Administration and Finance (A&F) Committee Meeting Summary
Memorandum for the Record
Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization
April 27, 2023, Meeting
10:00–10:30 AM, Zoom Video Conferencing Platform
Brian Kane, Chair, representing the MBTA Advisory Board
See attendance on page 3.
Brad Rawson, Inner Core Committee, City of Somerville, shared his gratitude for the work being done with the Operations Plan and its contribution to continuing ongoing work to increase transparency for board members, staff, and stakeholders.
1. Edits to Executive Director Compensation and Evaluation (pdf)
2. Edits to Executive Director Compensation and Evaluation (html)
T. Teich stated that the edits made to the Executive Director Compensation and Evaluation worksheet were based on committee discussions from the April 13, 2023, committee meeting. T. Teich stated that the section of the worksheet that requires a formal evaluation memo to be submitted to the full MPO Board quarterly has been removed.
B. Kane stated his support for a neutral third party conducting the compensation benchmarking, as discussed in the worksheet. B. Kane suggested expanding the market-based job evaluations to all members of the Central Transportation Planning Staff.
B. Kane requested additional information about the “contractual obligations” mentioned in relation to salary adjustments. T. Teich stated that a contract is annually updated with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, who approves all salary adjustments for MPO staff in Massachusetts.
1. Edits to Communications Norms (pdf)
2. Edits to Communications Norms (html)
T. Teich stated that the edits to the Communications Norms worksheet were based on discussions from the April 13, 2023, committee meeting. The primary feedback requested information on the next steps should the communications norms be violated. The Reporting section of the worksheet has been revised to state that the Chair or Vice Chair shall contact the member observed violating the norms and offers potential actions to take.
B. Kane stated that the corrective actions are similar to those within the MBTA Advisory Board.
B. Kane stated that the board should adopt a public comment policy. B. Rawson suggested creating a clear process to indicate how long public comments are accepted, especially when meetings are held remotely.
B. Kane introduced the Agency Information Sharing worksheet agenda item. B. Kane stated that the goal of information sharing is to provide members with the most accurate information possible to allow them to make well-informed decisions.
The remainder of the discussion will be postponed to the May 4, 2023, meeting, as there was no longer a quorum present.
There were none.
The meeting adjourned at 10:30 AM.
|
Members |
Representatives and Alternates |
|
MassDOT Office of Transportation Planning |
Derek Krevat |
|
MBTA Advisory Board |
Brian Kane |
|
Regional Transportation Advisory Council |
Lenard Diggins |
|
Other Attendees |
Affiliation |
|
Brad Rawson |
Inner Core Committee, City of Somerville |
|
MPO Staff/Central Transportation Planning Staff |
|
Tegin Teich, Executive Director |
|
Silva Ayvazyan |
|
Annette Demchur |
|
Hiral Gandhi |
|
Ethan Lapointe |
|
Gina Perille |
|
The Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) operates its programs, services, and activities in compliance with federal nondiscrimination laws including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI), the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987, and related statutes and regulations. Title VI prohibits discrimination in federally assisted programs and requires that no person in the United States of America shall, on the grounds of race, color, or national origin (including limited English proficiency), be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity that receives federal assistance. Related federal nondiscrimination laws administered by the Federal Highway Administration, Federal Transit Administration, or both, prohibit discrimination on the basis of age, sex, and disability. The Boston Region MPO considers these protected populations in its Title VI Programs, consistent with federal interpretation and administration. In addition, the Boston Region MPO provides meaningful access to its programs, services, and activities to individuals with limited English proficiency, in compliance with U.S. Department of Transportation policy and guidance on federal Executive Order 13166. The Boston Region MPO also complies with the Massachusetts Public Accommodation Law, M.G.L. c 272 sections 92a, 98, 98a, which prohibits making any distinction, discrimination, or restriction in admission to, or treatment in a place of public accommodation based on race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability, or ancestry. Likewise, the Boston Region MPO complies with the Governor's Executive Order 526, section 4, which requires that all programs, activities, and services provided, performed, licensed, chartered, funded, regulated, or contracted for by the state shall be conducted without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, creed, ancestry, national origin, disability, veteran's status (including Vietnam-era veterans), or background. A complaint form and additional information can be obtained by contacting the MPO or at http://www.bostonmpo.org/mpo_non_discrimination. To request this information in a different language or in an accessible format, please contact Title VI Specialist By Telephone: For people with hearing or speaking difficulties, connect through the state MassRelay service: · Relay Using TTY or Hearing Carry-over: 800.439.2370 · Relay Using Voice Carry-over: 866.887.6619 · Relay Using Text to Speech: 866.645.9870 For more information, including numbers for Spanish speakers, visit https://www.mass.gov/massrelay. |