PORT TOWNSEND — A proposal to expand the size of the Jefferson Transit Authority Board of Directors is being discussed, with supporters saying it will provide a more diverse make-up and opponents stating the resources aren’t there for such a move.
The board currently has five members, including all three county commissioners — David Sullivan, John Austin and Phil Johnson — along with City Council members Catharine Robinson and Bob Gray.
Service manager Lloyd Eisenman, a nonvoting member of the board, represents the Amalgamated Transit Union No. 587.
A number of additional members has not been specified in the talks.
“We only have one incorporated area, so people who live outside of Port Townsend are underrepresented,” said Rick Jahnke of Port Townsend, who favors the expansion.
“If you have more members from different areas and boards, it will help get Transit’s message into the community and get more information out, which isn’t happening right now.”
“I don’t see any benefit to it,” Sullivan said at Tuesday’s meeting of the board.
“Anything that people are bringing up that we should do or do differently, we can already do without including any special interests in the county.
“We need to control costs and focus on stabilizing Transit.”
Sullivan said adding board members would cost “staff time, energy and focus” that will detract from the agency’s mission.
Robinson agreed, saying, “If we have another board member without having any more money for operations, the representation isn’t going to improve.”
Gray disagreed.
“I’m all in favor of this,” he said of the expansion.
“My main concern is that we are not doing well — we are losing ridership and would benefit from other points of view.”
The matter has been the subject of public comment at recent Transit meetings.
“We need to have a board that reflects us,” said Thuy Langsea at Tuesday’s meeting.
“If we can afford to purchase a van, we can afford to put another person on the board.”
Jahnke said a member of any elected board in the county is eligible to serve on the Transit board, adding that a member of the School Board, hospital district or port board of commissioners could provide input about transit and enhance the connection to the ridership.
Jahnke said not all county boards are aware they can be represented on the Transit board and that Jefferson Transit needs to do more to get this message out.
The expansion of the board is on the agenda at the Public Transportation Benefit Areas meeting, scheduled for about 3:15 p.m. Dec. 16 at the Port Townsend Fire Station, 701 Harrison St., after the regularly scheduled meeting.
The meeting is a state requirement of transit boards to examine their efficacy every four years and determine whether changes are needed.
________
Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
