According to the staff memo accompanying the resolution, revisions include: (1) changes in ethics policy to include annual disclosure requirements for board of directors, CEO, deputy CEO, senior staff and procurement staff; (2) addition of a vendor contact form as directed by the auditor, which requires a CEO or deputy CEO approval for all new vendors; (3) addition of MITN (Michigan Intergovernmental Trade Network) as a resource to maintain AATA’s current list of vendors; (4) addition of The Davis‐Bacon Act for construction projects – also a recommendation of the auditor; (5) inclusion of the AATA’s living wage policy, which was approved by the board on June 16, 2011; and (6) an increase in the small purchases threshold from $2,500 to $3,000 – as directed by the Federal Transit Administration.

The procurement manual was last revised on March 19, 2009.

This brief was filed from the Holiday Inn Express, 600 Briarwood Circle, where the AATA board held its monthly board meeting, which it combined with a retreat. A more detailed report of the meeting will follow: [link]

The contract came before the board, because it increased the amount of the contract from the previous year by more than 10% – from $150,000 to $205,000, or 36.7%. The AATA procurement policy requires board approval for increases of contracts over 10%. The new contract is based on hourly wages between $14.33 and $19.67 per hour for a regular shift, and between $21.50 and $29.51 for extra hours and holidays.

The hourly wages in the contract now meet the city of Ann Arbor living wage standard, recently adopted by the AATA, at its June 16, 2011 meeting. The need to bring the wages up to the living wage standard was the reason for the revision to the contract.

The original contract, authorized by the board in 2009, was met with one vote of dissent from the board – from David Nacht, who wanted his no vote to express his desire in the future that clearer information be provided about low bids. The staff memo accompanying the April 19 resolution indicated that the original contract was sent to 29 firms for bid and that 11 responses were received.

This brief was filed from the downtown location of the Ann Arbor District Library at 343 S. Fifth, where the AATA board holds its meetings. A more detailed report will follow: [link]