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RCC7 Monthly Meeting

Video

I need
What's going on, Carrie?
>> I did.
>> Angela Week usually sits here, so
Oh, thank you.
I'm going to let Angela have her seat.
She usually sits in the corner there.
They do. So, I'm like, I'm just She's
here now. If you were here, if you
didn't walk in with me, I might say no.
I might be like, I'm going to sit in
your seat.
>> [laughter]
>> I enjoy
>> Good.
>> Um sunshine?
>> Sunshine and rainbow loses money.
>> Yeah.
They answered yes.
So, we we transported them other than
that.
The adult team.
>> I was going to ask you how that's going
to
Transported them to your program. So,
you might have to pick them up. Yeah,
and that makes sense.
Um so, we're
trying to figure out like Well, first
get them placed in the programs, but
this is
This is in Rochester.
>> [clears throat]
>> That's the
>> How many How many people in Rochester
are placed in sheltered living? So,
there is no
>> Oh, okay. I got you.
>> How many people in the Rochester area?
>> Who's in that program? I want to say it
was like 505.
And uh
Maybe around like 60 or something. 60 or
70
So,
we're looking at like
I know somebody reached out today
saying that they're going to be
transferring
their husband
one in Maryland.
I think it might be the one on the
national
>> Oh.
>> They were not speaking.
>> I think that's the one run by, um,
So, he He used to be at Delta Health,
now he's into a lot of real estate. He's
actually building ended up a real Yeah,
he was in a Delta Health and then he
ended up getting into real estate and
buying real estate to make,
>> um, accessible affordable housing for
seniors.
>> Oh, wow.
>> And potentially put like a Delta in the
building that they're renovating and
redoing.
>> Oh, here's a thought.
>> Um,
>> What are the resources where they live?
>> Right. No transportation issues, no like
all those things. You have a doctor in
the program, you know, cuz Delta Health
generally have a physician, you know,
all those things right there.
>> I think he was trying to start up a kind
of like a PACE program. Do you know a
PACE for mass?
>> So, PACE is another federal type
program.
And the PACE has all the doctors, a
pharmacy, like everything right there.
The every you see everything right here.
Yeah, including your Delta Health. So,
when you go there, it's filled with
doctors, everybody you need to see.
>> So, it's almost like assisted living,
but you're still living on your own.
>> Correct.
>> That's why I started it.
>> Yeah. Yeah, PACE was never developed in
New Hampshire, which is unfortunate, but
I don't think the funding structure
could support it.
>> Nothing. She's bored at her job, she was
just telling me, Janet. Nothing to do.
No worries.
>> Our Delta just the program.
>> I we've been seeing them. We're so sad.
>> Yeah. It is, um,
I mean,
it happened.
You know, I think it's really been a
combination of the years since COVID. It
was like, you know, we used to
have like seven full buses of people
going there every day and then covid
happened and it just never
>> I'm only worried about the one in Auburn
here and then St. John's is dropping
probably like their numbers have dropped
too.
>> Or not not come back.
>> Right. Yeah.
>> I'm not sure.
>> All the daycares here
>> Good morning.
>> One of the most lot down on
um
11 A
>> In 2023 DGH is getting ready
>> Perfect. I just made myself a note to
add that
they couldn't be supported anymore with
the way I think
>> each person?
>> And I think the daily running of that is
close to like $85 to $89 a day
>> to for expenses just to break even. And
they were getting I think
>> at least something for DGH
>> I don't think DGH has brought it up to
the actual cost of the program.
But they did try in 2023 to bring it up
similarly to how they did it with the
people in here.
But again, if your if your fixed cost
remain the same and your and your
enrollment is down, your fixed costs
don't change. You still have a position.
You still have to have all these things.
>> Pretty sure.
>> I don't know if you could
at least, you know,
transport people to other programs,
other places,
you know, whatever.
>> I know some of them can.
>> You know, take shopping or do whatever.
You have to drive
>> transportation billable to DGH outside
the adult day health program?
Or is it inclusive of the program?
>> In the past it's been inclusive.
Yeah, that's my understanding.
>> So it'll be
>> a lot harder for another agency to say,
"Yeah, we'll take your patient and oh,
by the way, we'll still be responsible
for transportation they need
because it's included in the state
rate."
Like for you, it's more like
inter-departmental,
inter-company funds moving.
>> Um
We do have
Well, so like some people are looking at
it
Do you bill for the
>> Medicaid for the transportation to non-
Do you bill like a non-medical
transport?
>> Or uh
You do have like a private pay room.
>> I'm just trying to get you your money.
Remember when the trickle-down effect
was going to be the
isolation,
you know, failure to thrive, medical
services. Like what happened? What
happened? Cuz right now they're seeing a
nurse every day.
You know.
>> Did you look at your email?
>> a decision that has to be made, you
know, when
>> I don't know what they
>> Maureen and Sue called me in I don't
know when it was May.
>> When was the first time
>> I am sorry. I've had to make those same
decisions.
>> You know, it's a decision that just has
to be made.
>> I'm draining their organization of the
money.
>> I'll be I'll be I'm good.
>> I'm losing transportation.
You have to.
>> I'm good. How are you, Maureen?
>> Good to see you, too.
>> Sure.
>> What do you want to talk about?
>> Absolutely.
Just national, right?
Just national area.
>> I'm going to the towns.
Good morning.
Um, I got to go and break down this guy.
Right now we're doing Right now I'm
good.
>> Yeah, not home.
>> Perfect.
>> Have you been landed somewhere? You
figured out your thing yet?
>> It seems that I figured it out.
>> I know last time we talked you like do I
go back here, do I stay here, do I I was
going to do that.
You were thinking about buying a bus?
>> I don't think it would be a good idea.
Yeah, I've got money sitting there and
I'm just
>> Do I or don't I?
>> Yes, but again it kind of scares me.
>> And uh so but um but yeah, so I'm a
compliance coordinator for Manchester
Transit and that kind of
I just do whatever
I am working
like me.
>> No, cuz you you don't
you supplement you
>> project gets off the ground.
>> Manchester Transit, all right, so that's
not Southern New Hampshire Planning
Commission.
>> Manchester Transit, right? So that's
Manchester, right?
So that's Manchester, okay.
>> Yeah, so I'm doing that um
We'll see what happens.
>> Can you do that remotely or do you have
to go in?
>> Yep, I do it remotely.
Yeah.
Um so I do it remotely. I go to
Manchester a couple times a week.
>> So [clears throat]
But yeah, this is I still have a couple
other irons in the fire.
>> Yeah, I can write that.
>> Oh, good.
>> See what happens.
>> Secret to old age.
Don't get old.
Jesus Mary and Joseph, and tell us what
to do.
>> Starting to mellow.
Somebody just miraculously found the
money. Isn't it funny how they
>> The AARP will do that.
>> I talked with the AARP.
>> And then for me to be on the newsletter
goes out,
and the newsletter goes out, and the
newsletter goes out, and the newsletter
goes out.
normally like when I was closing
transportation we had to be able to
learn before it happened to let them
know.
And then DOT would have had the
opportunity to step up. So they should
have been talking to the agency
slow down let us see what we can do. But
that would be the right thing to do
because now what happens is they didn't
tell 68.
Okay.
>> Thank you. Thank you very much.
I have a brownie points.
>> Maybe the state of CT now.
You know what we're done. If you can't
make a decision to help the program to
save what we need in the paper.
You know what I have to tell you about
what I got it's fine so that happened.
Thank you very much.
I have a question
for you and so
when will you do October 1st? 17th.
17th.
Oh, you got plenty of time.
Start a home and program by then. Yeah,
you know? Okay.
Options are endless.
I forgot to print it out until I was
like, "Oh wait, I can't send anyone up.
I don't care."
No, it's fine. It's just like no
obligation but
>> What you got? What you got coming up?
>> Got it.
>> And then a digital empowerment breakfast
for like social workers and all that
work.
>> So I know you guys have an extensive
mailing list.
>> You do. Yeah.
>> Do you want us to forward that?
>> That would be really great. Yeah.
>> Yeah, if you can shoot me the PDFs I
mean we can get it in the follow-up
email to this meeting.
>> We don't have to do it now.
>> Not now? I didn't know we had
>> No, we don't have to do it now. No. No.
No, it's one of those byproduct I'm just
sidebar things. Yeah. Yeah.
>> How are you feeling Mr. Bukaty?
Those are the green.
There is a secret?
What is it?
Don't fall, okay?
>> I'm I'm trying to get up.
>> Oh my gosh.
>> twist twist in the middle of the night
and then wake up with a bad Okay?
I don't know. Maybe in my dreams I was
running around Milford Oval. I don't
>> One of the notepads I got for
>> My first November
>> See everybody
>> I had to shoot
>> I had an issue having
>> Yeah, I know.
>> So the windows
>> I don't know and
>> I had my knee done in the
>> Standing up at
Exactly.
>> Yeah, we've got over 5,000 apparently
now.
>> Yeah, cuz the implant really aligned
her.
>> Okay.
>> It's been overwhelming.
>> Ooh, lucky her.
>> Yes.
>> It's hard to tell how much they get.
>> You can be anybody you want to be today.
Oh good.
Okay, good.
You can get one.
Yes,
yeah.
Oh good. Thank you.
Appreciate it.
>> Right. So my phone
says channel one.
Okay?
>> I have two.
>> Okay, let's get going.
And you're recording, you're all set
down there?
Super.
Welcome. Thank you all for coming to the
August meeting for the Regional
Coordinating Council for Greater Nashua.
>> We appreciate everyone being here at the
end of summer.
>> And we have certainly have a quorum here
today, which is a great thing.
Um because we have Sandra online,
um we will have to do roll call votes.
Um but let's go around the table and
just introduce ourselves to kind of
refresh. And so I'm going to start with
Emma way in the back there.
>> Yes, Emma Reidy. I'm with NRPC and I'm a
transportation planner.
>> I'm Sarah Ceaser from United Way Greater
Nashua. I'm the volunteer director.
>> I'm Maryanne Gamache, housing
specialist, Greater Nashua Mental
Health.
>> I'm Carrie Miller from the Nashua
Transit System.
>> Carol Brooks, SVTC.
>> Bill Air, Voices of Major Drive.
>> Marina Belcon, Conservation Law
Foundation.
>> As Deborah said, I'm Eric Petrie.
>> Don Murray, Gate City Bike Co.
>> I'm Jane Langdell from SVTC.
>> Angie Pandolf with Easter Seals.
>> Terry Palmer, I'm representing
Manchester Transit Authority.
>> Deborah Seekins, State Independent
Living.
>> James Wilkie, Harris.
>> I'm Elena with Lamprey Healthcare.
>> Donna Messo, the Regional Mobility
Manager for the ICC 7 here at NRPC.
>> Hi, I'm Salem Quinn, the Administrative
Communication Coordinator here at NRPC.
>> Hello, Matt Watkins, NRPC.
>> And Sandra.
>> Sandra Delosa, Welfare Administrator for
the Town of Merrimack.
>> And James Leach.
>> Hi. I'm Jim Leach with Harbor Care HVRP,
Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program.
>> Welcome. Thank you. And I see Mike's
notebook and William's notebook. So,
Mike Appleburg is listening in at least,
and William, that's yours, right?
Bill.
>> Mhm.
>> No?
>> Hi.
So, hi, Mike Appleburg with United Way
Greater Nashua, and Sarah will be our
voting member today.
>> Okay, thank you, Mike.
Uh, I always thought that William's
notebook was yours, Bill. All right.
Well,
whatever.
Uh, it's artificial intelligence
happening.
Maybe we need it today. Anyways, let's
move on.
We have the June 2026 meeting minutes.
Everyone hopefully took a look at those.
If you have any changes or corrections
to make,
we'd love to hear them.
Done?
Anyone want to make a motion to approve?
>> I'll make a motion to approve the
minutes.
>> And second by?
I got Bill first, sorry.
>> That's all right.
>> All right.
Um, going around the room for voting,
let's start with Sandra.
>> I'm going to write around. Sarah?
>> Dino.
>> What are you guys?
>> And RPC is a yes.
>> There we go. All right.
So included in your packet this time
kind of a follow-up from the June
meeting. I hope everyone had a great
July.
>> Surprisingly though, July was a little
busy um even though we didn't have a
meeting.
A lot of things happening in Concord
that we'll get to later on in the
agenda. Um just to follow up um on
attachment two, the memo.
Um our meeting schedule. Right now, if
you remember back in June we talked
about maybe going to an every other
month cycle
um and we thought based on what we'd
heard from um the chair of the SCC, they
were going to start their meetings in
August, but they moved them to
September.
Um so
my suggestion is we just stay on every
month from now till the end of the year
with probability of not having one in
December
depending upon what happens with New
Hampshire DOT in the next two-year cycle
application process for the 5310 RCC
funding.
Um and then in January we can decide if
we want to go to an every other month
schedule. We've got things coming up.
October is um community transportation
month for the state of New Hampshire. We
had already had something planned for
We know in November that there will be
some significant discussions at the um
SCC about potentially realigning
the regions. So I think we probably do
want to meet after that meeting.
Um just to see where we're at and it may
be that by that time New Hampshire DOT
per
a discussion that um Matt was involved
in
uh earlier
Oh god, it was last week, remember? Or
was it this month past
>> Right.
>> Whatever. Within the last week, um they
may actually have their application
packets ready by the end of November.
Probably not, but there's a possibility.
>> [snorts]
so
for that reason, I would just suggest
that we've got to roll with it.
If that's the general consensus.
Anyone have anything they want to add to
that?
Yeah, Deb.
>> Um so I will just add that the SC I'm
part of the leadership team on the SCC,
so I can speak for them.
Um
the intent is to hopefully have a
discussion in the September meeting
about the realignment and a potential
vote in November.
Um at the November meeting. So November
might be less of a discussion and walk
away or could be a vote. Um
but there's no that's not set in stone
that that has to happen. It's just that
was the DOT's preference.
>> That's part of the proposal. Yep. Um and
that and that adds to what I was going
to say later on, but I'm going to
encourage everyone to zoom in. The SCC
meetings are online.
And we will send you out the Zoom link
once we get it.
Um and we encourage you to sit in and at
least listen. Matt.
>> Related to the schedule, um
you know, it's
we have other monthly meetings here at
NRPC at every month all through the year
and we've never officially
taken you know, just assume we're going
to take July off or August off. It's
never really been official and it
still wouldn't be really official, but I
I think it's a good idea
planning ahead for next year to have
take July off from the
you know, RCC meetings and
I've talked about some of the other
meetings that everybody comes to on a
every month. Um
you know, maybe next July just kind of
taking a break, you know, kind of
really planning on that. So, you know, I
just wanted to mention that for next
year that it I think it was good to have
July off in our CC.
>> Well, and and if we get to an every
other month cycle, too, hopefully, you
know, it probably would be the July
meeting because June would be the annual
meeting, July off, come back in August.
But, let's see what happens with the SCC
and their cycle, too, because I think we
the point we made the last meeting about
making sure that we're meeting
if they meet the first week of the
month, that we're meeting later in that
month, so that we're not delaying things
for entire
8 weeks almost.
>> Yeah, and plus we
there are times when we some of our
committees have to meet because we have
to do this some sort of a
about, you know, some sort of adjustment
to our
some federally required document. So,
never a sure thing we can take we I'm
not going to offer.
>> Mike, I'm going to get to you in just a
second, but if there was an emergency of
some sort that
this group needed to take a vote, we
couldn't get everyone together, the
executive committee can act on behalf.
So, we're we're kind of covered there.
Mike,
online.
>> Yeah,
yeah, so in order to
to not delay things, I mean
these same issues.
>> I think you're breaking up, Mike.
>> Yeah, in my
opinion.
>> Sarah, if he texts you the information,
let us know.
Good.
>> So, the only other thing that I would I
don't I don't know all the bylaws. So,
the bylaws do they is there anything in
the bylaws that say we have to meet x
number of times per year?
>> Yes, we'd still be meeting that, though.
>> Okay. And then the other thing is is
whether or not the bylaws allow for an
electronic vote of something that needs
to be voted on.
>> I don't believe that they do.
>> Yeah. So, that is my be a way to if
people, you know, have you making sure a
vote happens if it needs to happen.
>> Right, but the executive committee can
also on something
>> Yeah, they can. Yeah, but it depends on
when it Yeah.
Does the bylaws then say it has to be
ratified by the full council after the
executive committee?
>> I don't know that it spells that out,
but certainly we had we had talked a
couple meetings ago about taking another
look at our bylaws now that we've had
them for
a year and a half 18 months.
>> Or tweaks in that. And I don't know if
any other regions hitting some of that
or not. Um ours are pretty much the
template that was provided by the SCC.
Hey Rocky.
>> So, this is Rocky Morrell from
Opportunity Networks.
>> Good morning, everyone.
>> Morning.
>> Um Sam.
>> Thinking about from now until the end of
the year, I believe you were saying that
we want to meet after the SCC's November
meeting. Do we know the date of that
meeting cuz if I'm not mistaken right
now our meeting is scheduled for like
Thanksgiving, I think. Or it's usually
>> I have to look at that. Yeah, we we can
look at that later on. Yeah, but we're
going to meet November. I think we're
going to have to.
Sam, it would be November
>> Yeah, it's the first It's the first
Thursday in in the month.
>> We can circle back to that. Yeah, we
would have to meet.
>> Thank you.
>> All right, so just running back through
the memo just a little bit more. Just to
let you know that the
third annual Greater Nashville Community
Transportation Hero Awards, we're
looking for nominations.
Um we'll send this out again in a
follow-up email. We would appreciate
receiving nominations from the group.
Um somebody that you think And it could
be a volunteer, a staff person, an
agency, an organization outside of our
table that is supportive of community
transportation in the region.
Um that could be a
group that keeps funding something that
you're doing with your program around
transportation.
Um our last two have been last year was
John Birkett
um posthumously the founder of um the
co-op the bike co-op.
And prior to that was Laurie Lorman from
Nashua Transit for her 40 years of
service to community transportation.
Um so the executive committee will be
accepting those uh nominations and
easiest way is just email them over to
me. I'll compile them
um and I'm lyndale508@comcast.net.
And if we can get those by the end of
September, Tuesday, September 29th, that
would be great.
Um but we'll remind you of that.
Um for info, the community
transportation needs assessment that was
done by the New Hampshire Council on
Aging or Commission on Aging um has been
uh
circulated presented put out there. Um
they did have and this is an additional
piece that we will send around but you
have copies here.
Able New Hampshire had a session uh a
week or so ago on that.
They actually have posted
the uh Zoom session. It's on YouTube.
The link is here. There are also links
to more than that handout and on this
document except page two's not Oh, page
two's right there.
Um to the actual report and the summary
and the executive summary.
So I would encourage you to take a look
at that. Um there are a number of
recommendations
um and the findings
while they may not have been
earth-shatteringly new
they certainly do support many of the
things that we've heard from all of you
and we've all experienced regarding
community transportation.
Did anyone else want to add anything on
that? You guys from
what you've heard at the SEC?
>> Uh yeah, nothing different. We had a
leadership meeting yesterday and it was
mentioned that it's out there. The
I ended up having to leave the meeting
before well, I left the meeting on time.
They stayed much longer than I would be
able to stay. And the discussion that
was happening when I was leaving was
does the SEC
or transport New Hampshire want to
uh send out an op-ed or um
something like that to get this more
visible
to people.
so that's a discussion that was
happening yesterday. Um and you know, I
would support that getting it out there.
I don't think it's out there enough for
people to
you know, put it together with the veto
of the veto that happened the other day
um in the transportation highway. So I
feel
>> the overturn the overturn of the veto
from the governor.
>> the veto over the veto.
Um but yes, I mean
talk about politics actually working.
But um
so we did talk about it yesterday. I
don't know what their outcome was if we
will, you know, author something and put
it out there as an op-ed or um something
about the report.
>> If there's yeah, I mean if there is a a
press release type thing.
>> Um certainly share it because we can
work with the Nashua Telegraph, the
Milford Cabinet um and a bunch of the
local papers and certainly the the
Monadnock Ledger, which is an excellent
paper.
And the last thing
>> in the memo has to do with the fiscal
report from FY 26. Um that's this I
don't know if you can pull it up, Matt,
or not or
Alan. It was in that PDF.
>> I have it.
>> This lovely colored grid
which basically summarizes the quarterly
expenses for each of the programs that
were funded by the 5310 RCC funding this
year. That includes Sweetening Valley
service provided by Nashua Transit.
Um the community the greater Nashua
community rides program that was a pilot
last year.
Um additional funding for caregivers on
an administrative um level in order to
secure volunteers.
Again, NRPC's contract management
funding. Um and then the regional
mobility manager. And I note again just
so no one gets scared.
The amount in this part for the regional
mobility manager is not all of her
salary. The other part of that comes
from the NRPC's
uh UPWP, which is their funding through
New Hampshire DOT. So it's a split it's
a split source for her. Um but just so
that's there. Um everything came in
slightly or under budget. So there's
these funds from this year will roll
over to the current fiscal year.
However,
in June of 2027, if funds aren't spent,
they go back to New Hampshire DOT into
the pool.
Um no
>> remind me what our fiscal year is?
>> Uh July 1st to June 30th.
>> Welcome.
I will tell you
and I'm not sure if we we got it stuck
in any other place.
based on the discussions with the
Hampshire DOT earlier this month,
um they are sticking to their guns that
region seven and region eight will see a
reduction
in the overall funding under the 5310
RCC
um allotments.
the way it was presented to us is it's
going to be a 5% increase, but
we're starting for year two regions from
the original amounts that were allotted,
not the bridge amounts. So, we got a
little bit of extra money. What this
basically is going to mean for our
region, we think right now,
unless things change, and we haven't
heard anything concrete, is that this
region's allotment will be about $40,000
um, less per year.
So, that's going to be something that
we're going to bring in harder numbers
from New Hampshire DOT
um, to start sitting around the table
and talking about what we're going to
do. So, any of you
that have
irons in the fire,
um, start thinking about how your
funding's going to look. And I know this
comes at a very difficult time for most
of us,
uh, because we right now
have to be going to our towns and asking
for the amounts that they're going to
vote on at their town meetings next
March.
We can't wait to ask for that money
until December or January.
Um, so it
pardon me, and you can put this in the
minutes if you want, it comes down some
days to be a crap shoot.
Um, Mike.
>> Yeah, just a question about that
reduction. Is that based on
um, population trends, utilization
rates, or just overall budget
re-prioritization?
>> It's a historical piece that's been
hanging out there for years and it has
to do with the fact that um, Nashua has
a UZA. Nashua gets federal funding
um, under the 5310 program
that is
s-
um, divided between, correct me Matt if
I'm wrong, cuz this is your ballot wick,
is divided between Manchester
and Lowell and Nashua. So, they do get a
certain amount of
5310 federal funding. And because of
that,
New Hampshire DOT has always kind of
reduced our amounts
um quite a bit.
>> Right. So, there's the the urbanized
area
has is a direct recipient of 5310
And then, the RC C's are
recipients of of 5310 funding as well,
but it is it comes through New Hampshire
DOT.
So, whereas Yeah.
>> And they consider that more the rural
So, again, we're doing this rural urban
kind of thing.
Uh what you have to understand though is
the UZA
and the boundaries of that they look at
for the population trends,
basically,
Where's the map?
>> It It's right here behind you.
>> Right there.
>> In the gray, I guess.
>> All the things that are kind of blue on
that that blue-green color
is the Nashua UZA.
So, just think of it as a big swipe that
comes right up 101A
to Milford and goes a little bit into
Wilton.
So, that population is counted towards
the Nashua UZA
and New Hampshire DOT makes a reduction
in our overall regional population based
on the algorithm that they have in play
regarding the geographic areas that are
supposedly in the Nashua UZA.
>> I just have a clarifying question about
um like the conversation that was had
with DOT and the 5% increase over the
original thing. With that 5% increase,
it's still like ironing out to the
40,000.
>> Yep.
>> Yeah, cuz remember the two the two RCCs
they were going to lose a lot.
And then Fred found
>> He did a bridge.
>> Yeah, you know, I know. I did a bridge
for 2 years to
>> What else, you know, we'll get you this
money now, but you got to get ready for
this coming down. And we knew it. Yeah,
we've been talking about it for a while,
but again, this this conversation comes
within a a week or so of getting the
Hampshire DOT's proposal about
re-aligning into counties.
And if if that happens then we have no
idea what the funding's going to look
like.
To really mess up picture in the
discussion and make it wicked confusing.
>> Yes, yeah.
>> Thank you for the answer.
>> He's got his Segway.
>> Go ahead.
Is that Segwaying enough?
>> I don't know.
>> So, I share that with you. I think that
the upshot of all of this and I don't
have all the numbers available for all
the rides that were provided under this
But I think the upshot is that the
community rides program
provided 94 rides this year.
You know, there were 40 49 events, if
you will, ride events, but they actually
for one-way rides, it looks like it was
like 94.
Um while Nashua used the most of the
service
um for rides within Nashua, there were a
number of rides that were way out of our
area.
Lebanon
New London, Candia, Salem
Um so, again, filling the gap where it's
needed. We're also able to provide Thank
you, Donna.
you know, rides for some folks out in
Lyme Brook that have no service
whatsoever.
And many of those were simply to get to
medical appointments in Milford
um and required wheelchair
So, there are some success stories here.
but that did come in a little bit under
budget, so we do have some funding left
over for next year as well.
I think it's a good start.
Anyone have any questions? I know that's
a lot of blah, blah, blah.
All right.
When we get those numbers totally in,
um, I will ship it over to you just so
you can take a look comparison between
this year and last year and hopefully
the year before.
Is that our segue?
>> I think that's our segue. Any questions
at this point? Does anyone need a drink?
I
a snack or anything?
>> So, the next thing on the agenda is the
actual proposed SEC realignment of the
regional coordination councils to county
boundaries. We wanted to provide you
with this information
because it is now on put on our horizon.
Um,
and in your packet we included
the original email and proposal as well
as the first response that
was received by this group.
Um, in addition to that, there was a
very articulate email shared by Scott
Mogal of, um, he's Rockingham, right?
Rockingham RPC.
Uh, that basically said many of the same
same things that Rad said and then
some more detail from a planner's
perspective.
so, Matt, I'm going to now turn this
over to you.
All right. Well,
>> So, we're into the MPO stuff, so
>> So,
well, so the the attachment three, I
think I just said that, kind of lays out
what, um,
kind of what Janet was saying as far as
these as far as these boundaries, um,
you know, there was an email
from Fred August 3rd.
and that went out to various people and
such and and um
it was it certainly caught me by
surprise. I I heard nothing about it
um that they were considering it. So, um
and uh you know, so it was a surprise.
and
um and then there it did generate some
response from various folks you know,
and again in the memo again it was
uh Rad Nichols um
um from over on the T coast.
But he had some very good points about
why it wasn't a good idea, you know, um
pretty you know,
good points and very much not in favor
of of this proposal. Um
And so in in kind of you know, to to
what Janet was saying, we wanted to
bring this to you all because
kind of what we want to weigh in on this
I think to you know, whether we're in
favor or not and Angelique I see you
wanting to ask questions, so go ahead.
>> Yes, I want
>> We want Angelique's input on this.
>> Yeah, for sure.
>> had some perspective too from region 8
and region 10.
>> Uh yeah, so well I had a question that
if
what what So, I'm an SCC council member,
right? So, I'm trying to understand
everybody's feedback so that I I can
make a you know, proper informed vote on
um behalf of what makes sense for the
regions based on the feedback, but um I
was interested if
I believe there were supposed to be like
a conversation with the RPCs about this
proposal as well and so I was curious if
you had information or feedback
on um
on that like on behalf of the RPCs what
their you know, feelings about the
>> Right and they're uh uh
they
Fred and Don Watson from the DOT did
bring this to the RPC directors and the
directors meet monthly.
>> And they talked about it and my
understanding was there weren't any
directors that were in favor of this.
uh and they so that I think the RPCs
have one vote on I believe on the SCC.
Our executive director Jay happens to be
the current member.
>> Well well hold on a minute. I as person
on the governance governance committee,
I have not received that he has been
officially appointed.
>> Okay, well
>> So he may not have a vote. I just I just
want to be clear about that.
>> That's a good point. No cuz we we assume
that when Sylvia retired
>> still has to be appointed and
>> No no no that that that would that would
actually have a kind of
>> As of a couple weeks ago when I emailed
him to ask him if he had his appointment
yet, he did not have it.
>> So that I can tell you.
So just
>> Very good point.
>> But Matt
you do have two other
SCC voting members here. And and I am in
the same boat as Angelique. And when
this came out
I got many emails from SCC members and
non-SCC members
kind of putting me to the task and
saying how can you guys approve this to
go through and I said
Oh well well wait a minute. The SCC
leadership did not approve this. We did
not we we got the same email you got. We
did not approve this. So I want to be
abundantly clear about that. What we
said to Fred was sure you can bring it
up at the September meeting we can add
it to the agenda. So I have been like
Angelique I've been to eight I've been
to 10 I've now been to seven I've been
to three, so I at least have a little
bit of feedback that I know I was
curious to see what the RPC said about
it as well. Because if I were to vote in
September, my vote today would be no or
an abstention because I don't know
enough to vote. So, we are seeking
information. Like, what is it we need to
hear to make an informed decision?
>> Just Just I'm going to slide this in.
>> In a follow-up email Fred Butler did
admit that he miswrote his email.
>> That it was premature that the SCC had
not approved this. This was not a
recommendation from the SCC. This was
simply a proposal from the Hampshire
DOT. Now, what drives that proposal
um if it is simply
you know, doing data analysis on their
end
or something administrative on their
end, um
that's one of my questions.
>> Fred Butler, we
>> for New Hampshire DOT.
>> Um why did this just come out of the
blue? Well, and I And then I was
wondering if if there was some kind of
recommendation from the CTNA report to
go to a county model, and I couldn't
find that in there.
>> came up in there. According to what I
heard yesterday, it came up at through
the CTNA, but it wasn't that wasn't the
reason for doing this cuz we didn't even
actually get that report till after
Fred's email went out.
>> And I'm I'll recommend the same thing
that I recommended to the two other RCCs
that I sit on as a voting member
is
so Rad's email was precipitated because
he had actually sent that entire thing
to me on August 3rd, and I was like,
Rad, I think you need to
pin it up a little and send it to DOT.
And I would say the same thing here. I
think if we have questions, whether
they're from Rad's questions and
dovetailing that, and I did tell Fred
yesterday in our leadership meeting that
I was coming here today and I'm going to
make the same recommendation that I did
with the other two, and the other two
have sent him something. And that is if
there are questions, give them to him
now so we get more information on
September meeting.
Um and and I don't know what those
questions are, but I I do assume we have
some, like just that. Like what is
what's driving this? Is it data? Is it
utilization? Is it you know, Fred
indicated yesterday that this he
actually talked about this a year ago.
I'm going to be perfectly honest with
you. If he did, it was like over this to
me and I'm like, "Oh, that's not
something I need to know cuz I don't do
transportation anymore." But so I think
that they're I think those are valuable
questions like what's bringing it up?
Why is it bringing it right up now? The
but the CTNA did not drive it. There was
feedback. Jen Huchko did provide
feedback that it had come up. Um I think
more like at some of the hospitals.
Um because there are a couple of cities
and towns that are outside the the
actual county
um that they're being served in.
>> I was going to
>> I have I have a question for Matt. Has
in the conversation with the RPC
directors, was there any conversation
about re-aligning the RCCs to match the
RPCs? Cuz that is one thing that Fred
and I have talked about for three plus
years.
Was because you've got and I used this
example in the Region 5 meeting the
other day. You've got this little tiny
town Ware that sits right in the middle
of Region 3. So you got Ware and Region
3 is all around it. And it's just kind
of like it's these little border towns
and that's kind of what I think came up
in the CTNA is these little border towns
get forgotten about. And so Fred and I
have been talking, like I said, for
years that maybe the lines need to be
readjusted to put
Ware in Region 5 instead of Region 3 and
these type of things. So I'm wondering
>> folks in who's not in a small little
town
>> who's, you know, in one county and
serviced by another county.
>> Yep, exactly. So I didn't know if maybe
that was brought up.
>> So I wasn't at the meeting because I was
away.
>> So, I
>> can't say. I I it's
Yeah, I think all I know is
what I know is
that there wasn't a
I I that might have been talked about,
but I don't know. But, I I
you know, Jay didn't tell me how he
would vote if he had a vote, but
the consensus was these seats can
realign, and we've done it here. Years
ago, Mason decided that they didn't want
to be part of Southwest anymore because
their focus is here. Right. So, they
actually petitioned to join our RPC as
opposed to the one over in Cheshire.
Um that kind of shifting can be done,
but I think it depends on the focus for
many other things within the community
and not just community transportation.
There's some other implications there.
Right. Well, that's why
Right. That's why in the conversations
that he and I have had in the past, if
we're looking at transportation and
transportation funding through RCCs,
then it it would have made Maybe
[clears throat] it would make more sense
aligning with the RPCs because you guys
do so much work with everything
transportation. And it
And I But, I don't know. I'm not
familiar enough with other programs
where if
if the RCCs realigned with RPCs and not
county based,
if it would um
I don't think it would
I don't think it would bother any other
programs. It wouldn't upset the apple
cart.
>> And that wouldn't that kind of
realignment really wouldn't impact us
cuz we include all of the 13 towns
anyways in our RCC.
You know, I think the greater impact is
further north.
>> Yeah. So, we'll see. We'll see what
happens.
I'm trying to think of what the question
was I wanted to throw in there. Oh, so
my concern when I read this originally
was the lead agencies.
The Region 8 RPC, the Southern is the
lead agency for Region 8.
And RPC is the lead agency for Region 7.
Um, to have one of them have to take on
the entire Hillsborough County,
it just seemed
more than was needed, especially if
within that document, the proposal, one
of the
goals to
be better able to leverage county funds.
Well, if that's the goal,
then I think it behooves the SCC to
support the regions collaborating
together
to say, "Okay, we have these towns in
your county. Let us all go together. Let
us get in touch with our, you know,
state representative delegation to the
county and our county commissioners and
make a pitch." But,
make it so that we need to do that
and come together on it, because that
gets to the boundaries crossing relative
to transportation. I mean, caregivers is
a great example.
>> Coordinated transportation.
Yeah, so support the local coordination.
Support our regional our statewide
regional mobility manager program
that was supposed to, you know, be the
end all, be all and
move this forward and
it, you know, don't let's not ignore
>> Yeah, and also administratively,
there's oversight that has to happen.
There's there's risk involved there,
right? We pass through funding
all
the different programs you see there. We
have to
up with that new C and E annual
funding report. So, we have you know,
there's a responsibility and a risk
involved there with being a lead agency.
And time involved and if you went from
having to or receive four,
you know,
subrecipients and you went eight or nine
or however many,
then now you're talking a full-time
employee potentially and more risk. So,
there that's a downside for for a lead
agency.
>> Well, it's more risk, but also more
cost.
>> Not just from
getting reimbursed through the SC the
RCC funding,
but also just
it's time and materials. I mean, you've
got to you may have to hire another
staff person to do that.
>> Yeah, and to your point, too, it's like
we're creating like additional regions
if we were to do this with the counties.
So, it's like that's even more like
administrative pressure on
you know, like as a member of the SCC
and our goal is to try to be, you know,
engaging with all the RCCs. That's more
RCCs and also like mobility managers. We
need additional mobility managers,
right? But
>> We need to staff that.
>> one of mobility manager handling like
all of Nashua and Manchester. That just
seems really
>> But no, no, no, no.
All of Nashua and Manchester and every
town in Hillsborough County.
>> what I mean. I can't imagine
>> is this is not simple.
>> one mobility managers.
>> Yeah, this is not simple.
>> Yeah, do you see any benefit of the
recommendation?
>> The benefit of the recommendation, I
think, is to fire up more collaboration
between the regions.
Um and the RCCs. I think that's one of
the goals that we have is to, you know,
improve that collaboration and
communication.
Again, I think the point of the the
county funding,
great. Okay, let's do it. I mean, I know
some of the delegates from the State
House that have come from my area that
are on that committee. They've done some
great things for our library. Great,
Region 8, you got some ideas.
Um Cheshire, cuz you cover some of the
towns here. Let's let's put a package
together and get it to them.
You know, that I see that as a prompt
for maybe
change in a different direction.
>> And what I heard yesterday, because one
of my concerns, and again, I
I want to be abundantly clear with
everybody here. I don't live in the
space that all of you live in every day.
I live in it very little, but um
one of the things that I said to Brad,
well, when would this be effective? And
he's like, the the run time for this
could take a couple years.
Uh is what he said. Um so, it's not
something that it would be voted on and
then implemented for
>> Well, he hasn't said that to anyone
else.
>> It was literally I asked the question
yesterday. So, you know, and I said to
him, I said, I think you need to make
that point on at the September meeting.
Um because if there's a runway, we're
not just doing this because I I
you would I would assume, I don't know,
that you would want to start it in a
biennium. And that biennium is going to
start next July. I said, are you going
to be ready for that? And he's like, no,
the runway for this would be longer than
that. So, that's what he said yesterday,
which did make me feel a little bit
better that not work that we're not
rushing into this, that we're actually
making it, you know, talking about it
and making sure the right decision's
made, and the time is given
appropriately to do what has to be done
if it's changed.
>> really good to hear because seriously,
when, you know, you get this and we were
in the other meeting, I'm going, oh my
god, I've got to go to Brookline,
Amherst, I've got to go to my six towns,
ask for money for next year, I've no
idea what it's going to look like, and
if we are realigned
and the whole funding pot scheme
changes, I don't know what our little
organization representing six
communities is going to do.
You know, I mean, we we could be
no funding. And Nate Miller was very
clear that we're going back to the
reduction of funding. He said, you have
to be understand that with reduced
funding,
we all may have to reduce service.
Go ahead, I'm sorry.
>> Yeah, and I just Well, one of my
thoughts about this was I don't know if
it was prompted because of like the RHT
and how like I know for like title three
funding that's like per county if this
is supposed to be like you know an
effort to try and work like greater you
know combine and coordinate funding on
like that.
>> That was the that was the other question
too and I don't know that when it was
kind of mentioned it was glossed over. I
don't remember him saying anything
specifically about RHT other than we
won't know anything until they open
their discussions in November.
So again if there's a if there's a
a thought underneath the surface at New
Hampshire DOT around that it wasn't
verbally expressed because I think
they're all waiting to hear from DHHS
November. Yeah babe I saw your hand.
>> No.
I don't quite understand I don't
understand what funding is available at
the county level so I'm speaking blind
to that so maybe there's something
there. And Angela you just kind of hit
upon what I was thinking.
Usually when you have these reformations
of these types
there is some level of efficiencies that
get created and I haven't really thought
people talk too much about that. Could
there be savings in places or
better utilization of resources and then
the other area I think you might see
some activity is a more equitable
distribution of funds.
I mean to me you're putting the two big
regions together with a lot going on
you know is it going to
make it
more competitive and more economical for
people to kind of get involved at that
level might you see service providers
within Manchester and Nashua maybe
overlapping or merging more and if you
envision kind of those type of trends
down the road cuz I think it opens the
door for those types of things.
>> I don't know. I wish I knew more about
like what prompted the
>> I think people should keep that in mind
when they're looking at it though.
>> But no, I mean I think these are all
like
>> where it actually rubber meets the road
type things, dollars and cents.
>> Well, that's that's the other thing too
is obviously like you mentioned it's
going to be a long like time before if
anything was ever actually implemented,
but um
I felt like it was a little strange to
like even put out the proposal with kind
of like no information regarding like
how this would change funding. I mean
that's everybody's number one question,
right? Like
>> And the whole urban issue?
There's a distinct difference between
what Manchester does and what Nashua
does, you know? I'm still trying to wrap
my head around the difference between
the transit authority and
other types of options and
and they're all going on and they all
overlapping and interweaving and funding
goes in certain directions
based on previous decisions, but
I don't know, as an outsider coming in I
could almost make the argument of kind
of where things could be aligned
differently and work differently and
I think if you open up Hillsborough
County as a single entity
I see those types of issues occurring
kind of turf wars happening over
resources, which could be fascinating to
kind of watch as an outsider.
>> It's not the Yale
Management,
okay? I mean real.
>> I'm just
thinking out loud a little bit, but this
is pretty interesting.
>> I think
a pro to doing this
obviously would be if you're some
pot of money
that will appear and I don't know if
other people know better than me and but
the only pot that I see even potentially
is the the going worth that funding that
they're going to talk about in November.
But there's no other than some
pot of money that not really don't I
don't know about.
There there's no extra money that I'm
aware of that would make this be some
you know
amazing opportunity.
So
unless and so unless it opens up a bunch
of funding
I don't see it. We're we're we're
there
we know we can't take on all this
additional responsibility as a lead
agency for example.
Right now there what we know there's no
extra money. There's less money for our
reach for the for reach in 7 and 8 or
there there's less money. So there's no
So unless this is opening up some other
massive amount of money that's
out there, I don't see a reason to do
it.
>> Or is there any
>> And I have not heard that there is.
>> Yeah and if there's a different approach
to this massive amount of money again I
go back to this elaboration versus
relying.
>> And so I just just
This is just an observation and opinion
not
policy of any agency that I'm affiliated
with at all
but we
we live in a time in this state where
that basically
the legislation doesn't want to pay for
anything even even stuff you use. So
you know at least for the near future
there's no options for additional
>> Yeah and you know
I think what we we all come back to the
the rural health transformation
multi-million dollar grant the DHHS got.
And I'm going to be honest with you,
every time I go out there when they send
me these don't know emails. I don't know
how many of you are getting those or or
on their subscription list.
And it's a grant for this and they say
we'll go here, you can look to see if
you're eligible and I go there.
And I click on it. I just click on it.
You go, what towns are available? And
I'm going, well,
now Lyme Borough isn't counted as rural
in this particular instance.
I don't understand it.
You know, I'm not really looking at the
whole thing, but you you look at
Hillsborough County. I mean, they had
some really weird places that were
considered rural.
And I'm going, but that's right beside
Bedford.
So, again, go ahead.
>> And then I want to go to Carol out on
>> Oh, yeah. I was I was just going to say
as far as next steps, um
I think at some point we
would probably want to
endorse a memo or letter.
>> Yeah, well, you know, we might want to
wait
>> Let can we circle back to that? Let's
see what Carol has to say. Hi, Carol.
>> Good morning. Um
can you hear me okay?
>> Great, thank you. Uh my apologies for
coming in late to the meeting. So, I've
been reading over this proposal and I
focused on the streamlined allocation
funding based on census data um that is
in the pro column for how we would how
this would be allocated versus going by
town level data into the current RCC
regions.
My question has to do with
similar states to ours and in size. So,
I'm thinking like Delaware or Rhode
Island or others.
And
if there is something that could be
looked at to
to see how other states if they
utilize county approach
for their 5310 data
data and funding allocation
if there's you know pros and cons to
to how they're doing it.
again I'm I'm just going out on a limb
on this and wondering if it's even worth
exploring but I just thought I would
offer that up as a as a question or
um for commentary. Thank you.
>> Thank you. It's a good point. Um I still
would add to that
um knowing that you know this
realignment takes region eight and two
major urban centers that are under this
UZA
you know if they're still going to then
have to play with additions to a
straightforward algorithm by county
to remove that population. That again
that doesn't simplify necessarily
the work that New Hampshire DOT would
have to do. Would you want to add to it?
Go ahead Terry.
>> Um so Carol just
sparked a a thought. So we all know that
well maybe not everybody but Vermont
receives all of their federal funding
and then they have to provide all of
their transportation. So they have to
provide the Medicaid transportation so
on and so forth. It all flows through
VTrans. In this CTNA that's one of their
goals is to have better coordination at
the state level. So that way the federal
funding coming in doesn't get all split
up and spread out and maybe not spent or
you know you have all these reports that
you're reporting to the same people. So
they're trying to streamline that. So
I'm wondering now that Carol just reread
that I'm wondering if this has something
to do with what the Go North folks are
maybe potentially rolling out. I mean we
know that there's
no guarantee that any of the funding
will come to transportation. They're
having conversations about it. There's
been speculation that there's a pot of
money set aside for transportation. What
does that look like and so on and so
forth. But, I'm just wondering now if
this is some
master plan behind the scenes that if
>> But, isn't the pot of transportation
funding going to UNH?
>> Oh, I
>> Who have their own
kind of transportation because it's UNH,
but are they involved in the SCCs, the
RCCs, the RPCs, anything like that? Like
I just I think
I I think people are holding too much
weight on what's going to happen in
November.
>> I just do. I I you know, I think Well,
I'm talking about November. I'm not
talking about November. I don't think
November's ever going to come. I think
the fact of how this CTNA came out, the
highway transportation, the Go North,
all of that. I I'm not confident that
transportation is part of that. For us
to kind of be hanging our hat on what's
going to happen in November, I think
we're going to have a lot of
disappointed people.
>> See, I take it Carol, I'm going to
circle back to you in just 1 second. And
and I'm taking it as this is a set of
recommendations from the CTNA.
And there's this stuff going on over
here with Go North.
If the Hampshire DOT is taking seriously
the statewide community transportation
assessment and they are looking to the
future,
are they willing to champion and work
with the SCC to get this one point of
money coming in from federal for
transportation,
so that it's not divided up between
DHHS, BEA, you know, blah blah blah blah
blah blah.
So, it funnels through. If they're
looking towards that, that's the
long-term goal,
then give us the whole plan. Let Let's
see where we're going here. That might
make more sense.
>> If who is DOT or Yeah.
>> DOT in collaboration with the SCC.
>> And everyone else cuz everyone's
supposed to be at the SCC table
according to the RSA.
>> Um if that's the the long-term
thought
to improve community transportation
public and private or whatever
within the state of New Hampshire
statewide
then
>> It sounds like we'll get more
information at those meetings.
>> Wait, I want to I'd like to go back to
Carol since she started this little
conversation. Carol, what's up?
>> So, thank you. I
I'm really
looking at this as again long-term
coordination
on federal grant funding.
centralizing it into one agency that
receives the funds
and has a collaborative relationship
with the other uh
government um so like you said DHHS and
others
to look at it from you know, what hap
what if federal HHS has funding related
to transportation and public wellness
and and such. [clears throat]
the mere thought that it's
you know, tips me to say okay, then that
should be a DOT with working with um the
SCC and others to say this money is
coming in from HHS or this money is
coming in from homeland or this money is
coming in from agriculture and it all
benefits transportation at some level.
Having, you know, one focus entity that
says
the money comes in here and then we
collectively decide how it gets
distributed based on the census data
that is provided at at county level
and then within the county
they work to
determine how best to address rural and
urban you know if the county is you know
has a
delineation
in regards to that.
So I can see the benefit of going to a
centralized hub for the state and again
I would say
how have other states in a similar
to New Hampshire approached this Vermont
was a good example of of where that
could potentially be.
I'll I'll yield thing.
>> Carol exactly what you're describing is
what the state of New Hampshire
implemented through the state
coordinating council for community
transportation as a central hub
for kind of driving this process. We
just haven't had the funding
coming in
to be able to dovetail it and braid it.
Um so again I think one of those pieces
is there.
Um on a very personal note though I I
just will say that unfortunately in my
lifetime the county strength of our
county system
has dwindled from what it was back in
the 50s and 60s.
decision making at that level is kind of
questionable too and I think that point
was brought up either in Mr. Vogel or
Mr. Nichols
comments as well.
>> I like the model that Carol's kind of
framing things in and Terry as well.
I would like to kind of go a little
deeper and specifically ask of the group
that's looking at it um
with the streamlining of these services
as they presented
will it reduce administrative functions?
Possibly change regulations cuz one of
the big concerns is that the system
can't handle the additional workload. Is
there a way to reduce the reporting in
the workload? Seems like a lot of people
are putting into it. And streamlining,
could that be reduced or kind of
streamline itself?
The other area I think is important to
ask, is there any feeling that
this realignment
help address unmet needs or services or
priority areas that we're all setting up
and finding frustrating and
not being able to get at. So, the three
areas I think that could be important is
it would create funds. Nobody thinks
that'll happen. That it could reduce
administrative oversight and
responsibilities, which gets more
efficiency out of the dollars you have.
And then just addressing our priorities
that we've all set up on individual
regions. And there is a lot of overlap
amongst the regions. So, if they could
specifically address them in that
framework as
Carol's kind of presenting or made me
think about it.
>> Very good point. Carol, I want to swing
back to you.
>> So, as I'm looking through these notes,
although the con is increased
administrative load, as as it was just
stated, there's a potential to decrease
the load
based on the the money that comes in and
the agencies with programs that are
impacted.
Um and it would just
to in my mind, there may be at the
beginning some increased administrative
load uh based on
change. You know,
it happens. It's a It's a Murphy's Law
thing.
But that doesn't mean long term that
that administrative load is elevated.
If in centralizing the money that comes
in and dissemination to the applicable
programs,
at least those programs know what to
expect and not have to be bartering for
this, that, or the other thing.
Um so, I'm not saying that there
wouldn't be an increased administrative
load, but initially there may be, but
with time as things are settling um and
all of the various agencies with funding
are collaborat- collaborat-
collaboratively
participating,
that um
that would decrease. Thank you.
>> Thank you. Um you know, and for those of
you who don't provide transportation,
you certainly have clients who need
So, this
like this does affect all of us and
affects our communities, it affects our
clients, it affects our neighbors. Um
[snorts]
my suggestion, I'm going to go now I'm
circling back,
Matt.
What?
>> No, I just wanted to say something. Go
ahead.
>> Well, why don't you just go ahead?
>> No, just to Rocky's point about, you
know, the
these communities that might not be
served. No matter how you line it up,
services that are available are the
services that are available. It's not
going to make a difference.
I mean, Wimauma is a hard place for
anybody to get to because it's so spread
out.
>> I just want to hear them speak to it.
>> But the point is though
>> Well, now's the time to
>> If Wimauma becomes, you know, if is
Wimauma in Hillsborough County?
>> Yeah, it is.
>> So, I'm not going to go out to Wimauma
if I don't have to. It's It's too far
for my volunteers.
>> You're going to have to go to Linebaugh.
>> But that's the whole point. That's just
it. That doesn't change anything as far
as who's getting service.
so I'm going to I'm circling back now to
what Matt started to say before we were
both thinking on the same line.
Um if possible, I'm looking at the
calendar,
you know, their FCC meeting is on the
3rd.
So, it's like in a few days.
If we can get the minutes to this, Matt,
do you have time to work with me
to maybe take the information we talked
about today
and put it into a these are the initial
questions and thoughts from Region 7 and
get it up at the beginning of the week
to New Hampshire DOT?
>> And then
I would ask you
as you drive home today,
as you sleep on this, if you have any
thoughts about this between now and
Monday morning,
shoot us an email.
All right, and we'll include that in in
the
the memo that we send up to New
Hampshire DOT or the letter or whatever.
>> I would make sure the memo ask the
question about the timeline.
>> Yeah, oh.
Implementation timeline.
Right there.
>> She's on it.
>> Talk to me like
>> Is that feasible in your schedule? I
mean, I'll I'll adjust to it so that we
can work together and get that done.
>> Thanks, Alan. Thanks, Matt.
>> Um unless anyone has anything else.
>> Could that also include an evaluation
piece as to how are they evaluating
>> this whole concept and
over the course of time that this would
be rolled out. Um I'm a firm believer in
having something measurable
performance-wise, so I just throw that
in for good measure. If it's applicable,
great. If not, you know, put a parking
lot and put a pin in it. Thank you.
>> No, actually that's really good because
I mean, they're all about outcome
measures, even though their outcome
measures may not measure anything um at
this point. Um but I I I any
implementation plan has to have an
outcome evaluation and thank you for
reminding me of that.
I got it written down.
>> By the way, the more we talked about
this, the more I see
some sort of
ad hoc committee of SCC or some sort of
study
about what the
pros and cons are.
You know, I don't even I don't even know
what Has anybody talked to the counties
about this? Has anybody talked to Has
anybody talked to the counties? You
know, I I think this is
>> That's a good question. Have you talked
to the counties?
>> I mean, this sounds like a a monthly or
a yearly
study about
how this could work and how it could be
>> What's driving this at this point in
time? Is it the CTNA? Is it the RHT? RHT
Like Like what's driving it is you know,
are there federal issues aligned with
the federal funding? Like what is
driving this?
You know, because
and again, I'm
you know, sitting in your chair, but the
one piece that
I kind of caught my eye is the whole
you know, mobility managers being
shared. Um and you know, that could
that could significantly reduce cost.
Also
>> You know, so are you going to share
mobility managers?
>> This is what I I think those types of
questions need to be is that you
indicate this is this is a possibility.
Can you help us understand how that
would happen? You know, what is the
rationale behind that? Um because again,
you have you know, you look at Coos
County, which isn't necessarily
population-driven numbers
relative to
Manchester or Nashua being
disproportionately shared on people.
You know, call Connie has mileage, you
know, ground transportation.
>> Maybe not people numbers, but here you
have people numbers, which is going to
drive
a mobility manager more than mileage is.
So, I I think that those are the
questions like
what was the study that made you make
the statement? Like what is the backup
to this statement? Where Where is that
derived from? Like I I think I would be
that bold and ask. So, you make this
statement in paragraph three, what is
the supporting documentation for that?
Is it just because
well, you know, I'm just thinking if we
do this and we do that, you only need
one mobility manager.
>> Save money.
>> But it what's the rationale behind it?
>> That's a great issue.
>> What's the number of people Donna and
Nick Alfonso now servicing versus Candy
Reed? You know, and I'm not putting
Candy Reed. I don't don't please read
this into anything other than the number
of people.
And And wildly different.
>> My last thing is just like from the the
client like person
in need perspective, I mean, how is this
benefiting them, right? I mean, I guess
in the proposal it says like it'll be
less confusing for people, but I I feel
like a lot of people like
may not even know they're county. So, I
don't know that that's really like a
win.
>> They might know they're in Hillsborough
County, but they have no idea that they
can call Bob Roe or whoever the county
commissioners are or where the county
office is. How do you contact the
county? You probably I mean
>> Everybody goes to the library or the
town clerk.
>> When And And I'm Okay.
>> of the county.
Ever.
>> But see, I I'm going to go back and just
say I'm a little bit biased here because
for my previous statements, my father
was a county commissioner
back in the '50s and the '60s, late 60s.
And they had they had regional offices.
They were out and about. Now, I
understand that that's, you know, a long
time ago and times have changed, but I
don't feel that our county system in the
state of New Hampshire is as strong as
it was or is as strong as it is in other
states.
And I think that's where we have to be
careful in terms of comparing state to
state.
You know, we have not relied on our
counties that much.
In the past, oh my god, I'm showing my
age. You know, for the
>> few years, last few years.
>> years, the few
>> Can I make a quick comment? I think
Deb's point is really important, the
value of the mobility managers. We're
talking about reducing them, but no
one's talking about where what it's
worth is and what impact that might
have. It speaks to Angeli's point. I
think you can't reduce them down and the
people sitting at home are going to just
be more confused, more people without
contact.
>> It's funny you mentioned that. I was I
was going to keep my comment to myself,
but something
>> Since when?
>> Yeah, I know. That's [laughter] why I'm
I'm speaking up. So, if you read the
CTNA, and I mean read the CTNA,
my impression, just my impression, is
they want to take the mobility manager
network, move it into DHHS,
and I'm not even sure what they want to
do with it. Have you read that?
>> Wasn't that wasn't wasn't making the
regional mobility manager some type of
mobility manager within the hospital
systems?
>> Like case workers.
>> Case workers within the 11 suggestions
that were made to the RHD. Again, we
never saw a copy of those. We were never
we were never presented with a copy of
those, but it's by listening and trying
to understand what people are saying,
that's what it sounded like.
>> But in the state of the state, I don't
think that's ever going to happen. I
mean, look at look at the regional
mobility manager uh the state mobility
manager. Now, DOT won't even hire them.
They contract it out. They don't want
>> So, this network that's supposed
>> So, this network that was supposed to
lead us in developing and strengthening
our community transportation system in
the state, the regional mobility manager
statewide network was supposed to be
doing that. That was the strategy. Has
not been supported sufficiently.
>> Exactly.
>> So, my I just like winced when you said
that. I'm just like look at the state of
like Medicaid transportation.
>> I know.
>> under the age of 21.
>> So, I don't think that will ever move
there even if the CTNA recommends that
cuz I'm not quite sure the governor has
even bought into the CTNA.
I mean, you know, that's So, we we I I
think we we have what we have.
>> But, I do
>> These are going to go by quick.
>> They've got to do a lot in 5 years. I'm
going to switch over to Carol for a
minute.
>> Just have a comment regarding census
data and I don't have the numbers in my
head.
I think most of us realize that the
elderly population is growing here in
the state.
So, potential positive of this if
efficiencies
are gained,
maybe more
clients can be served.
But, in the present
information that we have, that is not
even
mentioned.
So, I think that's an important
>> It's administrative. It's administrative
oversight and being able to manage the
numbers. And that's again, it's an
agency making a presentation.
But again, I think all the questions
about how does this serve clients?
You know, the value of the regional
mobility managers try and
I think all these are great great
questions.
>> any end users in this room?
>> I mean, they're the person I want to
hear from. The end users, you know, what
is experience going to be now?
>> Well, but that's that's hard to say
because
I I don't even know that they'd be able
to speculate or we'd be able to
speculate on that cuz we don't know what
the service packages would look like
with this realignment.
>> Well, my understanding is that, you
know, a lot of some of the conversation
was pushed out, "Well, you can keep all
the MOUs you still have and still do
that and still work outside your area
through MOUs.
And, that might be fine and dandy, but
what about to Carol's point, as people
are aging and they're now finding out
about transportation and the abilities
or the programs available to them, how
do they now start to weave into a system
that could potentially now be moved?
Like, "Oh, I know you were told to come
here, but now you don't come here, you
go there."
>> Well, does that get to the whole
suggestion that's in I think it's in the
CTNA and a variety of other places
to make the one central hub. I mean,
taking the model from um Tri-Town over
in the coast area
and keep New Hampshire moving.
Document, put staff there, put resources
there, so we have one place to go
online, we have one call center,
um or one call center that may not be
regional or otherwise, but can put
people in the right direction. Cuz,
quite honestly, if you go to 911 New
Hampshire or ServiceLink or whatever,
the information, even though we try to
update it,
is not shared appropriately. I mean,
dear lord,
I can't tell you the number of clients
that are referred to SVTC
that live in Nashua.
You know, we don't serve Nashua
residents.
You need to call Carey Miller. Well, you
need to call NTS.
>> Or Madonna.
>> They united us, too, and that's that's
being funded through DHHS. So, is this
an opportunity, and I know we're kind of
getting off off topic, I'm sorry, but is
this an opportunity? They did all these
meetings and they shared all this
knowledge and they were like, "Okay, so
now Dartmouth-Hitchcock is using
Unitus."
There's some other key players that are
using Unitus. So, is this an opportunity
where all of the caregivers now know, if
you need transportation, you refer them
to whoever the state mobility manager is
and then that state mobility manager,
whoever is going to monitor the Keene
New Hampshire moving or whatever, or the
referrals, then that person says, "Okay,
mobility manager, Donna, here's, you
know, this is for your area." You know,
and that's
I mean, why are we recreating the world?
They They've spent all this money and
they've got the contract for
>> Exactly. That to me, your idea of a
centralized intake system makes sense to
me.
>> And you then you get this the right
answer all the time. Hopefully, as long
as your staff is trained and the lines
are drawn on where. That to me is an
efficiency for the end user.
Because then you have
one group of people, whoever's answering
that call or email, is always going to
the right place. That to me would seem
to be an efficiency that doesn't need to
have this happen.
>> That is That's to me is That's
coordinated transportation.
>> And where I'm coming from, Holman say,
is I worked for a long-term care case
management company in Connecticut for 15
years. They had They They at one point
covered the entire state. They had one
number to call and we brokered services
through DHHS, through
what you guys call the Choices program.
We had private pay. We had a bunch of
things.
But, yeah, but we had one point of
calling and then they would work with
you to get you to the right office and
get all, you know, get it straightened
around. Um, but it worked.
>> It worked, yeah.
>> That comprehensive model that they're
talking about from experience makes a
ton of sense. You supported it. It would
probably have a very significant impact
that's measurable. But, our original
conversation when this issue came up was
they were looking to cut positions.
Not strengthen it. It almost looks like
it's
kind of a budget type realignment, which
might ultimately weaken
>> But I think it gets to a different plan.
I think it gets to a different plan. I
think it it brings up something that you
mentioned or you mentioned within one of
the conversations here um about the
value of the regional statewide regional
mobility manager network.
>> We should endorse that model.
>> We should build on build on what we
have. Ooh, we are
around the table here. Does anyone else
who hasn't had a chance to pipe in want
to share something?
Observation, concern, question.
This is hot topic.
>> Um so the meeting for the SEC is on the
3rd. It sounds like NRPC will put or is
the memo y'all are working on uh will
that be on behalf of RCC?
>> It's the RCC.
>> Okay. And um
will there So is this meeting people can
attend? Can they ask questions at the
meeting?
>> That will be up to the chair.
>> Um and in in the past it has been
depending upon the topics and
the agenda, it's been restricted to the
SEC members. If there is time, they will
take
>> questions from outside.
>> It's all
it's their meeting. It's their they're
in charge.
>> But you can comment in the chat.
assuming NRPC and potentially RCC 7
repre uh representatives will be
attending, will we get an update on how
that discussion goes?
>> Absolutely, you will. That's why we're
having a meeting in September. And if
there's anything hot, quite honestly,
you'll get it in your agenda packet or
earlier than that.
Good question.
All right. Moving on.
Good discussion, guys. and and good
feedback I think too especially for Deb
and for Angeli
who are both on the SCC so
>> Thank you for that time.
>> So we're going to pop down here the
community transportation network
updates. When we were meeting earlier
there were a lot of things that just
were popping up so we wanted to kind of
bring this all together and give
everyone kind of an opportunity a lot of
things have been happening in July. Gary
why don't you lead us off Laura?
>> So I had asked oh thank you Matt I
appreciate that I had asked Salem and
Matt earlier if they could bring up page
on our website so I'm going to just go
over we have some new technology that
Nashville transit is using it's pretty
exciting because it was a long time in
the making so um
but before I and it's in regards to real
time bus tracking before I get into it I
do want to say that these things are
only a guide they are in addition to
the general things you should already be
doing if you are regularly riding our
city buses which is be at your bus stop
early have your fare ready
you know and just be ready to to board
when you when you're riding the bus but
this is not in like in place of of
anything or in place of our schedules or
anything like that it's just an addition
it's a resource so Matt could you click
on the the thing that says new tool
track your bus in real time read like
yeah just click on that thanks okay
we have two things
one is a transit app and the app is
called transit app
other transit systems use this app so
Nashville transit is one of many transit
systems that are now using this app it's
a
you can download it on your mobile
device
it's a green square with a little
swiggly line through it that kind of
looks like a bus route. Um,
and it's to
track where the bus is live, real-time
bus tracking. And in
the Transit app, you can like so if you
there's two versions to get it get a
free version or you can pay for a
subscribed subscription. With the free
version, you can see the bus routes that
are closest to your location.
Um, if you pay for it, you can see all
the routes um all at once like no matter
where you are. So, there's a benefit to
getting a paid version.
>> What's the cost?
>> I don't know what the cost is. Uh, might
be like
10 bucks or I'm not I'm I apologize I'm
not really sure. I don't I don't I'm
that's a
Sorry, I I don't actually know. I do not
know what the cost is. So, sorry I
shouldn't have said it a dollar amount.
But,
>> it's you pay something. Um, but the
benefit is you would be able to see no
matter where you are in Nashville, you
could see like any bus route that's
around you.
Um, and so we you download it on your
phone and if you so you can see like if
you just have the free version, you
would see the routes that are nearest to
you. Um, so if you were over by like if
you were on 11th Riverside Street where
administrative offices, you would see
the route 6 and the route 12. And you
could see when the bus is approaching
the respective bus stops in the area.
Um, and it'll show you on the app, you
know, the little bus moving so you'll
see the how you know, where it is and
how close it is to where you are.
and it you know, it will will provide
approximate times
um, for arrival. If you were at a bus
like a
a stop that's a time point on our
schedule, time points the buses are
supposed to be there at that particular
time. Like a regular bus stop, the time
is approximate. So,
um if you're checking real-time bus
information, that's why I say still be
at your bus stop early because it might
tell you, you know, 42 minutes past the
hour, but
doesn't mean it's going to get there
exactly then. It might get there at 43
or 41 or something. So, just that's why
we always say be early to your bus stop.
Um so, that's pretty cool. It's really
great. I've I've used it a few times
doing some travel trainings recently
showing people um so,
feel free to
go to our website here and get some info
or download it on your phone to check it
out. Um it's pretty cool.
the other thing is um this is something
we've always had, but Google Maps um
you've been able to use Google Maps just
going to Google Maps or on our website
on the homepage we have um
a trip planner.
And you can put in your origin and your
destination and you can even put the
times that you're that you're looking
for to take the bus and it will take you
directly to Google Maps. But, a new
thing on Google Maps now is that they
have real-time information. They'll tell
you again approximately the time the bus
is going to arrive to your bus stop.
And um it'll say if it's if it's running
early, on time, or if it's delayed. Um
so, like it might say delayed due to
like, you know, road work or whatever
the case may be, but it'll give you that
information which is
um really great.
And then
um so, Google of course you can use it
on your on your mobile device or on a
desktop computer.
Um and so, Google thank you, Matt. Um
if you go to directions, like the little
do the little arrow. Yeah. So, see the
icon at the top that's the bus. So, you
can choose directions if you're driving,
walking, using a bicycle, airplane
apparently, too. Um
>> and uh or or the bus. So, if you choose
the bus icon, you put in your
um your origin and your destination
and uh
it will show you the routes that you
could take on the city bus to get there.
You can put
30 Temple Street if you want. It's fine.
>> Yeah, cool.
Oops.
>> Ah, come on.
>> A little bit of a spelling error there.
>> There you go.
Yeah, so
Looks like I'm assuming Google was going
to is telling you that you should walk
to the Transit Center.
>> Oh, sorry.
>> Yeah. No, no, it's fine.
>> Oh, okay.
>> Yeah, so if you go to details, Matt,
underneath, see where it says details?
>> Well, yeah, it says 2A.
>> Yeah, so you're taking the 2A. I'm Yeah,
so it's probably Okay, so it's telling
you to walk to the Walnut bus stop at
Walnut and High, which is an 8-minute
walk from here. Get on the 2A.
Um and the 2A will take you to Walmart.
>> Basically how it works. It's pretty
cool. It's very cool and Google Maps is
great. It tells you like you can see all
the details of your trip. You can see
like how far you have to walk, where you
have to walk, all the bus stops in
between, you know, on the route. It
shows you all of that information. It's
right there. It's available for you. And
you know, again, the times are
approximate. And when you're on the city
bus, the bus isn't going to stop
at every single bus stop necessarily
because we only stop at a bus stop if
somebody on board wants to get off or if
there's somebody waiting at the bus
stop. So, that's partly kind of why the
times are approximate and based on the
schedule because, you know, you're not
necessarily stopping at every stop.
>> And so MTA's on Google Maps too with
real-time info?
>> Yep, and they have their own transit
data as well.
>> Yeah, so if you're trying to do that
type of thing and I've got I'm sure
Lowell is also, so
>> Um and then the other thing we have is
Matt, if you could go back to the
uh our webpage.
>> Here, your webpage?
>> Yeah, I think you still Do you still
have it up?
>> Hampton Rides?
>> No, not Hampton.
Although I can mention Hampton.
>> Well, it was on It was It was on there,
that's why I said
>> Okay, yes, it is on there.
>> Exciting fun.
>> Um quick digression. So, Hampton, like
Manchester, we do two buses well, we do
buses every summer bringing people to
Hampton Beach. Usually, we do four
trips, one
June, July, August, and September.
Two buses on each day. We pick a
Saturday each month, but this year we
only did two. We did
June
and for the Sand Castle Festival and
then September for the Seafood Festival.
It is sold out.
We tell people if you want to try to go
and you haven't bought a ticket yet, you
can go down day of cuz sometimes people
buy tickets and they don't show up. So,
you could go down day of and they would
let you on board take you to the beach.
So, yeah. Um
>> For the Transit app, it looks like you
can do $5 a month or an annual pass of
25 a year. But, if you make less than
$30,000 a year, you can get it for free.
You just need to reach out for that.
>> Oh, thank you.
>> They have a little like FAQ section
about it.
>> Thank you so much. I appreciate that
information cuz I have
>> Um Yeah, the nice thing about the
Transit app, too, is you'll see like
Dartmouth Coach or Concord Coach or any
other um
buses that are in the area.
>> As long as they're on the app
>> Seems like there's a lot that are on the
app.
>> Oh, that's great.
>> The other thing is it's also in that
little article if you want to click on
that again is
>> The
>> No, the one the This one. No, no, that's
right. Yeah, that's fine. Just can you
can scroll down a little bit? Um can you
click on
that the first one?
And if you could scroll down
a little more.
So, the other thing I wanted to mention
is we have a
We have two softwares we're using now.
They're newish. We have them for a
little while. Swiftly is the one we use
for our fixed route for the regular city
bus. So, we have a swiftly predictive
map. Um it's another tool you can use.
Um you would use it on your desktop.
It's not on your mobile device.
Um you would have to go in there and you
would you would need to know some
information beforehand for using this.
So, it's not as like maybe user-friendly
as Google Maps or Transit app or
something, but you would have to know
your route ahead of time and where
you're going and where your stop is, but
you could put it in there and it it will
show you um
the information. It's not like a
real-time tracking necessarily. It
doesn't show you the little bus moving
like it does in the Transit app, but
it's another tool that we have that's um
it's it you know, it's pretty great. It
works well and it's just something you
can add to your list of resources um for
information about our bus system. So,
um yes, just wanted to mention that. And
Yeah, and then the
the Transit app and Google Maps are
updated like every 2 to 30 seconds. So,
it'll always be refreshing the time and
things like that when you use it.
>> Can I ask, Carrie, so is the capability
to track in real time in Google Maps? Is
that new?
>> Yes, it's new. It's something that we
have been um working with not me, but
our communications person have been
working on for a while with Google to
give them information and then through
the new
tech uh the the new apps that we've got
um when we had those up and running, we
were finally able to get the real-time
information to Google. So, yeah, I
actually like accidentally discovered it
one day.
>> Yeah, a lot of a lot of other transit
agencies have been on Google Maps with
the real-time information for a while,
but it depends on the software and the
technology that you have
>> to be able to push that information up.
So, it's that interface.
>> takes some time, but yeah, it's great.
I'm so glad that it's available now. So,
>> Great. Thank you very much.
>> Sorry, I had another quick question.
Um when you do the travel training, do
you also go through these?
>> Absolutely. Yes, I do.
>> Um the next three items we're going to
kind of run through them really quickly
cuz I really want to hear from Donna and
the new program that we have.
Um the Lowell Regional Transit rides up
to Nashua, but
>> They don't go to Nashua. They're they're
they're at [laughter] the other end of
the Merrimack Valley Mall still in
Massachusetts, and they can't bring the
buses into New Hampshire.
>> But how are they going? Matt?
Oh.
>> Oh, I just sorry. Um I just um
So so far there's been 1,700 or 1,700
rides last month, which is 1,700 like
boardings. So it's like not 1,700
people, but people on it. People on it.
Um and then Camille said they added a
UMass
UMass stop. And then and then of course
it's um I think it's been running since
like July 6th, so
>> That would just have to exceed your
expectations.
>> Yeah, they did not send out any promo
packages or media packages cuz we had
really wanted to be able to help push
that, but again, following their lead,
they didn't, so
we can at least word of mouth it.
>> I know we've been trying to word SVTC,
we've been trying to word them out there
at least with the little picture that we
grabbed off of Facebook, but
>> I think the college students are doing a
lot of word of mouth.
>> I bet they are.
>> I know they meant
>> especially with the UMass Lowell
to tell them about that, so they did
that outreach.
>> Matt, um we did want to bring everyone
kind of up to speed quickly on the 5304
and 5305 planning grant. One of the
items in our long-term plan and in our
goals was relative to supporting NRPC
and coming up with some ideas relative
to them applying for a planning grant
for transportation in our region.
Unfortunately, there's been a few
changes from New Hampshire DOT proposed.
>> Right. So, um
that every 2 years DOT
uh they release a state statewide
uh solicitation for the FTA 5305E
funding program. That's a
uh statewide planning and research
They are considering changing how they
they do this solicitation.
And um
yeah,
we
So, the MPOs are eligible for
applying uh this funding. And in the
past we've we've done
at least five that I'm aware I remember
of the NHS expansion study, NHTA
strategic plan, um
our volunteer driver program study,
locally coordinated plan we we funded
through that, although we can do that
through our UPWP,
and uh the transit modeling study that
we're working on right now. So,
you know, we've definitely
[clears throat] used the funding, but
but DOT is proposing to change that. And
they're going to use the they proposed
to use the funding
for for something else. And it would be
some of the funding would go to support
um an SCC secretary cuz that's been an
ongoing kind of gap apparently with with
the SCC. So,
um the idea I think would be to big
questions about that.
So, direct some of this funding to
paying for that secretary. And that
secretary would be um would be uh
from the someone from one of the RCCs
maybe on rotating that basis.
it would also fund a
some of that funding would go towards a
statewide coordinated plan.
And the idea would be our we wouldn't
have to do the locally coordinated plan
every
on our own, the state would do it, and
then the RPCs and the MPOs would
contribute to it. We'd be asked to
consult on it. So, our locally
coordinated plan would become a
coordinated plan.
>> I think it's something they've talked
about for a couple of years. And I did
look it up.
>> I grant grant them that.
The NRPC has a ex- additional
designation as a transportation
management area, and I wanted to make
sure that I mean, if this is a federally
required document, and if we want to get
5310 funding in the region, you got to
have it.
And so, I I did look at that as far as I
can tell,
NRPC doesn't
our MPO doesn't have to have our own
plan that we've developed, although
that's what we've always done. So,
I guess that So, it would be
the state would probably con-
contract that out. Um,
so that
>> Does that an opportunity to reduce the
funding that you get through your UPWP?
>> I don't I think
that's not stated here.
>> I would just saying.
>> And then they would just say
>> I don't know if that'll make our funding
go further.
>> Well, and she says it has been
>> Another RPC had the same question.
>> Is that going to reduce
funding through UPWP?
>> Yeah, but again, again, the the what we
get through the LCTP program, the
locally coordinated transportation
program planning program,
a lot of that data we use in other
areas, so it's not just siloed.
>> You know, it's spread over for the RPC.
Okay, sorry. Let me just stop you there,
but
>> And they would also propose to use a
a portion of the funding for statewide
transit studies that aren't
aren't the same as a locally
coordinated. So,
so that comes out to about $115,000
a a total of $165,000
each each year.
so the other 50,000 would be distributed
among
the um
1 2 3 to 4 rural
rural RPCs
for them to do
grants and specific things. So,
>> Again, the four rural RPCs.
Right?
>> Um drafting committee.
>> Uh
um that's that's the proposal and it's I
think to be continued.
Uh I do think
that whereas we've always gone for that
funding successfully, other MPOs
haven't.
Some have, some haven't. So, I think
it's sort of this mixed feelings about
this proposal amongst the planning
commission.
>> And and
And why are the four four of the RPCs
being pulled out of of all of them to
get funding?
You say four rural. What why? I don't
understand that.
That's a question. I don't want to
believe it at the point, but
>> Who's going to do it?
>> I just have a question about like the
the process on this. Like this was
proposed to RPCs.
>> It was it was discussed at the regional
planning
directors meeting.
>> like is there a vote happening on the I
mean, I guess I'm just wondering like
is do we have any control over this or
like I mean
>> Um well, I think
it was proposed to the RPCs and the RPCs
are prob are
kind of
agitating on it and thinking it through
and potentially
um we're we're going to get back to the
It's not a done deal.
>> So, it would be up to the
to determine if this if this proposal
>> No, it's up to the DOT.
>> But, I just want to clarify.
>> Yeah, I know. It's up to DOT. RPCs can
comment and that's to be continued at
the moment.
>> I I like that verb cogitating. Let's
make sure we get that into the minute.
>> Do you know if they're building that
capacity in house or they plan on
contracting that out?
>> Contract it out like they do everything.
>> They contract it out, right?
>> Yeah, contract it out.
>> And the the other one is the um
>> Go forward. Yeah.
>> the project or the
bus from Keene to Nashua um and that's
DOT put out a request for proposals a
year plus-ish ago.
proposals to get to do
like Greyhound type service from
from Nashua uh Keene to Nashua via
Peterborough and I think also to go from
Keene to Concord.
What what is basically
>> Oh, so Keene to Concord is included?
>> I think that was
>> That's part of the RFP.
>> the request for proposals, but as I
understand it, it's just Keene to to
Nashua.
>> Keene to Nashua, okay.
>> That
the the provider
uh proposed to provide um
and I think where that's at now is
is that provider is reviewing the
contract. You know, DOT put together the
contract for provided it to I think it's
Greyhound, if that makes sense.
>> Don't put that in the minutes.
>> No, don't put that in. But, it is a
that type of bus and um
and so the proposal is to go from
Peterborough
uh Keene to Peterborough to exit 8. So,
that's what the contract would be or
that's what the service would be with
options maybe to add other stops.
And so
>> But we bring it up because it is a it's
an important piece that may have some
great value to residents in this area.
>> New college students.
>> It well it could
>> And the state speak.
>> Yeah, and the college students, too, but
I know that over the years we've had a
number of requests for trying to get to
Peterborough. And then a number of
people who want to get to Keene. Um
again, depending upon the scheduling and
>> So it's not a commuter service and it
sounds like they
might be two trips per day, one in each
direction, that type of thing. Um
governor and council will needs to sign
this.
So it's kind of
don't talk too much about it until it's
actually signed.
>> Yeah. We just want to make sure the
contract ends up getting approved. And
then uh theoretically, unless I heard,
service would begin in October.
>> October, that's So we'll see.
All right. Um I really am watching the
time. I know we're a little bit over the
11:30 hour, but I really wanted to make
sure that we hear about the new program
that started at NRPC, thanks to the
opioid grant. So Donna, if you would
like to speak to that, that'd be great.
>> Sure. Thank you, Janet, and thank you
everybody for being here and attentive
to this time. So we applied to the New
Hampshire Charitable Foundation, and um
we did get the grant, and the grant was
for um
a $38,000.
Um it's over 2 years. So this year we're
getting 19,750,
and then um the rest um in the other
year. And so um it's mainly for rides,
but there is some administrative funding
as well, too, and then some mileage, um
paper, just things we'll need to keep
this going. So this is um
it's just starting, and I'm trying to
get the word out. So if you get sick of
it just listen and pass the word on. And
people that work actually with um case
um case workers that work with people,
please get this word out because we
would definitely want to get this um
revenue out to people.
>> Do you have a list of the organizations
that you've already contacted?
>> Yes, I do Janet. Go to the next slide.
>> Great.
>> Let's go to the next Oh, no, wait a
>> No, go back.
>> Okay. So those are the outreach events
that I've been to and I've announced
this to. And um twice I've been to the
mayor's opioid meeting in City Hall. And
that's where most of the um case workers
that actually deal with this type of
client cuz it's a specific type of
client. So most of those um people go to
that. Um
So and then a lot of my um regular um
uh meetings I uh and now I've always I'm
I've been announcing it and sending it
out as much as I can to get the word out
there cuz as we all know and especially
uh Terry, you know how difficult it is
to get the word out to a lot of programs
unless you have lots of revenue to spend
on advertising. It's very difficult to
get the word out.
>> So have you contacted the National
Telegraph um and all the local papers
about this?
>> Not yet, but that's coming Janet. I'm
going to do a a press release and I'm
going to get that out to um different
people. I did do one
>> I have been on the radio. I've been on
the radio about this, right Sarah? So
I've been on Mike's show. Is Mike still
on the No, Mike's not on. Okay, so I was
on Mike's show. I've been on Dawn's show
talking about it. So it's it's as we all
know it's difficult to get the word out
about things but we're doing as as best
we can. And Emma, where did Emma go?
>> She had to step away.
>> Okay, so Emma had the HH W which is
household hazardous waste. and um she uh
uh helped with that, too. And I'm going
to go Monday to um Pelham
to try to talk to some people out there
in Pelham. They have a vigil for um
for uh drug abuse in Pelham. So, I am
going to go to each town because I think
people think this is all Nashua. But,
the opioid crisis is a has impacted so
many families throughout the region that
I am going to do a little tour around
the region.
So, I mean, did you have a question?
Oh, okay. You're good. Okay.
>> And so, and you have a plan to contact
all of the town welfare agents in all
the towns and share
>> with with materials. I mean, one blast
email out, too, with the information
might be helpful. It might save some
time, too.
>> Right. Well, actually, that's a good
idea because I could do that as like a
pre-outreach
so that people kind of know what you're
talking about because lots of times
people they hear there's so much stuff
out that they hear something, but it
doesn't really sink in until you get it
in repeatedly. That's always been kind
of like you have to do repeated outreach
all the time till get people knowing
about
>> Yeah. And we And actually, just to fill
it in just to jump in here like you
know, um we put this together for SVTC.
And we used it at our outreach, and
we'll use it at continuing outreach just
to get it out. We had a few people that
were actually react and said this is a
great idea. So,
>> um
>> Thank you. Thank you for doing that. I
didn't see that until I like I saw it. I
was like, "Be on the lookout for this."
>> Again, this is kind of falling in line
with the LCTP goals of trying to improve
communication and collaboration.
Um we can all share and support each
other's work.
>> Good. Exactly. So, um so then we want to
get to what activities are eligible. So,
um not everything is eligible, but the
things that are are eligible is
basically anything that revolves around
treatment. So, that could be um medical.
It's also um getting to drug court or
getting to the court because a lot of
these um
calls that's what they're for. People
need to get, you know, to to their um I
don't want to say sponsors, but the
people they report to in in drug court.
So, um
and actually Mike had asked Jay at the
one of their meetings about um
getting um transportation to get a um a
laptop. Did you give out the laptop? And
that's helps with their treatment. So,
that's um allowable.
Um and then so NTS, thank you. NTS. So,
uh um
bus passes, we've um done that. And
thank you. Um Carrie gave me some uh
free bus passes today because we do have
a check for her, but we'll do that on
Wednesday and we'll get a picture with
Camille. And we did want to get um So,
let's keep on going. We'll show them
Manchester um too.
Okay. So, this was one activity. So, the
whole
the whole recovery, it's a different
group of people. It's like another
tribe. Like we're a community
transportation tribe. So, the recovery
is a whole group of different people.
So, little by little it's getting known.
And this is a recovery walk that they
had last minute on Friday, but it was
well attended. Public Health was there.
Um people people from the doorway, some
of the people from the Zoom meeting that
I attended before were there. And there
were just a lot of people that are in
recovery. And so, I passed out at least
50 um
50 of of of the flyers. Um so, that's um
that was last Friday, a week ago. So, um
then Okay, so this is what's coming in
so far.
Um so, one request was from a case
worker from um Harbor Care just asking
for information because I did a
presentation at COC. Um and I mentioned
this and uh she called. Um
and then it's [clears throat] public
health worker called about a client who
needed a ride to Manchester.
So, I called Manchester Transit right
away, and I got put through to Mike um,
right away. And he said, "Oh, yeah, get
the person on the bus. I'll contact the
driver, and then we'll, you know, just
have it happen, and then we'll figure
out the uh the funding and the bus pass
later." So, he did that. I went down to
the transit center, and I waited there
to see if I could find the person. I got
a good description of the person who
needed the ride, but the person didn't
show up, which is a lot of common
>> it sometimes just happens with this
clientele. It's like they're supposed to
be on the bus, but they didn't get to
the bus, and so they didn't get on the
bus, but I do want to um
thank Mike, as well as thank Terry
today. So, um I don't know if you have
the camera, if you could take a picture.
>> So, we should we take a picture up
there?
>> And then you can see the bus. You want
the pass? If you don't
>> Donna, I just have a question. Like, so
is it like Frost Regional?
>> Yeah, can you wait just 1 minute,
please? Cuz we just want to do this. And
I'll get to you in
I'll get to the
Thank you.
No, you go back and get the Manchester
bus.
But, you want to have
I know we get it.
Thank you. And here's the pass for some
kids. You take the jacket.
And thank you, Terry.
>> And what are you presenting, Donna?
Sorry.
>> So, these are the passes. So, that's a
check. Um, so we have funding from uh
Manchester um
uh passes, cuz a lot of people need to
go to Manchester, cuz it's Hillsborough
County, and thank you very much.
quarters, and that's where um
uh the jail is.
>> Donna, how many days in advance do folks
have to call you to either arrange a
ride with Uber, Lyft, or taxi, or
whatever, or be able to connect on the
on the bus passes.
>> So, as long as I'm there, I'll try to
get it going for them. I don't really
have, you know, if I can do it, I'll try
to do it right away. So,
when they need need it. It would be nice
to have
>> if if if I call for a taxi ride for
today, would you
and you were busy I mean, normally
there's kind of a at least a little bit
of a window of
call at least a couple of days in
advance kind of thing to give us time to
do it.
>> Well, so I I'm going I'd like to get it
done. So, people call me, I try to get
it done as soon as I can. I don't really
have those We'll see how much demand we
get.
But, like with this, I tried to get that
done right away with the passes for NTS.
I actually had some other free passes
too that I could have given to the
person um that needed some bus passes.
>> So, do we have Do we have arrangements
set up with Uber and Lyft yet?
>> So, um I did a Lyft I did one Lyft ride,
so we can do that. And then
>> How are we doing that?
>> So, I just did it through I have a Lyft
account, and I did it through my Lyft
account. And then, um and the person got
the ride. So, then they um
>> Yeah, I
Okay, I'm now I'm going to put my NRP C
pressure hat on on that one. Are you
working on contract?
>> finish? Yes. Nicole, who's um people
don't know Nicole, she's our um finance
director, she's working on getting the
Uber business account set up.
So, that would be the Uber one um and
>> Can we get a Lyft business account set
up too?
>> I don't know if they have it, but we
could do that too if they do.
>> The only reason I'm asking too is that
this would also benefit the community
rides program.
If those are in place,
>> But, I do want to say, doing this one
recent Lyft for the SVTC person that
needed a ride,
it's very expensive. You wouldn't think
it, but the local cabs are much less
expensive. The Lyft is it's very
>> Was that for a ride Nashua to Nashua or
Nashua?
>> No, it was from
Milford to Milford, the court in
Milford. So
So that's what that ride was.
>> So it was within Milford?
>> To go from their home to the court and
then back?
>> Donna, I just had to arrange an Uber
lift, so I missed what you were saying.
The Uber was going to charge me $99 to
get the client to I mean, the taxi was
going to charge me $99 to get the client
to Concord, and it was $38 with Uber.
>> Yeah, we know that we know that a ride
in Milford
without looking at the mileage is $156
using Granite State Taxi cuz we've had
one before.
So again, 99 is better than 156.
Yeah, what Again, these are some of the
outcome and evaluation pieces that we
also have to look at too, long term.
Again, you have to look at because
again, this is an NRPC program.
>> Right, exactly. Yeah, exactly. So So
anyway, so So thank you to to Mike who
kind of made that happen because it was
quick and I didn't have
passes yet. So thank you, and then
next
So anyway,
if you do
know of anybody and there's some flyers
there, if you could please get them out
as well.
Just let people know as much as you can
because it's all a lot of stuff is word
of mouth that we will get the uh press
releases out.
>> Can you send that to us
in a PDF format or can you send it to me
and what I'll do is include it in the
follow-up
for this meeting.
Um or I'll just take my own and cut it
around. I can do that. I can do that. I
can do that. That'll make that a copy.
>> I have it a PDF.
>> Yeah, I've got I've It's the same thing.
I scanned it in and created this.
>> Thank you, Stephen, for
>> So we can take care of that and then get
it out there so that we have contacts
that we know to help spread the word.
>> That's good. Spread the word. That's the
thing about this is we got to spread the
word cuz we want to get this funding out
to people who need it. Cuz we know it's
needed. It's like that I've had some
people call and they've been desperate
to get this treatment.
So, and you can just tell in
their voice like they're desperate. They
need this.
>> I just want to clarify like specifically
a little bit about like eligibility.
>> Do they have to like originate in the
Nashua region? Do they
>> you know, do they like what's the
questions like or is anybody who says
that they're having an issue with with
substance like opioid like I I guess I'm
just wondering about eligibility that
way I don't like send people to you who
might not be eligible for service.
>> Right. So, it's the 13 towns here.
>> So, it's the Nashua greater Nashua
region.
>> So, that's what the application was for.
Uh but if I think if people do have um
issues
>> It's residency within those 13 towns and
it has to be a ride related to their
recovery.
Opioid recovery, correct?
>> Basically.
>> And that's why you need the Manchester
bus passes to get up to Manchester.
>> Right. Cuz people need back and forth to
>> Cuz we have folks from Lyndeborough and
Wilton that have used um the rehab
facilities over there for opioid
addiction.
>> Right. As far as like them just, you
know, saying they have
like I don't
um substance use or whatever, is will
just
send them away or there's no
specifically eligibility surrounding
that or
>> Well, there is it is the greater Nashua.
That's who um
we applied for greater Nashua region.
So, we
>> No, no. Yeah, I mean I guess like so
like, you know, for our service like we
ask people do you have like a
disability? Um
versus like if somebody tells me they
have issue they have substance use issue
and we don't ask you know what that's
about if somebody has a alcohol you know
use disorder that's they're not eligible
for this service.
>> Yeah alcohol is an opioid it's opioid.
>> When in doubt I would say send it to the
regional ability managers.
>> Cuz at that point again they can they
can tear out of okay would disqualify
for this program. Now if they live here
so that they could qualify for NTS they
could qualify for this program and we
have three on the plate right now.
Pretty much so again if that's the role
of the regional ability manager to
figure that out and then maybe if
they're eligible for this program
it would funnel through that funding
stream.
>> They send a lot.
>> Thank you very much for coming. I know
we're running out of so we're going to
make this real quick.
>> What about someone who lives outside of
our region but wants to get transport to
our region for some services?
>> Call the regional ability manager in
that region.
>> In that region they wouldn't be eligible
for this.
>> Well if they're coming here say and
what's happened throughout the state is
that there are a lot of recovery houses
in Nashua there's over 80 recovery
houses here and the state is sending
people here. So
it's probably that's the case and then
if you're going to be coming here then
they'd be eligible because they'd be
in a recovery house here.
>> Here okay.
>> Pick up locations in our towns.
>> All right thank you very much.
>> You're welcome Dial Dona.
>> I love the branding Dial Dona.
>> Brilliant.
>> I'm not standing up
so we're going to we're going to roll
through.
>> I've been wanting to do the Dial Dona
since I started here a year ago so I'm
glad I finally have a reason to.
>> I'm going to remember that most people
will.
>> So I know we're we're like right on the
cusp here so I'm going to keep the rest
of this really short. The last item
really on the agenda is the LCTP goal
subcommittee update and basically in
your packet attachment four, um,
major piece is that Carrie, um, as part
of our first goal regarding coordination
and collaboration, put together a list
of all the other RCCs and their meeting
times with links to the information on
the Keep Manchester Moving website. What
we're trying to do is to get as many
people that want to that are interested
in attending those meetings either by a
Zoom or in person,
uh, again to keep the conversation
going. I know Carrie's done a few,
Matt's planning to do a few, um, I'm
planning to do a few,
um, but I think the most important one
there though is going to be the SCC
meeting on September 3rd. And we'll get
that information out, um,
hopefully in the next 24 hours.
>> 1:30 to 3:30.
Oh, and we will have more the the
subcommittee will have more information
for you at the next meeting, but we're
we're running a little late.
>> No, it's fine. Anyone have anything
pressing they want to add?
Anything big coming up?
>> Yeah, so we've got, um,
some exciting things.
Three exciting things. We've got, um,
fundraisers, uh, pickleball tournament,
a pub crawl in September. I think the
pub crawl is September 12th. Pickleball
is, um, September 19th. And then on
September 25th, we have, um,
it's a meeting at the at Southern New
Hampshire Health. And it's a breakfast
meeting and it's educational for social
workers and other people who work with
clients about online scams and, um,
online safety for, um,
and we're going to try and target people
that work with very low-income
individuals.
So, those are the people that we're
we're really not able to reach that we
need we know need assistance with, um,
learning tech skills and just generally
staying safe from scams. So, we we
offer, um,
you classes at the Y and the people that
attend those classes are people that
they have other means to get education.
We're trying to trying to reach the
people that don't have other means to
get education and stay online safe. So,
we're trying to target the social
workers and other people like that. So,
it's a breakfast meeting. We're having
an activity led by UNH Cooperative
Extension and then we are also having
somebody from the natural police
department that's going to be talking
about current
online scams, also phone scams and
things like that. So, it's it's about
you know, online safety.
Everybody's welcome
and we'd love to see you there. The
information's on the United Way website
or you can email me and we have flyers
for there. Well,
>> Yeah, and I'll I'll actually take copies
of each of the flyers and I'll just scan
them in and then we'll send them out in
the follow-up. And cool.
>> Can I ask a quick question? You had
mentioned you're collecting shoes,
donations of shoes.
>> We are collecting shoes until the end of
the day on Monday. So, yeah. So, if you
have shoes, we would love them. We're
also doing another shoe drive in
November and December. So, if you don't
make it now,
we will accept them in November and
December, too. And then we're also doing
a coat drive and that's starting
September 1st
at United Way office and other locations
and I don't have all of the information
about the other locations right now, but
we're going to be collecting a lot of
coats, too.
>> Awesome.
>> For both the coats and the shoes, are
you looking for specific ages and sizes
or just everything and anything? Like
things my kid has grown out of that are
still good, I should bring those.
>> Yes, yeah. This year we're also
collecting snow pants.
>> Ooh, okay.
>> Not previously, this year we are.
>> Smart.
All right, it was
And well,
it's the bewitching hour.
>> Motion to adjourn.
>> So moved. Second by
Harry all in agreement?
>> Thank you all very very much. We will
see you in September.