDocumenters @NeighborUpCLE