COMMITTEES
Large bodies such as the MBTA Advisory Board’s 176 members function effectively with robust and active committee structures. The Advisory Board’s committees are where much of the organization’s work takes place, and where members can have the greatest impact on the MBTA.

OFFICERS:

Hon. Thomas Koch as Chair, City of Quincy

Hon. Sean Reardon as Vice Chairperson, City of Newburyport

Colette Aufranc as Treasurer, Town of Wellesley

Michael Dutton, JD as Secretary/Clerk, Town of Bridgewater

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:

M.G.L. c. 161A, § 7A, provides that the Advisory Board may delegate its power of approval to an Executive Committee formed and elected pursuant to the duly adopted by-laws of the board and constituting among its members at least one-half of the total weighted vote of the Board. The Executive Committee shall make recommendations for action to the Advisory Board and may act as the delegate of the Advisory Board consistent with the language in the enabling legislation. The Executive Committee may create, from time to time, such other sub-committees as further the purpose and goals of the Advisory Board. Said sub-committees shall meet in accordance with the provisions of the Open Meeting Law, M.G.L. c. 30A, § 18-25. Notice of time, place, and topics of each meeting shall be posted in electronic format by the Secretary/Clerk, or their designee. A quorum shall consist of a simple majority of sub-committee members, but never less than three members. The sub-committee may act by the affirmative casting of a majority of the votes represented in the quorum.
Members (A-Z by Municipality)
Lenard Diggins, Town of Arlington
Robert Scherer, Town of Ashland
Roy Epstein, PhD, Town of Belmont
Matthew Moran, City of Boston
Michael Dutton JD, Town of Bridgewater (Secretary/Clerk)
Robert King P.E., Town of Brookline
Susanne Rasmussen, City of Cambridge
P. Christopher Podgurski, Town of Canton
John DePriest, City of Chelsea
Jay Monty, City of Everett
Yem Lip, P.E., City of Malden
Hon. Breanna Lungo-Koehn, City of Medford (Vice Chair)
Michael F. Zullas, Town of Milton
Josh Ostroff, Town of Natick
Hon. Sean Reardon, City of Newburyport (Vice Chair)
David Koses, City of Newton
Joseph Collins, Town of Norwood
Hon. Thomas P. Koch, City of Quincy (Chair)
Hon. Patrick M. Keefe Jr, City of Revere
Hanna Switlekowski, Town of Sharon
Brad Rawson, City of Somerville
Debra Roberts, Town of Stoughton
Hon. Shaunna O’Connell, City of Taunton
Steve Magoon, Town of Watertown
Colette Aufranc, Town of Wellesley (Treasurer)
Todd Kirrane, City of Worcester

COMMITTEES

(Listed A-Z by municipality)

BUDGET & AUDIT COMMITTEE:

Chaired by the body’s Treasurer, the Budget & Audit Committee is charged with the development and oversight of the organization’s annual internal budget, which includes all office space, staff employment costs, and other related costs. It shall also receive any financial audits conducted of the body’s books and finances, and work with the Executive Director to ensure full compliance with all appropriate financial monitoring and oversight policies and procedures.

Robert King P.E., Town of Brookline

Lia Fabian, Town of Lakeville

Hon. Breanna Lungo-Koehn, City of Medford

Sean Hendricks, Town of Millbury

Andrew Levine, City of Newburyport

Frank Tramontozzi, P.E., City of Quincy

Daniel Carty, Town of Sudbury

Colette Aufranc, Town of Wellesley (Chair)

BY-LAW COMMITTEE:

Review and rewrite MBTA Advisory Board By-laws. This committee, along with the Executive Committee, can introduce amendments to the body’s by-laws for the full Advisory Board to consider at its annual general meeting held each June.

Michael Dutton JD, Town of Bridgewater (Chair
Michael Serino, Town of Saugus
Hanna Switlekowski, Town of Sharon
Steve Olanoff, Town of Westwood
Tina Cassidy, City of Woburn

CAPITAL BUDGET REVIEW COMMITTEE:

Charged with the ongoing review of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s capital spending plans, including its annual Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), and the quinquennial Program for Mass Transportation (PMT). These reviews consider the Authority’s proposals and assumptions of revenue and expense and highlight any changes in spending compared to prior years, or that seem unreasonable in the opinion of the committee. These reports also include recommendations to policy makers about certain projects or programs, or other capital spending matters deemed important to member communities by the Committee.

Kristie Hostetter, City of Boston

Susanne Rasmussen, City of Cambridge (Chair) 

James Hoyes, Town of Hanover

Yem Lipp, P.E., City of Malden

Frank Tramontozzi, P.E., City of Quincy

Daniel Carty, Town of Sudbury

Karen B. Canfield, City of Scituate
Chester Obsorne, Town of Maynard 
Alan Slavin, Town of Wareham


 CLIMATE & CLEAN ENERGY COMMITTEE:

This committee reviews MBTA’s efforts to de-carbonize. Understanding that the MBTA is the largest provider of emission-free transportation in New England, this committee considers the Authority’s strategic climate plans, comments upon such plans, and recommends strategies and actions for the full body to consider. Meets quarterly with MBTA senior staff working on climate, sustainability, and de-carbonization.

Alex Hagerty, Town of Abington

Katherine Eshel, City of Boston 

Leila Mekias, City of Cambridge

Susan Barrett, Town of Lexington (Chair)
Dan Albert, Town of Marblehead
Colette Aufranc, Town of Wellesley
Steve Olanoff, Town of Westwood

COMMUTER RAIL COMMITTEE:

Review of MBTA’s Commuter Rail operations, contracting processes, expansions/transformation concepts and pilot programs. Meets quarterly with senior MBTA and contractor staff to discuss service-related matters, rail policies, schedule changes, and the future of rail in the region. Meets 3-4 times per year.

Alex Hagerty, Town of Abington 
Robert Scherer, Town of Ashland (Chair)
Roy Epstein, PhD, Town of Belmont
Robert Rulli, Town of Bridgewater
Alan Castaline, City of Brockton

Peter Meier, Town of Bourne
P. Christopher Podgurski, Town of Canton
Brian E. Glennon II, Town of Duxbury

Bruce Leicher, Town of Harvard
Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett, Town of Hanson
Lia Fabian, Town of Lakeville
Dan Albert, Town of Marblehead

Greg Guimond, Town of Marshfield
Chester Osborne, Town of Maynard
Kevin Kalkut, Town of Norfolk
Colette Aufranc, Town of Wellesley (Vice Chair)
Adam Linn, Town of West Bridgewater

Steve Olanoff, Town of Westwood
Todd Kirrane, Town of Worcester  

FERRY COMMITTEE:

Oversight of ferry operations, review of ferry contract process, and discussions about the future of ferry service, ferry pilots. Comprised of communities that host MBTA ferry service, or those who wish to, this committee meets quarterly with senior MBTA and Keolis executives to discuss service-related matters, ferry policies, and the future of ferries in the Commonwealth. 

Rich McGuinness, City of Boston
James Hoyes, Town of Hanover
Katie Goldrick, Town of Holbrook
Hon. Jared Nicholson, City of Lynn (Chair)
Yem Lipp, P.E., City of Malden
Frank Tramontzzi P.E., City of Quincy
Tom Devine AICP, City of Salem

MBTA OPERATING BUDGET REVIEW COMMITTEE:

The ongoing review of MBTA finances in general, and specifically the development of an annual report scrutinizing the Authority’s operating budget. This report considers the Authority’s proposals and assumptions of revenue and expense and highlight any changes in spending compared to prior years, or that seem unreasonable in the opinion of the committee. The report also includes recommendations to policy makers on changes to improve the overall financial health of the MBTA.

Roy Epstein, PhD, Town of Belmont (Chair)
Matthew Petersen, City of Boston
Andy Reker, City of Cambridge
Michael Dutton JD, Town of Bridgewater

Alan Castaline P.E., City of Brockton
James Hoyes, Town of Hanover
Josh Ostroff, Town of Natick
Duncan Allen, P.E., Town of Needham
Frank Tramontozzi, P.E., City of Quincy
Debra Roberts, Town of Stoughton (Vice Chair)

RAPID TRANSIT COMMITTEE:

Review of MBTA’s bus, heavy rail, light rail, and paratransit operations including transformation initiatives, expansion proposals, and pilot programs. Meets quarterly with senior MBTA operations staff to discuss service-related matters, policies, schedule changes, and the future of rapid transit in the region. Meets 3-4 times per year.

Lenard Diggins, Town of Arlington (Vice Chair)

Matthew Moran, City of Boston (Chair)
Alan Castaline P.E., City of Brockton
Robert King P.E., Town of Brookline
Andy Reker, City of Cambridge
John DePriest, City of Chelsea
Jay Monty, City of Everett
Susan Barrett, Town of Lexington
Todd Blake, City of Medford
Michael F. Zullas, Town of Milton
David Koses, City of Newton
Frank Tramontozzi,P.E., City of Quincy
Steve Olanoff, Town of Westwood