Top 10 ways to improve transparency at AATA, according to Ted Annis

Ted Annis, left, at a board meeting earlier this year.

1. The complete AATA check register for the previous full year.

2. The names, titles, and actual calendar year compensation of all personnel starting in January 2010 with 2009 payroll data.

3. The aggregate overtime for the previous two full years.

4. The travel and expense reports for the previous two years.

5. The newly developed "Report to the Treasurer - Financial Statements."

6. The union contract.

7. The MRide contract.

8. All purchase of service agreement charges.

9. The cost per bus service hour for the last two years with comparative data for transit systems in Bay City, Mich., Knoxville, Tenn., Bakersfield, Calif., and Reno, Nev.

10. The monthly report by route showing ridership, including MRide.

Annis said increased transparency is important as the agency potentially looks to go before voters with a request to expand services countywide.

"Transparency ... is very important to having the rest of the world understand what we're all about," he told fellow board members.

Board Chairman Paul Ajegba said he had concerns that posting salary information on the Web site would be "not good for morale." He said the agency already is transparent because all of that information is available through the Freedom of Information Act.

"The public, the press, anybody can FOIA any documents in here," he said.

After some discussion, Ajegba and other board members agreed to have CEO Michael Ford evaluate the 10 recommendations and have them evaluated by the agency's various committees.

Annis' report also calls for improving and reconfiguring the agency's cramped board room to accommodate more people and allow CTN to broadcast meetings.

Prior to tonight's meeting, AATA staff worked to arrange a makeshift board room in the agency's offices that accommodates 12 more people, but that may be only a temporary measure. Audience members said they had a hard time hearing board members speak due to the configuration.

AATA officials are considering constructing a new board room with accommodations for up to 100 people when the Blake Transit Center downtown is demolished and rebuilt. The board approved a resolution tonight to move forward with the process of selecting a firm to design and build a new facility to replace the 1987-era bus station.

As for Annis' call to televise AATA board meetings, board member David Nacht said he has long supported that idea, but it has been voted down before. Board member Jesse Bernstein said it makes sense to discuss the idea again now since the agency has a new CEO and is looking to expand services countywide.

"I think there's a change in the environment and we'll take a look at it and see," he said.

Ford announced tonight he'll be bringing a recommendation to the board in January to get support for hiring a consultant to help the agency develop a countywide service plan.

Board member Sue McCormick said she hopes to see the agency go out to each of the communities and population segments in Washtenaw County to find out exactly what services people want and build the countywide service plan around that.

Annis noted toward the beginning of tonight's meeting that it was nice to see a one-page summary of the agency's year-to-date operating statements and balance sheet included in the board packet.

"This report makes a flinty eyed treasurer a happy guy," he said. "This is the kind of information I think a treasurer should have."

Reports show AATA's operating expenses have increased by about 6 percent this year. The cost paid by riders is up despite a continued ridership decline due to a bus fare increase.

Ryan J. Stanton covers government for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529.