I can hear a fine if that helps at all.

Good morning, everyone.

My name is Jeff Gibson.

I am the HART board counsel.

Um, you're seeing my uh face here uh running the meeting because we don't yet have a board.

Um I'm gonna help facilitate the officers uh to that board.

Uh and so I thank you for all for being here.

Um I'd first ask that everyone silence all their electrical device electronic devices for the duration of this meeting.

This is the January 5th, 2026 Board of Directors meeting.

Uh it's which I will now call to order.

Uh the meeting is a hybrid meeting.

Uh there are board members physically present in the room here at 1201 East 7th Avenue in the Florida conference room.

There are also members participating via communication media technology.

Uh, would you all join me in uh the Pledge of Allegiance?

For which she stands with liberty in Jfor we do a roll call and take attendance.

I do want to state on the record that Director Cameron Cepeda uh notified staff before this meeting that she will not be able to be in attendance due to a scheduling conflict.

Uh staff, will you please take attendance?

Yes, sir.

Director Clenden.

Director Hartfield, present.

Dr.

Hobbs, Dr.

King?

Present.

Dr.

Knight?

Present.

Dr.

Mac Alpatrick.

Here.

Chair.

Director Myers.

Here.

Director Nieberg.

Here.

Director Schisler.

Here.

Director Vieira.

Here.

Director Williams.

Here.

Director Wolstell.

Here.

You do have a quorum, sir.

Thank you very much.

Umbs of the public have a right to speak on any relevant issue during the public comment process.

However, certain items may be rooted in contract, pending legal recourse or prohibited by this board's policy, which prohibits involvement by this board in the normal employer-employee relationship between the CEO and any other employee or employee union of heart.

While the public could address those matters, board members are advised not to discuss them during this meeting.

The heart board of directors welcomes comments from citizens about any issue or concern.

Your opinions are valued in terms of providing input to the board members.

When addressing the board, comments shall not be directed personally against a board member or staff member, but rather at the particular issue at issue.

This provides a mutual respect between the board members, staff, and the public.

I wrote a resignation letter on December 10th, making an effective 1212 of 2025.

And when I realized that I shouldn't have been terminated, I should have been retrained.

I wrote her another letter on 1214, 2025 asking her to withdraw my resignation letter.

And I also sent her an email as well.

On the 15th, I also brought a copy up to the office.

It's the same, uh, yeah, a copy up to the office for my record.

Um she said she would get with the new information that she would get uh back to get that to the proper authorities and get back to me, from which I never heard from her.

I did um give her a call.

She said there was nothing that she could do at that time.

So I'm here today.

That's about it.

Thank you.

Excuse me, Mr.

John Green.

Happy New Year.

Asa Philadelph Randolph, a labor organizer and one of the most influential political strategists of the 20th century.

His belief in organized labor ability to counter workforce discrimination and his skill in planning nonviolent protests, help gain employment advancement for African Americans.

So today I brought my book, The Ethiopian Bible, right?

And uh it's the national, the white Christian national policies that's hurting America today.

Now let's bring it to heart.

Hart in his in his policies, the way they hide behind them to do this type of damage to these employees that you're gonna hear speak today, is unfair and it's discriminatory towards the employees.

It always has been and it continues to be, and this is something that needs to really be looked at in this organization.

The people cannot continue to hide behind policy and change them at the discretion to hurt the employees, and this is consistent.

I'm an ex-employee, I'm a former vice president of the union.

I know how they operate, the faces change, but the methods are the same, and this needs to stop.

Now you're gonna hear from most some other people.

You got a guy coming up who with the policy, y'all went through the video and not supposed to go through no more than 15 minutes seeing that he was doing something, and y'all fired him.

Another policy issue.

You can't continue to hide behind the policy when you get mad at the employees, right?

This is what's been happening, and you can't patch up.

Here I have right here when you redlining, right?

I just didn't have enough copies to bring today to distribute to them to the board members.

You're still redlining routes, right?

And it's not, and it's not because it's the employees in which y'all put the blame on, it's because you can't patch up what you don't have, and that and what you don't have, you don't have enough buses to meet the demands of the community, and that's the problem.

And congratulations to the 32 millions.

But another issue that I want to know, I'm still trying to find the tape where you brought your vans for pair transit.

I didn't hear the the uh vote for that to be approved when you brought them.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Shantel Simpson.

How y'all doing today?

Now, this is my second time coming to you guys, letting you know all of the corruption that's going on within Hart.

I was falsely terminated and falsely lied on and accused of putting in false documentations.

Thank God for Miss Gwen Myers and Miss Christine Millers for stepping up and fighting for me, Miss Jones and Miss Bimbo for stepping up and fighting for me to get my job back, and I'm here today, but I still have a B infraction under my name.

And I'm still feeling like I'm walking on eggshells and pins and needles.

And I'm not sure why we have supervisors and management that are not helping us and fighting for us, but they're fighting against us.

They're not helping us at all.

And I don't feel safe because these people lied on me.

They have access to my social, my address.

They have access to all my information.

I do not feel safe with these people over me as management.

I'm stressing out.

I have anxiety out the roof.

This is my second time coming to you guys asking for help.

I'm a good employee.

I stay late.

I come in on my days off.

I have no issues.

That's why I was able to get my job back.

But who's gonna fight for me?

We need a cure.

You guys, doctors, I done said it before, you guys are doctors.

We need a cure because they misusing and abusing the authority.

And it's hurting a lot of good people and a lot of drivers, they're getting fed up and they're getting close to the end.

Like they're not gonna be able to do it.

We got the union reps, they're gonna retire in a couple of years.

Who is here to fight for us?

We need help with the corruption of management.

People lying on me.

FMLA, the people that's over the FMLA, they call FMLA and they requested for my day to be denied because I came to the board meeting.

That is what I was told.

That's retaliation.

Why is these people still here?

And every time I reach out to Matthew White Side, I reach out to James Sequoia or anybody like that, I'm not getting no response.

No, oh, we're we're doing investigation.

How long does investigation take?

Thanksgiving pass, Christmas pass, we're in a whole new year.

I need help.

We need this corruption to stop.

I do not feel safe as a driver.

I'm willing to stop driving and step up and be a manager and fight for the employees, fight for the other drivers.

I already feel like I got a target on my back, so I'm willing to just step up and be that leader that we need.

So, what are the qualifications that I need so I can step into that position and be a heart plus manager or just some type of management because we need help.

Even if it's for me as a driver stepping up or somebody coming in with some good experience and that's willing to fight for us, we need that right now because the misuse and abuse is getting out of hand.

And I received that first hand.

I experienced it.

I know I'm being retaliated against.

And me coming up here today speaking, it's gonna be another target on my back.

That's all I gotta say.

Thank you.

Letisha Jones.

So it was an email sent to me last night and asked me, will I speak of this and and would I read the email?

And I told them, yeah, I'm their union president.

So I'm gonna read this email.

To whom it may concern, my name is Tiara Leonard.

I'm writing to form a dispute and file a complaint regarding my wrongful termination from Hillsboro Area Regional Transit, where I was employed for approximately eight years and a half as a paratransit operator.

On July 22nd, 2025, I was diagnosed with COVID-19 after visiting my nearby emergency room.

My condition rapidly worsened within hours.

I experienced severe respiratory symptoms, extremely weakness, inability to eat, sleep, or walk, and was effectively bedridden due to the seriousness of the illness and the risk of spreading COVID-19 to others, particularly my co-workers.

My physician instructed me to remain home and quarantine.

I was at, I was issued a doctor's note excusing me from work from July 22nd, 2025 through July 27, 2025.

Following my diagnosis, I complied fully with the medical instructions.

I also probably properly notified our OCC department and informed my supervisor that I attested positive for COVID-19.

I requested and booked out, booked FMLA leave covering July 22nd, 2025 through July 27, 2025, and submitted the required medical documentation upon returning to work on July 27, 2025.

Despite still being ill, I was informed by my manager, Miss Sherman Wheelburn, that I had allegedly received the sixth occurrence.

And I questioned how was that possible as I booked off FMLE and provided medical documentation.

Ms.

Wilburne stated she will investigate and later confirm that the occurrence remained.

On August the 5th, 2025, a disciplinary hearing was held with Miss Sharon Wilburn and Union Representative Antonio Duhard, which stands next to me.

During this meeting, it was clearly stated that my absence was due to COVID-19, and that I had a doctor's note and that my FMLA approved was pending.

I was advised to submit additional documentation from basic FMLA, which I did.

On August 12th, 2025, a second hearing occurred with Miss Wilburn and Miss Sarah Bimbo.

Miss Wilburn that I had just spoken with, basically, and it was my documentation was approved.

Ms.

Wilburn then summoned FMLA manager Melissa Shelton, who questioned me about the purpose of my FMLA.

And Ms.

Shelton later confirmed that my name-related communication was presented to FMLA.

She is just asking for her job back because they abused her FMLA and her FMLA was approved by heart.

Thank you very much.

I apologize.

Karen.

Yes, ma'am.

All right, thank you.

Excuse me, Sweet.

Apologize.

That's okay, no problem about that.

Happy New Year to everyone.

We're in a new year, and I want you to understand that another year I will be here.

We need to understand, board.

You have staff coming to you.

I am a rider.

When the staff is not happy, I'm not happy.

Because guess what?

They deserve better.

They deserve to be treated better, have better, better pay, better uh benefits, and better equipment to serve the community.

You all are sitting here making multi-million dollar decisions.

And I keep saying, and I'm going to keep saying the board of directors, the ADA board, you all need to get out here and really see the day-to-day operation of heart.

You don't know how reckless these other drivers are, how they shoot all in front of the buses, and I've got the pre-praying, because baby, the bus drivers handle the buses, but it's dangerous out here.

I'm gonna keep asking you all to get out here and ride the bus.

You know better than I.

You didn't pay them their COVID-19 pay.

You need to understand the way stations need to come up much better than what they are.

And you need to understand that they are shoving food down their throats for their breaks.

They're using the bathrooms and doors are not properly locking.

I had to stand in front of the bathroom door for one of the lady dress drivers so she can use the bathroom and be secure that no one was gonna get in there.

They didn't want to pass me.

But my thing is this we have got to come better this year in the years ahead for the drivers, for the middle class staff down, and for the riders who ride.

This year, I'm gonna keep knocking on yours door, and you're gonna hear me.

And you're gonna understand me, because I'm guided by God, all powerful.

And he's gonna keep on guiding me to do the right thing.

I'm gonna come down here humble.

I'm gonna come down here with respect.

I'm gonna come down here loud, and I'm gonna come down here letting you understand I'm a very intelligent woman, and I'm not gonna stop at anything.

I'm gonna keep on fighting for their rights because their rights is for the community.

You are busting all nationality of people throughout this community.

And I want you to understand, you as the board has got to come out to the day-to-day operations and see what's going on.

Your bus drivers are in turmoil.

They don't need to be like this.

Their families don't need to see them like this.

But you all need to let understand.

If you were in their shoes, how would you want it?

Thank you so much.

I'll be back.

And let's again let my name roll off your lips and let my name Marilyn in your mind.

I got plenty of time.

Thank you very much.

Mr.

Charles Loeb.

Good morning, everybody.

Happy New Year.

And basically, I do agree with the last speaker, but I did want to talk to you about a different subject, and that is more revenue.

First of all, I hope that what I that you presented a tape or something on what I talked about May 5th of the state legislature, because it might get the idea that the money that was voted for does not belong to them but belongs to, but belongs to the people, the heart and the people and other transit agencies.

But I want to talk about other new sources of revenue.

First of all, I was thinking about when I think about some of the uh transit centers, about maybe having uh food trucks over there and see if you can get revenue and more people over there in terms of that.

Second, I still like the idea that I presented last year about inside advertising and about trying to get people on the bus for exclusive ads if you all want to do this and gain revenue doing this, and um you know, we'll get more ridership because they're not going to be able to see these ads in any other place but on the buses.

And finally, I uh there is one other subject that I did want to talk to you about in terms of uh potential future revenue, and that is about the situation with Bright Line.

I'm hoping that they'll be smart enough to open a suburban station, not just the one downtown, but a suburban station somewhere along the route between Tampa and Orlando.

Now, this would open up a uh good premium transit opportunity for you all to uh to make a combination people come up the uh come off the train to get right on premium buses and to go, let's say, particularly to USF, and the reason I say USF because this was their idea that I saw over on the April 2024 FDOT survey.

So uh they were talking about having a service to Brandon, but there's no reason why they could not pick up uh riders over from the train along the along the way if they would have a rail a suburban railroad station there.

Anyway, I do kind of wonder, I do hope you all keep up with uh Bright Line and see what's going on with them and see what other potential combination revenue up revenue source opportunities you can come up with from them because I think there's some potential in that, and of course, like I say, USF is interested in uh having uh premium transits going to Brandon because they said so on the survey back in FDOT on the FDOT survey 2024.

Thank you.

And happy new year again to everybody.

Thank you, sir.

Joshua Trotman.

This is um happy new year.

This is the first time I ever did this, so um, like I'm from the R Plus van division.

I love the job, no complaints, love serving the community.

I got terminated.

I got terminated, but I felt that heart violated uh the contract when we had a deposition, they waited, they went past the days after the deposition.

So when the second level was heard, they went over days for deposition, so or violated the contract.

So uh I just asked for my job.

I love serving the community, I had no issues with the job.

I love the patrons, the clients, and they went over days so when I got terminated.

So that's it.

Thank you.

And that will close out our the public comment portion of our meeting.

Uh, before we begin, I on behalf of the Hart Board, I would like to welcome the reappointed Hillsborough County representatives, Commissioners Cameron Zapeta, Miller, Myers, and Wastel.

Uh, welcome back.

All right, our first item, our first item of business is the election of the chair.

Um board officers are elected through an open process and nominations are accepted from the floor.

Uh Board Policy 120 states that there shall be elected by the board from among the members of the board, a chair, a vice chair, and a secretary at the first January meeting each year through an open process with nominations accepted from the floor.

General counsel is to chair the election process as a neutral party.

Heart board officer positions are to be filled by at least one county elected representative, with the exception of the requirement that at least one county elected representative, any board member may be elected to serve as an officer.

All officers shall be elected for a term of one year or until the officer's successor is duly qualified and shall serve at the pleasure of the board.

A board member may serve the board in consecutive terms as an officer in various capacities.

However, no board member shall serve in the same capacity for more than three consecutive terms as an officer.

All right, the process is that I will ask for nominations from the floor, which do not require a second.

Once nominations are closed, I will ask the board members to vote on the nominations in order received to identify one board member with the majority of the votes.

The last step will be to confirm the board officers' election with a motion by the board and a vote.

Are there any questions before we begin?

All right.

First officer position is chairperson of the Hart Board of Directors.

Uh Director Vieira served as Hart board chair for three consecutive years and cannot serve in the same capacity in 2026.

Other than that limitation, there are no other limitations on what members may serve as the chairperson.

Do I have any nominations?

Mr.

Viera.

I nominate a board member Schisler.

Second.

We don't need second.

All right, we have Chair.

I nominate Josh Wassel.

All right.

We have two uh nominations.

Are there any other nominations for chairperson of the Hart Board of Directors?

Seeing none, uh the nominations for chairperson of the Hart Board of Directors is now closed.

I would ask staff to poll the board members for their selection of the chairperson.

Director Clendennan Schisler.

Schuzler.

Director Knight.

Thank you, sir.

Director Mac Alpatrick.

Director McCannick.

Director Miller.

Wastel.

Director Myers.

Shiss.

Director Nieberick.

Washtel?

Director Schisler.

Schisler.

Director Vieira.

Schicksor.

Director Williams.

Director Walshall.

Wolstall.

Director Schisler has seven point votes and uh Director Walsall has five.

Thank you very much.

May I have a motion to appoint uh Director Schisler as chairperson of the Hart?

Second.

All in favor?

Aye.

Any opposed?

Congratulations, Director Schisler.

All right, we will continue on.

Uh the next person is vice chair of the Hart Board of Directors.

Uh, Director Wallstall served in this capacity as 2025.

Uh do I have any nominations from the floor for vice chair of the Hart Board of Directors?

Mr.

Dick Director Viear?

I hate to go twice.

I mean, I'll I last time I knew uh Gary Hartfield was nominated.

Glad to vote for Kerry Hartfield.

Is this Commissioner Mr.

Miller?

I'd like to nominate Commissioner Wastel, please.

I waive being nominated for the position.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Move to close the nomination.

We have a nomination for Mr.

Hartfield to be vice chair of the Heart Board of Directors.

Is there a motion?

So all in favor?

Aye.

Any opposed?

All right.

The final position is the position of secretary of the Hart Board of Directors.

The rules require that at least one member from the county serve as one of the officers.

So the rules are going to require that one of the uh county county uh representatives serve in that capacity.

May I have a may I excuse me?

I was being asked.

Okay.

Sorry.

Uh may I have a nomination uh for uh secretary of the heart director board of directors?

Nominate board my nomination for direct uh Miss Myers.

Uh are there any other nominations for secretary uh for the heart board of directors?

Seeing none, the nominations are now closed.

May I have a motion uh to elect director Myers?

Second.

All in favor?

Uh any opposed?

Thank you.

Uh Director Myers uh will be the uh secretary of the of the uh heart board of directors.

Congratulations to the newly elected heart board of directors.

Uh with the okay of the chair, I will uh proceed to facilitate the um uh the rest of the process of the uh litigation claims and those unless the chair would like to take over for here.

Okay, okay.

Uh I would like to draw attention to the printout of the elections and appointment some summary and committee structure for reference.

I will ask that the board elect alternatives for each position.

Having alternatives is very important for physical quorums for the meetings.

The next election will be for a member and an alternative for the litigation and claims committee.

The committee has one board member representation.

It meets as needed on the first Monday of the month following the HART board meeting.

According to the survey of rep preference, Director King is interested in serving as a member or an alternative on the committee.

Are there any other members interested in this committee?

Chair, I would like to uh remove my name from consideration.

Yes, sir.

All right.

Do we have any um any members who are interested in serving as a member or an alternate alternate alternate in the litigation and claims committee meeting?

I if I may, I'm I mean I I would, but I I just I I can't.

I it with my private sector position, I just feel um precluded from it.

But it's uh I'll just say for anybody it's a great position.

I mean it it is because it it deals with evaluating claims that are settlement claims with heart, so it's uh I think it's great.

I'd love to do it, but I can't chair.

I would like to nominate uh Brian McAfeck.

Thank you.

We have a um a nomination of Brian McClefflin as the uh member of the Litigation and Claims Committee meeting uh committee, excuse me.

Are there any other nominations?

Ms.

Williams?

Oh, sorry, sorry.

I didn't comment.

Thank you.

All right, may I have a motion to nominate Brian McCuffin at second?

All in favor?

Aye.

Any opposed?

All right.

The next election is for a member and alternative alternate to the ADA Accessibility Committee.

This committee has one board member representation with an altern alternate and meets quarterly.

According to the survey, Director Williams was interested in serving as the member capacity, and there was no one who expressed an interest in serving in the alternate alternate position.

Are there any other nominations for a member or alternate on the ADA accessibility committee?

I'll do alternate if nobody else.

If I may, I'll do alternate if nobody else wants to glide to.

Okay, we have um uh director Williams as a the uh member and director Vieira as the alternate.

Are there any other nominations?

May I have a motion?

Uh second.

Any uh all in favor?

Any opposed that is done, thank you very much.

Um moving on to the external board appointments.

The next election is for three members and up to three alternates for the Tampa Historic Streetcar Board, also known as the THS Board.

This board meets monthly on the fourth Tuesday of the month at 1 p.m.

According to the survey, Director Schisler, Williams, Clenden, and Hartfield were interested in serving in the member capacities.

Director Niebrick was also interested in the alternate position.

Are there any nominations for members and alter alternates?

Director.

And I'm sorry, how many are open?

Three.

Okay, I'll nominate if I may my colleague Councilman Clinton.

I know he has a a lot of leadership and interest in that issue.

Are there any other nominations?

Excuse me.

Go ahead.

Are there any other nominations for um members or alternates to the THS board?

I'm nominate myself.

Okay.

Uh let you guys do get out.

So we had uh according to survey Dr.

Director Schisler and Hartfield also interested in serving as on the as members of the board.

Do we have another uh nomination?

I'll offer it to us as alternate if you want to be the regular member.

Okay.

All right, we have nomination of uh director Clendennan, Director Williams, and Director Hartfield as members of the THS board.

May I have a motion?

So move second.

And all in favor?

Any opposed?

And we have um uh director Schisler as uh an alternate on the THS board, or are there any other nominations?

Okay, we have a nomination for Director Sisler and Director Niebrick as alternates to the THS board.

Are there any other nominations?

Seeing none, may I have a motion?

So second.

Any all in favor?

Aye.

Any opposed?

Congratulations and thank you very much.

The next election is for member for a member and alternate to the Transport Transportation Planning Organizational Board.

This meets the second Wednesday of every month at 10 a.m.

According to the survey, directors Hartfield and King were interested in serving in the member capacity, and Director King was also interested in serving as an alternate.

May I have uh uh nominations for the member or alternate of the transportation planning organizational board?

I nominate Gary Hartfield as the member and John King as the alternate.

Are there any other nominations?

Director Walsh?

I'll nominate Director King.

I believe Gary Hartfield has his hands filled with all the other roles he's already sitting in.

Thank you.

We have a nomination for Director King and Director Hart uh Hatfield for Hartfield as the member.

Um are there any other nominations?

I will um I guess volunteer uh for the alternate position.

Okay.

If I may this is for TPO.

Just my my condolences to who is ever on that board.

I mean it's a terrible board.

You could it's 1967.

You could either go to West Germany or Vietnam.

You're going to Vietnam, so that's all I'm saying.

All right.

As a as a member, we have two nominations, Director King and Director Hartfield.

Um staff, could you please poll the members?

Director Clendon.

Hartfield.

Director Hartfield.

Hartfield.

Director King.

Uh King.

Director Knight.

King.

Director Mac Alpatrick.

King.

Director McCannick.

Director Miller.

King.

Director Myers.

Hartfield.

Director Niebrick.

King.

Chair Schisler.

Hartfield.

Director Vieira.

Hartfield.

Director Williams.

Hartville.

And Director Wilson.

King.

It is a tie.

I have a coin.

I have it.

Well, it's at the end.

So what are we doing?

What do we do on the case of the time?

You guys are gonna have to duke it out.

The rules don't provide for us?

Sure.

All right, that's fine.

All right.

Brian Toss.

All right.

Mr.

Hartfield?

Can I have a motion to nominate Mr.

Hartfield as the member?

All in favor?

Aye.

Any opposed?

Nay.

Um we then have no idea how lucky you are.

We now have uh nomination for Director King and for Director Nebrick as the alternate.

Um staff, could you please poll the members?

Is uh before we do that, is this one position in the alternate status?

And if so, then I'll gladly remove my name for uh director King.

May I have a motion to nominate uh Mr.

King?

So move.

Any all in all in favor?

Aye.

Any opposed?

The next is uh uh for the board to take up a member and an alternate for the transportation disadvantaged coordinating board.

This map this board meets monthly.

Uh according to the survey, Director Schisler was interested in serving either as a member or alternate.

Are there any nominations for a member or alternate?

I nominate uh we have a uh nomination for uh director Schisler.

Are there any other nominations for a member or alternate?

Uh Director Myers um as nominated herself as as uh alternate.

Um so we have a nomination for Director Sisler as a member and Director Myers as alternate may have a motion.

Any uh all in favor?

Aye any opposed?

All right, thank you.

Uh finally, uh we have an election for a member and an alternate for the affordable housing advisory board.

This board meets on the second Monday of the month at 9 a.m.

According to the survey, directors Hartfield and Williams were interested in serving as members.

Uh we did not get any response for any interest in the alternate.

Do I have any nominations for a member of the Affordable Housing Advisory Board?

I nominee Williams and uh alternate Hartfield.

All right, we have a nomination for uh director Williams as the member and director Hartfield as the alternate.

Are there any other nominations?

Seeing none, may I have a motion?

All in favor?

Aye.

Any opposed?

Thank you very much.

Uh this concludes the appointments by the board.

We'll take a brief uh recess while uh we reconfigure uh and the chair will take up the board.

I'm gonna look at the one.

I don't know how to make that all the other.

Right now, we're not more problematic as the work.

I mean, I think any of the other people are eight.

Thank you, everybody.

Can you have your chance to bring you meeting back to order?

Um congratulations to the uh newly elected heart board officers, all appointees to the various external boards, as well as the ADA accessibility and the litigation and claims committee.

According to Hart policy, all heart committee appointments are to be made by the Hart Board Chair, but committee leadership will be elected by the committee members at their first scheduled meetings to expedite this process in lieu of uh in lieu of the scheduled uh January twelfth committee meetings, and based on the interest to express in the survey of preference.

Um we do have one opening on the strategic planning and external relations committee.

Is there any interest from any other board members who are interested in serving?

Currently we have um express interest John King, David McCadick, myself, and Melody Williams.

Is there anybody else who might be interested in serving on that committee?

When does that committee meet?

We meet uh generally the third Monday of the uh each month, um either nine nine, ten or eleven o'clock.

I think it's the middle meeting.

Okay, and then so there's a vacancy, and you need one additional person to have a full committee.

Then I'll uh absent anybody else who wishes to fill that slot.

Then I'll I'll put my name in.

Done.

Signed, sealed, and delivered.

Okay, very good.

Um I excuse me.

Um we will be sending out letters to everybody for your appointment to these positions in the next few days.

And uh thank you for your well your willingness to serve in these committees.

They are very, very important.

And uh they do a lot of prep work for the board.

So thank you very much.

Um the agenda next agenda item is the approval of the minutes from November 3rd, 2025 Board of Directors regular meeting.

Everybody's had a chance to review these.

If there's any questions, if not, uh, do we have a motion to approve the minutes?

Second.

Moves and second.

Any discussion on the motion?

Period to be not all in favor, please make the rest saying aye.

Aye.

Opposed, none.

Motion passes.

Thank you.

Uh next we have the heart, uh excuse the next is a consent agenda.

The heart a heart finance and audit committee met on October 20th, 2025.

Recommended approval of action item 6a, uh resolution R2026-01-01 to delegate contracting authority to Brian Horn, the CFO, uh, to execute purchases and enter into contracts on behalf of Hart in a not-to-exceed amount of $500,000.

I'm sure everybody was had everybody's had a chance to do this.

Are there any questions for staff on this agenda item 6a?

Appeared to be none.

So motion to approve.

Okay, motion and second.

All in favor, please indicate for saying aye.

Aye.

Motion carries unanimously.

Next, we have a the next will be the chief executive officer's report.

Mr.

Drainville, you're recognized.

Uh thank you, Chair, and happy new year, everyone.

Uh, my report will be two process or two-part uh report.

First, I'm gonna start up by want to address the hard board uh motion that was passed on November 3rd meeting, directing me to address some of the issues brought up during public comment, specifically around leave attendance, paratransit service, our hearing process, and the workplace culture.

So I'll start off with leave and attend and at the no-pay status.

So and under the ATU collective bargain agreement, full-time employees accrue seventy-eight hours of sick per leave per year, roughly that's 10 days, which aligns with the industry standards for safety sensitive roles.

A no-pay status occurs when an employee is legitimately sick but has exhausted pay leave.

It is important to distinguish between employees misusing attendance policies and employees who are legitimately ill are on protected leave.

Moving on to operator availability, the attendance of the operators surely impacts the service reliability.

At the same time, Hart's overall operator availability or the percentage of scheduled hours actually worked is within national norms for transit systems.

It is not an outlier and has been trending positively.

Rather than compress this topic today, we will bring a focused report to the operations and safety committee on January 12th, covering what the data shows, what drives missed trips, and the steps underway to improve operator coverage and service reliability.

We heard concerns about paratransit service reliability, which is affected by operators' absenteeism and an aging fleet.

Hartstaff is actively addressing both.

We have purchased 36 new SUVs.

We have 14 new cutaway vans arriving next month in February.

I am prior prioritizing the initiative to implement private transit cat and AVL to improve scheduling tracking and on-time performance.

Comments were raised about potential conflicts of interest in our hearing process.

Uh disciplinary and grievance hearings follow the requirements of the collective bargaining agreements and are conducted by designated management representatives.

This structure is common across transit agencies and does not create a conflict of interest.

Unfortunately, we were unable to determine who placed the bag.

We were unable to determine who placed the bag on the vehicle, and no corrective action could be taken.

The employee was briefed on the findings, and while we understand she did not accept them, we were transparent about the limits of our available evidence.

And that concludes my report on the follow-up on the public comment.

Okay.

Any questions?

Yes.

Director Knight.

Great presentation.

I'd like to also point out bank from the public comments.

Uh that uh chair, uh CEO, uh, some of the things that was uh just uh that was brought up that look into that, and without the board member getting involved in everything, uh to make sure that everything is up and above.

Uh obviously the people are saying that they want to work, the interminator for whatever way we don't have all the information.

But I'd like for you to assure us that you're gonna look back through it and then get back.

So, and I understand a couple of our board members have been involved in in one of the ones, but instead of every month, same thing coming up.

Look into it and address it in a way to make sure that everything is right.

Just just uh just for clarification, though I have staff members always in the audience on this board meetings, and they take notes and they they follow up on everything that's said in public comments.

I just want to reassure this board that they're well inversed on each of these these situations, and uh we always follow up on the board uh comment.

Thank you, Director Dunn.

I was going to bring up something about nature under new business.

So it's uh we did having done that in our works.

Mr.

Chair.

Yes.

I want to make a comment, but I want to bring it on the same subject, but I want to bring it up on the new business.

Okay.

Okay, thank you.

Okay.

Help me remember.

Okay.

Anything else?

Yes, okay.

I got a presentation.

So please, please.

So thank you again, Chair and board members.

FY25 was one of the most transformational years Hart has experienced in more than a decade financially, operationally, and organizationally.

Today I'll highlight major milestones that position Hart for a stronger, more reliable future.

So this year wasn't about incremental change, it was about rebuilding.

We stabilized our finances, secured historical federal funding, improved service reliability, strengthened workforce, strengthened workforce capacity, and renewed public trust.

How does operating today with more structure, accountability, and modernization than any at any point in the last 10 years?

Next slide.

So everything we achieved this year fits into three major themes.

Record federal funding and financial stability with the two largest grants in agency history, operational modernization from facilities to fleet and technology, rebuilding trust with our riders, employees, and community partners.

These three areas form the foundation for the modern transit system that we are rebuilding.

Next slide.

Federal leaders, including Congressman Castor, Congressman Laura Lee, and the FDA administrative Molinaro recognize the strength of Hart's plan and our commitment to modernization.

Next slide.

This project is the backbone of Hart's long-term reliability strategy.

It positions us for the future phases and continued federal partnership.

Next slide.

Together, these two awards, totally more than 55 million, represent a generational generalizational investment in Hart's future.

They allow us to modernize our fleet, stabilize our maintenance infrastructure, directly improve customer reliability, and focus on work loss development.

Few few agencies nationwide receive this level of federal support.

It reflects confidence in Hart's direction and execution.

Next slide.

When you combine all federal grants, federal formula funds, discretionary wins, and the CNG excise tax credits, Hart secured more than 72 million dollars in federal funding this year.

This is unprecedented, and it gives us the ability to move quickly on modernization while protecting our financial stability.

Next slide.

In addition to our new federal dollars, we strengthen our core financial position.

Our reserve balance reached 37.2 million, which is 125% of the required 90-day operating reserve.

The strongest financial footing Hart has in more than a decade.

We've also drove operational efficiencies, including 552,000 in fair card related savings and 470,000 in piratransit reforms.

Next slide.

Phase one of the heavy maintenance facility is underway.

CADAVL modernization reached key milestones.

We've upgraded lifts, HVA systems, operations centers, and operator spaces.

Streetcar operations also received a dedicated control system, control center.

These improvements improve reliability for the riders and working conditions for our employees.

Next slide.

Streetcar modernization began with Car 431 fully rebuilt.

These are visible, tangible improvements that riders feel every day.

Next slide.

Nearly 80% of our surveyed riders say they plan to continue using the Route One after the pilot ends.

This partnership of the city count city of Tampa is a model for expanding access and building transit momentum in high ridership corridors.

Next slide.

Over the past year, 1,100 plus plus youth participated in the summer transit program, building access access to opportunity and lifelong familiarity with transit.

Our autism awareness boss, ongoing town halls and regional engagement, and Hart's role in emergency preparedness.

These efforts together reinforce Hart as a trusted public resource.

Next slide.

Both ATU and Teamson CBAs are now active through 2027.

We welcomed 120 new operators, reduced paratransit overtime by 34%.

We increased ridership by nearly 15% and expanded training capacity.

Our workforce is the backbone of our success, and FY 2025 brought meaningful improvements.

Next slide.

More from us, especially recognition, fairness, communication, and development.

Their voice directly informs our FY 2026 strategies.

Next slide.

The FY 2025 was a strong year.

Safety exceeded every target.

Financial stability remained strong, and unordered results show that we achieved all five goals.

Community value, benchmarks were surpassed, and employee engagement reached historic highs.

We also see clearly the improvement where the improvement is needed.

OTP, attrition, training, and perception.

And FY 2026 strategies directly address these areas.

Next slide.

These results reflect the reality on the street.

On-time performance is affected by construction and traffic beyond our control, while improvements such as schedule redesigns, new technology, and increased staffing will drive future gains.

On workforce, employee engagement is rising, but we also strengthen development and leadership communication.

And in community value, we are dis were successful in DBE SBE, and we are now following research-based best practices for biannual sentiment reporting.

Next slide.

This is the accountability structure that will guide our execution in FY 2026.

Next slide.

FDA SSO certifications for bus and streetcar were received.

Liability claims were reduced by 68% compared with the 10-year average.

This is the strongest safety and compliance position we've held in years.

Next slide.

Next slide.

The FY 2026 will be about execution.

We will begin procurement on the 33 new CNG buses, advance phase two of the heavy maintenance facility, complete the CAD AVL modernization, deploy emerging technologies at bus stops, and sustained customer experience improvements and operational reliability.

We're positioned, we are positioned for continued progress.

Next slide.

In summary, the FI 25 year 2025 was a year of rebuilding and a year of historic achievement.

Thanks to the federal partners, you our board, our employees in our community, how does on a stronger path than at any point in the last decade.

Thank you for your support and your leadership.

And that concludes my report.

Any question?

Director Hartfield.

Yes, I'd like to commend our CEO, Scott Drainville, his administration and his staff on a job well done.

I would also highly recommend if you're in reader to read Atomic Habits by James Clear for you and the administration.

There's a great anecdote from the book that I'll share with you.

It's based on just making incremental gains.

Thank you.

Any other questions, Couples?

Director Williams.

Thank you.

I just had a statement, just have a statement.

That was a phenomenal performance review as far as the amount of activity that was accomplished and executed upon.

And when you put it in the format that you have just done, it was just significant.

And so I do want to step back and just say, you know, job well done for yourself, your employees, and as well as your administration as well.

And to all of the others that helped outside of the board.

And so I know there was a number of contacts and interactions that took place.

So thanks for your leadership and for your team's work as well, as well as your employees.

Thank you.

I apologize, Mr.

Chair, but I would be remiss in not including Chair Vieira's leadership through that process.

Thank you, Chair.

Any other comments?

I have one uh several, but uh the all these accomplishments were not done just by the CEO, they were done by rank and file staff support, everybody all up and down the line.

Um, but it takes a good leader to bring everything together.

So uh congratulations and kudos to everybody for everything that was accomplished.

Um just absolutely phenomenal.

And uh the results stand for themselves.

Thank you.

Any other questions, Mr.

Strangle?

Anything else?

Very good.

Uh chair's report.

I don't have a whole heck of a lot.

Um, just uh congratulations on the bus grants, that's a big deal.

Um I did get to participate on the holiday uh celebration with the employees at our 21st Avenue, 21st Street.

It was uh uh it was a good time.

There was a lot of a lot of good uh uh memories, I I guess for everybody there.

Um, and just uh I I think that the uh one of the biggest hurdles we have coming up in the media future is the Route One fair reversion, I guess is the best way to put it.

Um I think every I think staff's done a great job in advertising it and keeping that out in everybody's forefront.

That just remember it's gonna happen today, I guess it is, isn't it?

It can't when it went back into effect.

So uh uh it was a good job.

I want to thank Chair Vieira for all the efforts that he has done in the last three years and the the the your your your time on on the board.

Um it's these are just a big chair, big shoes to filled.

I appreciate the confidence and to look forward to working with everybody uh this next year and and keeping the uh the the great strides that Hart has made, keep it going and keep it going down the road.

Um unless of course I get the head coaching job with the buccaneers, and we'll talk about that.

But no nothing.

Okay.

Uh board count board counsel's report is next.

Mr.

Gibson, you're recognized to facilitate the uh uh chief executive officer performance evaluation.

Thank you, Chair Sisler.

Um I appreciate it.

Um as the board will recall during the fall of last year, we went through the process of uh review of the CEO of of uh the heart.

Uh the annual performance appraisal provides the opportunity of the board to formally review, document and recognize the previous year's accomplishments for the CEO.

Uh the board members had an opportunity to complete the performance appraisal, also had an opportunity to review uh a self-appraisal done by Mr.

Drainville.

Uh there's currently a contract in place between Hart and Mr.

Drainville uh for three years with two one-year extensions effective September 12, 2023, pursuant to section seven of the agreement uh entitled Performance of Standards and Evaluation.

The board of directors are is to annually review Mr.

Drainville based on the performance standards currently applicable to the performance of the chief executive officer.

These standards may be updated and or elaborated by the board of directors.

The board of directors may then elect to grant a merit increase at the level budgeted for non-bargaining unit employees based on the determination that applicable performance standards have been achieved or exceeded.

Additionally, the board of directors may evaluate the performance of the chief executive officer on other more subjective criteria that the board should deem appropriate and determine whether a additional merit increase up to 15 percent would be appropriate.

During the process, um staff received 12 completed evaluation forms uh that uh received Mr.

Drainville received a total average rating of a 4.8 out of a level 5.

So next steps for this board um is to review uh the the performance uh evaluation that was done by the individual members, and then really then two separate things.

The the contract provides that the board of directors may elect to grant a merit increase at the level budgeted for non-bargaining unit employees based on the performance standards that are in the performance appraisal, and then secondly, additionally, the board of directors may evaluate the performance of the chief executive on a more subjective criteria deemed completely up to the board's discretion uh and determine whether an additional merit increase of up to 15 percent would be appropriate.

So I turn it over back over to the chair.

Okay, what is the desire of the board?

Having heard the report from the general council, Mr.

Chair, yes, Director Hartford, you're recognized.

I I'd love to hear the um opinion or the feedback from the CEO um in terms of what does he what would he like to see from the board Mr.

Drainville?

Thank you.

Uh you know, uh what I like to see, I think I know I I'm I'm honored to be the CEO here, and I think I've uh established a great relationship with this board.

Uh when it comes just to put into context, if you look at my peer agencies around uh around the state of Florida, I am the lowest paid uh CEO uh out of all the transit agencies in tier one or tier two.

Uh I know uh three and a half years ago the previous CEO was at 287,000 with other perks.

Uh I never asked for that amount of money.

Uh and I did budget for non-binary a four percent raise, which would they will be in their paychecks this week.

So uh I'll stop there and say that.

So that comments director Williams.

Thank you.

Mr.

Drainville, I think when you initially took the job, you did not get a raise or anything.

You took you kept your current salary at the time.

Well, I I took a the salary was two forty-five, but I did both COO and CO positions.

Okay, that's what I recall.

Thank you.

Clarifying Okay.

Uh Commissioner Myers.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

I'm gonna move for a five percent uh merit increase in his pay.

Do we have a motion for five percent?

Do we have a merit increase?

Do we have a second second question if I may?

So I want to make sure I understand what we're doing.

There is the merit increase, and then we can go above that up to 15.

And so uh board member Myers, this motion is for five percent if inclusive of everything, correct?

Correct.

And I will not accept a 15% raise, and employees are not getting that type of raise.

Um CEO Dwaynefield was very aware at the time of taking a position, he was going to be the lowest paid person, and we cannot afford this board to raise him at 15% at this time.

And and and thank you for that, ma'am.

And so my question is um the the merit increase is five percent, correct?

That's the merit, and it's so that would be we would have the option of going up to 20 percent, correct?

That's my understanding.

Is that correct?

The board really it really is up to the board.

The contract provides that they may elect to grant a merit increase uh for what the non-bargaining unit and then separately up to 15 percent, but it really is up to the pleasure of the board.

So if I may, and I love and respect my dear friend uh uh board member Myers, uh, who's such a good person, but I I do think that something above that would be reasonable uh at doing the merit and then 50 percent of what we can go up to at 12.5 percent.

That would be my um my uh decision, and I'll tell you why.

I mean, I've had the great pleasure of working with CO Drainville for the last few years.

I could talk about what a good person he is.

He is a wonderful person that we don't pay people a ton of money because they're wonderful people, right?

Uh, there's a lot of wonderful people out there, but he is a good person, and I think it's important to know that he has gotten us through some very, very rough times.

Um here is an organization.

We've dealt with a lot of different challenges from Tallahassee.

Challenge the chair.

Oh, yes.

Oh, go ahead.

Chair, Commissioner Wassel.

There's a motion on the floor.

Are we entering he's now debating?

Uh are we what are we debating?

What or are we addressing Commissioner Myers' motion, which I'm going to second?

He's he's entering debate.

What are we doing?

Well, I thought we have a second.

We were discussing the motion.

I'm discussing the motion.

Yes.

We did have a second.

We we do have a second.

Yes.

Okay, so we're we are in debate.

Okay.

Okay.

Yep.

May I continue?

Thank you very much.

Let me see where I was.

Um, yes, challenges from Tallahassee.

We've had a lot of different and and when I say challenges, I mean challenges that are at least in 2023, whenever it was legitimate.

There were legitimate questions asked about Hart, and our CEO Drainville um really took to that and I think did very well and continues to lead us in in that regard.

You know, giving the full 15 percent, I I that's not necessarily something we have to do, but above the merit, I think is reasonable.

I think it's reasonable in light of that history it continues today.

That's my opinion for what it's worth.

Thank you.

Chair director, director Ken.

We're currently paying what 2454.

254.8.

What would it take to bring your salary up commensurate with your peers in Florida?

Well, um that's it it ranges from 475 all the way to 250.

Okay.

So when you put it into context, like if you were looking at three years ago what the CEO meet here at Hart, it would be a 12 percent just to get me to where the CEO CEO was three years ago.

Okay.

Um I guess my thought is you you pay for talent.

And you pay for what it takes to keep someone who is talented and who has developed the staff and loyalty uh of across the board with not only the administration but the operators and the board members and the mechanics, and I think you've done that.

So what I'm asking is is what would it really take to put you in a position to where you would be comfortable with your peers.

Would 10 or 12 percent do that or uh what puts you within that ballpark?

Well, I I think 10-10 percent would be would put me in uh a competitive range with my peers.

Okay, I would move to amend the motion to 10 percent at least.

Okay.

Procedurally, we would need to ask the maker of the question.

Well, I'm sure that's that's a sub-motion, which we can make.

And uh she can accept it as a friendly amendment, or we can vote on it.

Correct.

I would like I would like to uh discuss that for just a second.

Um I I'm reluctant as a board member to support something without data.

And I would like to what I would would if I in an ideal world, what I'd like to do is on the merit side, support the merit increase and then continue that discussion with the staff coming back with an uh the the data and the and the figures from the other competitive uh transportation organizations so that we can actually see what other organizations and the size and scale they are and be able to compare their uh compensation to what we're compensating for.

So at least then I can go back and justify uh the whatever raise that is, you know, to make it reasonable.

But I think we need to do that.

So I would say I would suggest that we continue your motion to a future meeting uh once staff brings that data to us and we can see it.

I I don't have a problem with that.

Yeah, Director King.

I'm sorry, Director Knight.

Thank you.

Yeah, uh Director Myers and also Director Clinton.

Uh agree with the same thing.

I think is too premature to make a decision today.

That's get information data to get out.

That's in order.

Including chair, just like we did evaluation, get it together, do uh homework, and then come back uh with the uh on where we're going.

I don't feel comfortable not knowing everything to try to vote on something like this as important as that today.

Okay, Mr.

Dredgill, do we what kind of general counsel has the salaries of the CEOs across the state?

Yes, staff staff had had um gathered that information.

I do think it makes sense and to that we maybe take up the one issue and then pass this information on to the board members so that they can have it and mull it over and ask questions instead of just passing it out here and making a decision now.

I think it it probably does make sense to to take a little bit of time uh and take that up at the next meeting.

So I would call the question on the initial motion from uh director myers.

Okay, all right.

So let's let's start a call.

Can we immediately take a vote on the issue of calling the question?

And I I withdraw my amendment.

Okay, uh so we have a motion at five percent for now, and then we'll come back with a separate motion to review the additional information we have.

Okay, so we have a motion and second, and you have a comment on the motion.

Oh, sorry, you have an opinion.

We've got to call the questions, so we have an immediate vote on calling the question.

Which requires a two-thirds vote, correct?

Correct.

Okay.

Uh so staff of the.

Danielle, would you please?

This is on the issue of calling the question of whether there will be a vote on the underlying motion director Clendennan?

Yes.

Yes.

Director King?

Yes.

Yes.

Director Mac Alpatrick.

Yes.

Director McCannick.

Director Miller.

Yes.

Director Myers?

Yes.

Director Nebrick.

Yes.

Director Schisler.

Chair Schissler, sorry.

Uh Director Vieira.

I still want to talk, so I'll say no.

Is that a yes?

No, there's a no.

That was a no.

Okay.

Thank you.

Uh Director Williams?

Yes.

Director Wolstool.

No.

All right.

So the call the question passes.

Now we immediately move to voting on the underlying motion.

For specificity on the motion.

Not comments, it's a question.

Yes.

And board member Myers, if you want to go first.

If correct if what we voted on.

Is this a continuing?

This is the question.

No, we're voting on your motion.

I understand we're voting on your original motion for the five percent merit, and then we'll come back afterwards with the with the with the uh the secondary information.

May I Mike if I may question is so by voting for this, this does not preclude additional uh uh uh change in the salary, correct?

It does not.

Okay, because that's my yes.

Okay, yeah, thank you.

That was my understanding also.

Yes.

So it's down that you'll call the underlying vote.

Director Clendon?

Yes.

Director Hartfield, yes.

Yes, Director Knight?

Yes, Director King.

Or I apologize, Director Knight, Director Mack Alpatrick, I apologize.

Yes, Director McCannick, Director Miller, yes.

Yes, Director Nebrick, yes, Director Schisler.

No.

Director Vieira?

Yes, Director Williams?

Director Wolfsol.

Yes.

Motion passes 11 to 1.

Okay, yes.

So I I'll work with staff to ensure that all the board members receive the information about the other uh uh other jurisdictions.

Uh so that the issue can be taken up at a further board at an additional board meeting.

So we can capture that as a motion.

I make a motion for that.

I would like to have a motion on the record for that.

Yeah, I would I'd motion that uh direct staff to return uh the information on uh competitive regional transit authorities around the state of Florida, their salaries of their CEOs, uh at our next regularly scheduled heart meeting.

Gary Hartfield second.

Question if I um and I if I may, thank you, uh Mr.

Chair.

I have a question for our council.

Um, do you have the list there?

I do, but I don't believe it's a complete list, and that's that's one of the reasons I didn't really want to get into it.

I think there's additional data that I don't have sitting in front of me.

So just so that I know because I I haven't seen it.

How many names do we have there roughly?

Uh no names, there's regional entities, and there's at least uh seven, eight different regional uh transportation organizations.

Are any under 250?

No.

Okay, yeah.

So I'll all vote for this, right?

But with the the strong opinion that we do need to raise our CEO's salary.

I know we can do up to 15 percent, we can do whatever, but I think at least going half of that brings us above that level.

Um I think the numbers will very likely bear that out.

But again, I want to say I'm voting for this.

I would rather deal with it today, but if the board needs more time, so long as it's retroactive, I'm fine with that.

So yeah, but again, that is my intent to support an increase based upon the demonstrated work of our wonderful CEO through very difficult times.

I I do Director Williams, I think first.

Okay, um, including um the information that you have, you just mentioned what I like to see the employee in his direct report, the salaries of his direct report, because there should be some variance from direct report to Mr.

Dreamville.

Understood.

Okay, thank you.

Okay, thanks.

Direct director wild.

Uh director director Knight.

Okay.

Yeah, and uh crew it directing Vero.

Uh when we come back next next month.

Should be a problem.

Realize that just like we do on other vote agreed.

Director Wastel.

I don't always see that light lit so that's okay.

I just have a quick statement and then a question.

Does your does your report also include the total amount of tax revenue that those other organ peer organizations levy?

That's not in the information that I have, but that's some things that I mean we certainly look into.

Yeah, we can't make the decision um not understanding their revenue streams.

And um I would just say that you know I've I've been the biggest and loudest supporter um of Mr.

Drainville, and we've heard some comments over the past couple of years about um from the former chair about how proud he was that things kept nonpartisan in this atmosphere.

But then the former chair is also making comments about the hardships, and when we're talking about the CEO's role and the pay, I've never pointed it out before, but I'm gonna point it out today that the former chair was one of the people that blindly voted for the former CEO.

That led to almost the bankruptcy and shuttering of this organization.

And it's extremely important that we don't go over our skis when we look at rewarding people.

I believe that CEO Drainsville has done a phenomenal job.

He's always been direct, open, and transparent, but we do not have peer organizations.

There's nothing equivalent to if we go and look at Orlando or Miami, they probably levy ex extraordinary higher amounts of revenue on their citizens than we do here in Hillsborough County.

And I do want him to be rewarded, but I also want us to continue riding this ship in a stable fashion.

I don't want past comments to be able to be um diluted or dissuade us in the direction of that we used to be and where we're going.

He deserves commiserate pay.

I've said that every single time in every single meeting.

I think that you've done a wonderful job, and I hope that you keep doing a wonderful job.

But the organization is just at the point that it's at.

Um I believe that Commissioner Myers' motion is the appropriate amount of um funding.

That's what was budgeted, and that's why I will continue to support.

Thank you.

If I may respond to that, I think it's very unfortunate, board member Wosell that you would make remarks like that when you're in public office.

You know, you make a number of votes, things that in retrospect maybe you wouldn't have gone through.

I think it's also unfortunate to put a target on me.

Let's just say that my name for now will be Lewis Hagen.

Thank you.

Okay, all right.

Let's let's bring this up.

I I think that I I think that I've made very valid points.

Um that that comment has never been pointed out publicly, but people do deserve accountability, including those on this board, and we make the decisions that make financial detriment to this organization.

We can't continue to um ponytail wag up here like we're immune to the problems that existed when we were in fact some of the ones that made those motions to put those people in charge.

Thank you.

Okay, Director King.

Um, can we get input from the CFO as to how any salary increase is going to affect the overall budget?

Yes, we can supply that information.

Okay.

Yes, Ms.

Warren.

Ms.

Williams, I'm sorry.

Excuse me.

I was just gonna ask to include what the sale was for the same.

Yeah, non-bargains 4%.

Thank you, very much.

Okay.

So I believe we still have a motion on the floor on the floor.

Motion, please.

Yes, I'm just gonna say please repeat the motion.

Whoever's got it.

It was uh Director Clendon's motion.

No, we just posted that we're we're on to five percent of a person.

Or is that just been dispersed?

That would be okay.

All right, so we're not we're just bringing this back.

We were we're setting uh we no, you have a motion on the agenda items.

So the motion was for staff to bring back the information on other regional affairs.

Authorities, uh CEO's salary, and I'll accept the uh friendly amendment from Director Williams to include the information on the uh the salary of their direct report so we know what the the gap is between those two salaries at our next regular uh scheduled meeting.

And you want information about the taxing authority, just the revenue, just the revenue, okay.

Except that as a friendly amendment.

We have a motion, we have a re uh restate a second.

On the record, it was my second.

Okay, all right.

Uh Danielle, please roll call.

Director Clendon, yes.

Yes, King?

Yes, Director Knight?

Yes, Director MacAlfatrack.

Yes, Director Miller.

Yes, Director Myers, yes, director Nebrick, yes, Chair Schussler, yes, Director Vieira, yes, Director Williams, yes, and Director Wolstall, yes.

Motion passes unanimously.

Very good, thank you.

Okay, um, item number 10.

We have the heart board committee reports in section 10 of your packet.

Uh the reports from the heart board representatives are in section 11 for the packet, and then various information reports are provided in section 12.

Um, is there any old business?

Period to be none, any new business.

Ms.

Myers, you're recognized.

Thank you.

Um thank you, Mr.

Chair.

One of the things I want to bring up, I've been on the hard board since 2020 when I got elected to the Board of County Commissioners.

And since I've been on this board and listening to public comments uh going on now six years, the employees that work for HART always comes and share with the board different um different problems, different concerns being terminated for whatever reason, and I appreciate staff being in our meetings and all uh, but just last month and ending October, October, November, December, I received phone calls from employees that were were terminated, and um it led me to where I'm going today to ask for an internal investigation of human resources in our bus operations because over the past five years, it's hard for me to continue to sit here and hear employees at the employee come and share information of being terminated, presenting the same information to heart, and I think at this point I would like um to move for an investigation outside.

I know um council Adams is uh counsel for for uh heart, but being that the employees, former employees of heart continues to come, and I sit on eight or nine other boards, and I don't hear this in my other board meetings of what is going on at a board that I sit on.

So I really believe there's some valid issues that is what's going on.

We just cannot look at and listen to the employee, but we also need to look at to the former employee, I should say, but also look at the situation of the current employees that are working for heart, and the former employees are coming and presenting their case, and it's been denied, and they've been terminated.

We hear their comments, and this is the reason I want to move for an outside investigation, external investigation with our HR department, our bus operation, and to get to the bottom of this, so in 2026, we don't have to hear continuously at most of our meetings the same thing of how employees are being terminated.

So I think there is an issue within the organization.

There's an issue.

How do we resolve the issue?

What policies of procedures we're going to put in place so when an employee employee is terminated, we have all the information there presenting the facts, still been denied in all.

As a board member myself, I can no longer just sit here and say, Oh, it's okay.

I hear their public comments.

What are we going to do?

That is my motion, Mr.

Chair.

Okay.

We have a motion.

Do we have a second?

Oh, if I may.

Um I'm I'm glad the second amendment obviously we need more specificity on what it is if we're looking at having Mr.

Adams, who's obviously a wonderful labor employment attorney, you know, meet with some employees on some allegations to see if there is some level of investigation or inquiry for the employees.

I think I think that's reasonable.

Um just uh make sure we don't have an issue.

I I that's not anything that's adverse to anybody, just in in listening to folks, and I'm okay with that.

To our uh before we do anything any comment to our attorney, what uh go over your uh admonitions again uh for the public comment for the board to how we how we're supposed to handle this type of a situation.

Well, I can read it directly.

Um Mr.

Chair members of the public have a right to speak on any relevant issue during the public comment process.

However, certain items may be rooted in contract pending legal recourse or prohibited by board policy, which prohibits involvement by this board in the normal employer-employee relationship between the CEO and any other employee or employee union of the heart.

All the public could address those matters, board members are advised not to discuss them during the open meeting.

Well, uh it seems to me we're we're running through a mind field here with the with this issue, and I I'm I'm concerned that we're we're set we're policy, we're not day-to-day operations.

Um what is your advice on the uh the efficacy of the motion?

Do you have do you have a feeling on it?

Um well uh based upon what you just read.

Certainly the the it is the will of the board and and staff will will move at the will of the board.

The board's role is policy though, uh, and it is the CEO's uh job to uh to manage the employee employer uh management.

Uh I would stick with the advice that the the board uh should not address that during this meeting.

That being said, uh the staff and me will will operate at the will of the board.

I would urge I would urge us not as empathetic as I am uh and as as pro-labor as I am, but we have two bargaining units representing employees of heart, and they have the exclusive uh uh rights to be able to represent those employees and and work with management.

And I think what this would do is it would actually violate their standing and the recognizing they're they are the exclusive representatives of these employees.

Um I don't think we should open up that can of arms.

Any other comments on the motions?

I have a quick question.

Go ahead.

Okay, uh, director knight.

Yeah, and like I said earlier, who has uh Mr.

Drainville to get in that information with the with the uh union representation as well, try to iron this out of whatever legally can be done.

I request is to have it done.

We shouldn't have to go through unless 2026 be a lot better than 2025.

So I'm I'm forward.

Um I'm coming from 36 years, pro-union, pro uh even with company.

I worked in all things with Tampa Electric, and never have I seen it with this.

We can do a lot of great things, but there's something too, shall pass.

So whatever it takes to uh keep everybody in that team.

I just have a quick question for Ms.

Bailey.

I know.

It's really simple though.

You you handle these issues, correct, Miss Bailey.

Do you do you trust do you trust your process, Miss Bailey?

I do.

You've always offered me sound legal advice, so I won't be supporting the motion on that answer.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Any other comments?

I see a light down there.

Um my comment is uh several facets.

One with the with this the CBA's.

Um there's there's processes that are well spelled out.

And uh yes, to Ms.

Myers' um uh comments.

Yes, there's been a significant not for sure, there's actually been a decrease in complaints in the last few months, but uh for a while there was this bell curve, and it was like virtually nothing.

Then somebody said that the board has a a sensitive ear, and then it was just floods, a flood of people coming in.

And it was standing remotely, people out the door and everything else, and we kept kicking it back to the uh human resources to to to Mr.

Drainville, and it's it's it seems to have peaked.

And it and it is on it, and in my mind it's on its way down.

Um I don't want to get in that land that that landmine.

It's it's it's very, very dangerous.

We're we're we're we're trying to do the administration's job, and that's not what we're here for.

Um I too trust Ms.

Bailey and her staff and everything that these guys do.

Um if there's a problem, I expect them to bring it to us.

Uh I'm not going to support the motion, although I I am sensitive to it, and I understand when somebody's lost their job, if they feel that they haven't they've lost it uh incorrectly or inappropriately, then they they potentially need an ear.

But I think we have processes in place to address that.

So uh that that's my position on it at this point.

Um no other further comment.

We have a motion to second no discussion, Ms.

Danielle.

Would you please take a roll call?

Yes, Chair.

Director Clendon?

No.

Director Hartfield?

No.

Doctor King?

No.

Director Knight?

Director Mac Alpatrick?

No.

Doctor Miller.

No.

Yes, I want to support my own motion.

Thank you.

Thank you, ma'am.

Director Never.

No.

Chair Schesler?

No.

Yes.

No.

Director Wolstall.

No.

Okay.

The motion fails on the fails 10 to two.

Thank you very much.

Any other new business?

So I see you all gonna take care of it.

Okay.

Very good.

Okay, no other new business.

This meeting stands adjourned.

Thank you very much.

Everybody have a great week.