EZ Rider Advisory Committee

Chapel Hill Transit and its funding partners through the Chapel Hill Transit Partners Committee has established a paratransit advisory committee, formally known as the EZ Rider Advisory Committee; in order make sure our transit/transportation system is serving the needs of persons with disabilities in the Chapel Hill Transit service area. The committee’s objectives are to:

• Developing changes to procedures or policies related to EZ Rider and Fixed Route Services (in order to ensure our system is serving the needs of persons with disabilities within our service area).
• Reviewing budgets and grant applications.
• Providing input on updates to EZ Rider documents.
• Outreach to people with disabilities who need to know about EZ Rider and/or accessible Fixed-Route Services.
• Offer a forum for the community to bring their comments or concerns about EZ Rider and/or Fixed-Route service issues.
• Prepare comments and written recommendations for the Chapel Hill Transit Partners Committee and Chapel Hill Transit staff about transit/transportation issues affecting persons with disabilities.

Meeting Dates

The EZ Rider Advisory Committee meets the second Wednesday of every month (except – insert months without meetings if any) at 4 p.m. in a meeting room at the Chapel Hill Public Library at 100 Library Drive, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, unless otherwise posted. All meetings are open to the public. No person shall be denied access to any meeting of the EZ Rider Advisory Committee unless that person is disruptive or otherwise prevents or impedes the business of the Committee.

 Committee Members

The Chapel Hill Transit Partners Committee will appoint all members of the EZ Rider Advisory Committee in accordance with the following guidelines:

CONSITENT WITH TOWN GUIDELINES FOR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS

• Membership:
  • Any person interested in membership on the EZ Rider Advisory Committee shall contact the Advisory Committee Chair, Committee Staff liaison, or any member of the Chapel Hill Transit Partners Committee to request consideration for membership. The Advisory Committee may also recommend to the Chairperson of the Partners Committee, a person or persons to be considered for membership. Interested persons will send their request in typed or written format regarding their background and qualifications for membership. No formal application shall be required, and the Partners Committee will make its appointments based upon the information provided by the prospective member and any other sources it deems appropriate.
  • A list of open seats on the Advisory Committee and the expiration of the terms of the current members shall be maintained by Chapel Hill Transit staff, with assistance from the EZ Rider Advisory Committee, and shall be made available to the public or to the Advisory Committee (or any member thereof) upon written request.
• Length of Term:
  • Members serve staggered three-year terms which shall expire on June 30. However, members may serve until their successors have been appointed.
  • Please note that members who are appointed by the Chapel Hill Transit Partners Committee may be removed at any time by a vote of the Committee.
• Consecutive Terms:
  • No one shall serve on the EZ Rider Advisory Committee for more than two consecutive full terms. Following a one-year absence, an individual is eligible to serve again on the Committee. The Partners Committee may reappoint an individual for an additional one-year term following two consecutive terms, by resolution for the purpose of completing ongoing projects.
  • Additionally, when a vacancy occurs before the scheduled end of a term, the person appointed to such a vacancy shall complete the term of the seat. This is considered a partial term and the individual will be eligible for two additional full-terms on the board.  
• Attendance:
  • In order to be considered a member in good standing and to be eligible for reappointment to the EZ Rider Advisory Committee, members must have attended 80% of scheduled meetings and trainings during their previous term. The Committee Chair and Chapel Hill Transit staff shall report to the Transit Partners Committee any members who are not meeting attendance requirements. 
  • Such a report should be included as part of the EZ Rider Advisory Committee’s recommendation for reappointment, but may also be submitted to the Transit Partners Committee as part of a request for member removal.
• Leave of Absence:
  • Leaves of absence from boards shall be approved by the Transit Partners Committee and shall not exceed five months. No interim appointments will be made.
• Resignations:
  • Resignations shall be submitted in writing via hardcopy or email to the Chair of the Transit Partners Committee or to the Transit Partners Committee, who shall forward the original written resignation to Chapel Hill Transit staff for notification.
• Composition:
  • The EZ Rider Advisory Committee shall be made up of seven (7) members. Each Chapel Hill Transit funding partner (Town of Chapel Hill, Town of Carrboro and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) will have one (1) representative. Four (4) representatives will be EZ Rider customers, from organizations involved in issues that concern persons with disabilities or private citizens who advocate for the needs of persons with disabilities.

 Quorum and Voting

• Quorum is a majority of members excluding any vacant seats. Unless otherwise specified herein, a majority vote of those voting members in attendance, a quorum being present, shall be required to approve any motion or action of the EZ Rider Advisory Committee.

Chapel Hill Transit Support and Responsibilities

• As authorized by the Transit Partners Committee, and as assigned or delegated by the Town Manager or Transit Director, Chapel Hill Transit staff, is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the transit and paratransit (EZ Rider) systems.
• The Chapel Hill Transit Director shall designate staff responsible to support the EZ Rider Advisory Committee’s functions, meetings and records. The EZ Rider Advisory Committee shall be informed of any changes in such assignment(s).

Advisory Committee Records and Meeting Materials

• Chapel Hill Transit staff shall prepare records and a summary of EZ Rider Advisory Committee meetings in draft form and shall maintain these as approved by the EZ Rider Advisory Committee. Chapel Hill Transit staff shall be responsible for preparing materials in advance of EZ Rider Advisory Committee meetings and ensuring their delivery to EZ Rider Advisory Committee members in a timely manner. Upon request, materials will be provided in an accessible format. If information relating to the EZ Rider Advisory Committee is requested by a member of the public, Chapel Hill Transit staff shall be responsible for providing it in a manner consistent with applicable law(s).

Officers

• The officers of the EZ Rider Advisory Committee shall consist of a Chairperson and a Vice- Chairperson. The officers shall be voting members. The Chairperson and the Vice-Chairperson shall be elected annually by the EZ Rider Advisory Committee and approved by Chapel Hill Transit Partners Committee. Officers can serve no longer than (2) two consecutive (1) one-year terms in each position. In the event an officer is unable to complete a term, the vacant office shall be filled in the same manner as it was originally filled.

• THE FOLLOWING IS CONSISTENT WITH TOWN GUIDANCE FOR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS
• Duties of Chairperson
  • Develop meeting agenda & packet with Staff Liaison
  • Facilitate discussion
  • Ensure interests of the Chapel Hill Transit funding partners are met
  • Sign documents and represent Committee as appropriate
  • Call special meetings in accordance with the North Carolina Open Meetings Law, with Chapel Hill Transit staff assistance.
• Vice-Chair’s Responsibilities
  • To fulfill the Chair’s responsibilities in his/her absence.

Ethics Guidelines

All advisory board and commission members and applicants shall agree to comply with the following ethics guidelines adopted by the Council on March 1, 1999:

Ethics Guidelines for Town Advisory Boards and Commissions

Members of advisory boards and commissions shall not discuss, advocate, or vote on any matter in which they have a conflict of interest or an interest which reasonably might appear to be in conflict with the concept of fairness in dealing with public business. A conflict of interest or a potential conflict occurs if a member has a separate, private, or monetary interest, either direct or indirect, in any issue or transaction under consideration. Any member who violates this provision may be subject to removal from the board or commission.

If the advisory board or commission member believes he/she has a conflict of interest then that member should ask the advisory board or commission to be recused from voting. The advisory board or commission should then vote on the question on whether or not to excuse the member making the request. In cases where the individual member or the advisory board or commission establishes a conflict of interest, then the advisory board or commission member shall remove themselves from the voting area.

Any advisory board or commission member may seek the counsel of the Town Attorney on questions regarding the interpretation of these ethics guidelines or other conflict of interest matters. The interpretation may include a recommendation on whether or not the advisory board or commission member should excuse himself/herself from voting. The advisory board or commission member may request the Town Attorney respond in writing.

EZ Rider Advisory Committee Guidelines: Adopted and Approved by the Transit Partners Committee effective August 28, 2018.