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BYLAWS
MARYLAND TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION
MARC RIDER ADVISORY COUNCIL
Revised and Adopted July 19, 2007
I. MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the MARC Riders Advisory Council (MRAC) is to seek input from a broad range of riders on operational and other issues that affect the MARC commuter rail service and its customers; advise the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) on proposals for ways to resolve such issues in order to improve the MARC system; establish and maintain consistent and responsive communications between the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA)/MARC and its customers in order to improve the quality of service from “the customers’ point of view,” to provide for direct input to management about customer perception of service and facilitate inclusion of customer observations into service monitoring and modification and to recommend possible solutions to MDOT leadership and staff so that MDOT can effectively address the diverse concerns of and be more responsive to MARC riders.
II. PURPOSE OF THE COUNCIL
The MRAC shall function as a body in an advisory, volunteer role and, at its discretion, in an advocacy capacity. The MRAC’s duties shall be to provide and foster meaningful and effective participation in the planning, administration and monitoring of quality of existing MTA/MARC service and to promote policies in support of the goals of an expanded, customer-responsive public transportation system.
III. SELECTION
Members of the MRAC shall be appointed by the MTA Administrator. Qualifications for MRAC membership include: Candidates must be of legal age; a resident of the MARC service area; a customer of MARC service; and committed to active participation as a member of the MRAC. Candidates shall be recruited from the general public through advertisements and public service announcements, with applications reviewed by a committee of MTA staff members, and selected from a list of finalists submitted to the MTA Administrator. Employees or relatives of employees of the MDOT are not eligible to serve as representatives on the MRAC. After initial appointment to the MRAC, the term of service shall be established.
IV. MRAC SIZE/QUORUM/ACTIONS
A. The MRAC shall be composed of an uneven number of members to facilitate majority rulings in voting issues. The size of the MRAC shall be not less than fifteen (15), with representation from each of the three service lines.
B. A quorum shall consist of a majority of the members of MRAC. Except as otherwise provided under these Bylaws or the provisions of the General Laws and Regulations of the State of Maryland, no business shall be considered by MRAC at any meeting at which the required quorum is not present, and the only motion that the chairperson shall entertain at such meeting shall be a motion to adjourn.
C. Every act or decision done or made by a majority of the MRAC members at a meeting duly held at which a quorum is present shall be deemed the act of the MRAC, unless these Bylaws or provisions of the General Laws and Regulations of the State of Maryland require a greater percentage or different voting rules for approval of a matter by the MRAC.
V. TERM OF SERVICE
Members of the MRAC shall serve for three (3) year terms, which terms may be extended. Years of service shall commence on May 1 and continue through April 30.
VI. RESIGNATION, REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT
Members may resign via letter of resignation to the chairperson of the MRAC, with a copy to the Administrator or Administrator’s designee. If a member is unable to attend a meeting, s/he shall notify the chairperson and/or MTA in advance. Two (2) unexcused absences from regular, consecutive meetings may result in the member’s removal from the MRAC. If the resignation or removal of a member results in either (i) an uneven number of members or (ii) fifteen (15) members or less, then the Administrator or his/her designee shall appoint a replacement or replacements to serve out the balance of the term for the departing member(s). A replacement shall be selected from previous applicants; provided, however, in the event that none of those applicants are acceptable or able to serve, such replacement shall be selected in accordance with Section III hereof. Failure to attend a special meeting shall not be considered an unexcused absence for the purposes of this section.
VII. COUNCIL OFFICERS
The MRAC shall have the following officers who shall serve for one-year terms commencing on February 1, and expiring on January 31, which terms may be extended by consensus of the members for one additional consecutive year.
A. Chairperson: Presides at all regular and special meetings, acts as MRAC spokesperson, and represents the MRAC at MTA and other functions. The Chairperson shall not take public positions on behalf of the MRAC without authorization by vote, unless the MRAC has previously stated its public position.
B. Vice-Chairperson: Performs any of the duties of the Chairperson if the Chairperson is unable or unavailable to perform those duties.
Elections shall be held by secret ballot at regular monthly meeting of the MRAC in January of each year. The member who receives the next highest total of votes for Chairperson shall be the Vice-Chairperson. In the event of a tie, a separate election for Vice-Chairperson shall be held immediately after the ballots for Chairperson have been tallied. Special elections may be called by the Administrator or his/her designee when a vacancy occurs in either office.
Candidates may be placed in nomination by themselves, other MRAC members or the Administrator upon notification to the Nominations Subcommittee (see Subcommittees below). Nominees shall provide both a written and oral presentation of his/her qualifications. Written presentations shall be distributed via e-mail by the Nomination Subcommittee prior to the MRAC monthly meeting immediately preceding the January election meeting at which oral presentations shall be made and candidates shall respond to questions from other members.
VIII. MEETING FREQUENCY, MINUTES AND LOCATION
The MRAC shall meet regularly on the third Thursday of every other month commencing as of September 2007, or such other date as the members may determine. Special meetings may be called by either the Administrator or the MRAC Chairperson upon giving not less than one (1) week’s notice to MRAC members via e-mail or telephone. The MRAC may elect to skip a regular meeting. An agenda, to be prepared by the Adminstrator, his/her designee or the MRAC Chairperson, shall be distributed to MRAC members at the time of notification of the meeting but in no event later than three (3) business days prior to the meeting. Meetings shall be held in Washington, D.C., unless otherwise notified. All meeting are open to the public, and the public is invited to attend. A MRAC member shall take minutes of the regular meetings and provide them to other members, with a copy to the MTA for placement on the MTA website.
IX. SUBCOMMITTEES
The MRAC members shall establish subcommittees to focus on specific areas of concern to MARC riders, including but not limited to the following:
Nominations;
Capital Projects and Station Improvements;
Communications;
Customer Service;
Disabled Riders and ADA;
Equipment and Maintenance;
Marketing and Ridership Development; and
Safety and Security.
Each subcommittee shall designate a leader who will coordinate any meetings of subcommittee members and shall be the primary contact between the Subcommittee, the Chairperson and other MRAC members. Subcommittee meetings may be held in person, on-line or via telephone, at subcommittee members’ discretion. Questions, concerns and issues shall be researched and initially discussed by the appropriate subcommittee before being brought to the MRAC membership for discussion and, when appropriate, action.
X. FUNCTIONS OF THE MRAC
The MRAC as a whole may perform any of the following and other related functions as are appropriate to and not in conflict with its advisory role:
A. Monitor and report on service quality;
B. Provide advice to the MTA about MARC fare structure, service modifications and overall MARC performance;
C. Provide a vehicle for input from other MARC customers;
D. Provide advice to the MTA to assist in developing capital projects and service expansion;
E. Provide advice to the MTA about proposed state and federal legislation and its possible impact on MARC service;
F. Review and analyze MARC studies and reports prepared by the MTA which are submitted to the MRAC for consideration;
G. Broaden MTA’s view of regional and statewide public transportation issues and how MARC can better integrate with the transportation network;
H. Serve as MRAC consumer input group during project planning to insure that MARC customer and community interests and needs are adequately recognized and taken into consideration;
I. Serve as a sounding board for the MTA and convey MRAC reactions, questions, and suggestions to MTA management prior to public presentations of a project, plan or service modification;
J. Advise and assist MTA management in reaching local opinion leaders, and bring public concerns to the attention of the MTA;
K. Advise and assist MTA management in implementing public participation activities such as providing advice about scheduling, planning and conducting public meetings and hearings; and
L. Provide advice and assistance to MTA management in the promotion and advocacy of those policies, positions and legislation which the MRAC considers important and appropriate on behalf of public transportation customers.
XI. MTA STAFF SUPPORT
The MTA will provide staff support to the MRAC. The Administrator will designate a staff member or members to attend MRAC meetings on behalf of the MTA. This person or persons will be responsible for arranging for meetings, presentations and special activities in coordination with the Chairperson and will provide other logistical, administrative, and clerical support as required for the MRAC to effectively discharge its responsibilities. In addition, the MTA shall provide public access to minutes from the MRAC regular meetings on the MTA web site.
XII. COMPENSATION
MRAC members are volunteers and shall serve without compensation of any kind. Neither the MRAC nor any of its members shall incur any debt or other obligation on behalf of the MTA, the MDOT or the MARC Train Service. The MTA/MARC shall not be responsible for any liability of the MRAC or its individual members.
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