03/15/2005 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Minutes of 3/15/2005 to RTA. Mr. Bowman questioned why RTA was attempting to take over NOMBL now when the Triskett garage is still incomplete. He believes the proposed absorption of the NOMBL fleet would be easier if it waited, and the intervening time could be used for a study. He questioned the savings amount of $1,800,00 which RTA says will occur with the absorption of the two suburban lines of Maple Hts. and North Olmsted. Since North Olmsted's contribution to RTA is quadruple the NOMBL operating costs, it seems that the city really isn't getting its money's worth. Tom Terbrack, 26916 Heatherwood Circle, Ohnsted Falls, NOMBL General Manager, said that on March 1, 1931, the first bus owned by the Village of North Olmsted left the county line and made its way into downtown Cleveland. This was the beginning of the North Olmsted Municipal Bus Line on the same route that today is the system's flagship 75X route. NOMBL expanded throughout the years and today serves the communities of North Olmsted, Fairview Park, Westlake, Olmsted Falls, Olmsted Township, Rocky River, Lakewood and Cleveland. In 2004, the NOMBL routes carried over 1,080,000 passengers. As public transportation has evolved in this country, funding sources from the federal and state governments have continued to dry-up or be eliminated. RTA has made some difficult decisions in attempting to balance its budget and has now determined that there would be a cost savings by absorbing NOMBL and Maple Hts. Transit. The actual dollar amount of these savings has been debated. This evening, City Council has to make a difficult decision in approving the acquisition of NOMBL. RTA has given guarantees that services will continue to operate and our employees will be given jobs with seniority guarantees. We have a guarantee that the North Olmsted Transit Center will be expanded and that RTA will soon begin operation of an improved community circulator route. He asked that Council do what is right for all of the NOMBL employees and follow our obligation as public officials in providing quality public services at the lowest possible cost to the taxpayers of this region. It will mean the end of the 74-year-old North Olmsted Municipal Bus Line; however, it is a new beginning and we must work closely with RTA to continue to improve transportation needs for all residents. He hopes that this proud transit system will end its days with dignity and honor. Joseph Bowman, 23950 Gessner Road. This morning he attended the RTA board meeting at which they hostily took over our bus line. He spoke as a private citizen and for the people of North Olmsted like him who are watching their bus line being taken from them. He quoted Congressman Kucinich who said on February 14, "Negotiations should be free of coercion; therefore, I believe that any artificial deadline imposed on North Olmsted and Maple Hts. i11 serves the overall goal of arriving at the best decision which serves the people of the RTA service area. To be fair and free of coercion, the RTA board of trustees should take immediate action to extend the deadline for a decision by at least three months. The board should also insist that all reasonable offers from all sides be discussed." Mr. Bowman believes the negotiations with RTA involved coercion and intimidation of the NOMBL employees. The union members are a fine group and are dedicated to saving the bus line. He noted that County Commissioner Dimora had called for a time extension so that a study could be done so there are no regrets later, but Mr. 13