GTA gives a conditional offer to new general manager

Moses Lake — The Grant Transit Authority (GTA) board of directors made a conditional offer of employment for the open general manager position during a regular GTA board meeting on Thursday evening, Sept. 19.

The final two candidates for the general manager position were present at the meeting to go through final interview questions before the board and the public. They were asked what describes themselves, their previous management jobs, why they left their last transit jobs and why they would be a good general manager for GTA. They were also given the opportunity to ask the board questions.

Once the interviews were complete, the board went into executive session for close to 45 minutes while they discussed each candidate. In the end, the board voted to conditionally offer the job to Greg Wright, a former GTA general manager. Wright was the GTA general manager for seven years before taking a job with the Washington State Department of Transportation.

“I left GTA on very good terms,” said Wright. “It was important for me to make sure the organization was fiscally and financially sound.”

When Wright left GTA, he made sure the transit company had reserves in the bank. He said that he is very conservative with finances and likes to do things in baby steps.

“It is important to be very frugal,” Wright said. “We’re working with and spending taxpayer dollars. I left a very healthy organization. That was important to me.”

The board authorized GTA staff to enter into contract negotiations with Wright. His contract will be approved by the board at a later meeting.

In other business, the board approved GTA’s six-year Transportation Development Plan. This plan is updated annually. Interim general manager Terry Weed said that the forecast budget is predicted to be balanced throughout the plan. A public hearing was held prior to the board vote.

GTA’s financial statement for August showed a profit in spite of three payrolls during the month, according to Amanda Walker, accountant for GTA.

The board approved a bargaining agreement with the GTA driver’s union, the Amalgamated Transit Union, to allow the bus dispatchers into the union. As part of the agreement a new wage schedule was approved.

The board authorized a rebuilt replacement engine for bus 3207. The purchase price was above Weed’s purchasing authority. The cost for the engine is $27,685.81.

The board voted to postpone a vote on paying social security for employees. Twenty-eight of 39 employees signed a petition asking the transit agency to start making social security payments for employees. If a person does not pay into five years or more, they receive less when they retire. One GTA employee recently had this issue. To avoid this for other employees, they have asked for this benefit. The board wanted to get more information on the subject before taking a vote. The subject will be visited again in a later meeting.

Rachal Pinkerton may be reached via email at rpinkerton@suntribunenews.com.