RTD Board of Directors enacts new structure to its committees

Starting this month, RTD's Board of Directors is moving ahead with a new structure to its committees, changes that the 15-member group approved late last year. The approach establishes four standing committees and a separate, independent audit committee. It also allows public commentary to be provided at and before committee meetings, provided such comments are relevant to the topics in the published meeting agendas for the current and immediately preceding month.

These structural changes were made to optimize the number of members assigned to each committee; encourage full and fruitful debate by decentralizing decision-making; leverage members’ relevant experience; and promote meeting efficiencies. Standing committees are no longer committees of the whole – they are composed of either five or seven members, as determined by the Executive Committee.

The four standing committees and their responsibilities are as follows:

• Finance and Planning Committee – agency financial matters, including but
  not limited to budget and monthly financial statement review, determination of the fiscal
  impact of all Board actions, and long-range planning and capital projects
• Operations and Safety Committee – operational matters, including all
  contracted and non-contracted bus, rail, paratransit and microtransit services, as well as
  safety and security matters
• Performance Committee – performance management of the General
  Manager and CEO and the GM/CEO’s contract and annual comprehensive performance
  evaluation, and monitoring metrics as to the agency’s performance related to
  Strategic Plan success outcomes
• Executive Committee – agenda review for each regular meeting of the
  Board and addressing ministerial matters affecting the Board, public affairs, external
  relations and legislation

Board Chair Vince Buzek has appointed Directors Peggy Catlin, Erik Davidson and Bobby Dishell to serve as members of the Audit Ad Hoc Committee. Its objective is to establish a sustainable internal audit function with governance in adherence to recognized audit standards and best practices of the Institute of Internal Auditors International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing, in tandem with the IIA’s Global Public Sector Insight: Independent Audit Committees in Public Sector Organizations, to minimize risk and exposure to the enterprise for the betterment of the agency.

The Finance and Planning Committee and Operations and Safety Committee will typically meet on the second Tuesday and following Wednesday of each month, after 5:30 p.m. Executive Committee meetings will typically meet at noon on the third Thursday of each month. The Audit Ad Hoc Committee will typically meet on the second and fourth Monday of each month at 8 a.m. The Performance Committee will be scheduled as necessary to fulfill the committees’ responsibilities. The full Board of Directors will meet on the fourth Tuesday of every month. Unless the agency’s business needs require otherwise, no standing committee meetings or monthly Board meetings will be scheduled in August or December of each year.

To review the Board’s two-week calendar and agendas for upcoming meetings, click here.