Weirton Transit discussing bylaws, budget preparations | News, Sports, Jobs
WEIRTON — The Weirton Transit Corp. Board of Trustees discussed potential updates to its bylaws Wednesday, as well as prepared its budget for the next fiscal year.
The board has been discussing updates to its bylaws in recent months, with a particular focus on improving oversight and streamlining some board functions. Board member Brian Maley had been tasked with drafting a proposal, which was presented Wednesday, and will be voted on during the board’s Feb. 8 meeting.
Among the proposals presented included amendments to eligibility for membership on the board, including not having employees appointed to a seat.
“If you’re an active employee, you shouldn’t be on the board,” Maley said.
In addition, eligibility would include an individual living within the service area for the transit provider. Mark Henne, an ex-officio member representing the Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson Metropolitan Planning Commission, noted that would include Follansbee as Weirton Transit currently provides a route to the city. Maley, explained, though, if WTC ceases service to a particular community, it would mean any members from those communities would no longer be eligible for board membership.
Weirton’s planning and development director would be added to the board in a non-voting role, as that individual assists WTC in obtaining its grant funds.
Other major changes would be the separation of the board’s secretary-treasurer office to have one member as secretary and one member as treasurer. The vice president’s role would expand to include additional oversight of financial records. In addition, the bylaws would clarify the financial responsibilities of the transit manager, who will be required to present monthly reports to the board prepared with assistance from the board’s contracted accounting firm.
“We’re putting in a four-eyes procedure,” Maley explained. “This is for everybody’s protection.”
The decision follows issues over the last year concerning the discovery of various unpaid taxes which the board currently is working to address.
In other business, Transit Manager Phil Gilcrest presented a proposed budget for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1. He noted plans to increase funding requests to Weirton Council, as well as the Brooke and Hancock county commissions.
Currently, the City of Weirton, provides $75,000 in addition to various in-kind services to Weirton Transit. Gilcrest plans to ask for $150,000. He said he would like to increase his request to the Brooke County Commission from $6,000 to $8,000, citing the implementation of WTC’s Follansbee route. Hancock County currently provides no funding to Weirton Transit, with Gilcrest saying he plans to ask for $8,000.
The increases, he said, followed discussions from other transit providers in West Virginia during a recent conference, where he learned many received upwards of $250,000 to $300,000 from their municipalities, and $100,000 from their counties.
“People want to know why we can’t do what we want to do. We don’t have the funding,” he said, noting those transit providers serve similar-sized communities and don’t have levies in place. “We need support and that’s what we’re missing.”
Gilcrest also explained WTC is eligible for an additional $200,000 in federal grants, but cannot access it without matching local funds.
WTC Board President Flora Perrone, who is a member of Weirton Council, said it had been suggested a workshop be set up between Weirton Transit and council to discuss their services and needs. Gilcrest said he also is meeting with City Manager Mike Adams this week.