December 2011

The Advisory Committee on Accessible Transit (ACAT), includes Toronto citizens who, advise the members of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) on difficulties faced by people with disabilities and seniors, and recommends the elimination of barriers to accessible public transit in the City of Toronto.

1. Advisory Committee’s Role

Members of this volunteer Committee shall:

1.1 Represent the needs and concerns of persons with disabilities and seniors who use public transit services provided by the Commission.

1.2 Provide advice to the Commission for the provision of accessible public transit.

1.3 Advise the Commission on necessary policy issues for services which pertains to the interests of persons with disabilities and seniors.

1.4 Support Commission staff in providing consultation, education, and advice to persons with disabilities, seniors, and the community at large.

2. ACAT Membership

Membership in ACAT shall be open to interested residents of the City of Toronto who use TTC services — occasionally, frequently or regularly.

The Advisory Committee shall be composed of fifteen (15) members including:

a. Persons with physical, sensory or communication disabilities.

b. A minimum of two (2) shall be seniors.

c. A maximum of two (2) other persons exclusive of those identified in (2a).
 
2.1 Members of the Advisory Committee shall be appointed for up to a three-year (3) term and one-third of the membership shall be replaced each year.

2.2 Retired members may reapply for a subsequent term following a one-year absence from ACAT.

Committee Vacancy

A vacancy may be declared at such time that:

a. An ACAT member submits a letter of resignation or is otherwise unable to complete his/her term,

b. An ACAT member has been removed having missed three (3) ACAT General or Special meetings within a year without providing reasonable cause acceptable to TTC staff and the ACAT Executive. Reasonable cause will include, but is not limited to, illness or injury, specialist appointments that cannot be rescheduled, deaths in the family, breakdown of a member’s mobility device.

c. An ACAT member is found to be in violation of the ACAT Terms of Reference.

Removal Process

The member will meet with the Chair or his/her designate, and Wheel-Trans staff person and is given the opportunity to resign or he/she will be removed.

Appeal Process

If the member wishes to appeal his/her removal from ACAT, a meeting will be arranged between the member, the Executive, and a Wheel-Trans staff representative prior to the next ACAT General meeting.  The decision may:

a. Be reversed; or

b. Be upheld and the member removed;

c. Reinstate the member with the condition that subsequent transgressions will result in the permanent removal of the member from ACAT, or

d. Reinstate the member and advise him/her that subsequent missed meetings, without reasonable cause, will result in the permanent removal of the member from ACAT.

The member will be advised of the decision, in writing, and signed by the members of the appeal panel.

Member Vacancies

Vacancies on ACAT shall be filled as soon as possible, and the new member shall serve for the balance of the term of the member being replaced.

Executive Vacancy

Executive vacancies occur as a result of resignation, death, or removal. The following process will be followed to fill the vacancy:

a. Chair: One of the two Vice Chairs will become Chair, based on discussion between the two Vice Chairs and TTC staff. The decision as to who becomes ACAT Chair will be based on the individual’s length of service, available time, and accompanying skills, as agreed by all three parties. Vice Chairs may agree to co-chair should that best serve the needs of ACAT.

b. Vice-Chairs: To ensure continuity and to allow for members to gain experience on the ACAT Executive, if one or both of the positions of Vice Chair become vacant, a replacement will be elected (from the membership) by ACAT.

3. Selection and Appointment Process

3.1 The membership selection process shall be undertaken with a membership solicitation to the public through advertisement in local newspapers and/or other forms of communication available to the Toronto Transit Commission.

a. Persons with disabilities, seniors, and those who have knowledge of and interest in accessible transit issues, and who are willing to make a commitment (of time) to attend and participate in the Advisory Committee and Subcommittee meetings, and other related activities, shall submit a completed application form outlining their qualifications (and interest in joining ACAT) after attending an advertised information session.

b. Selected applicants shall be interviewed and evaluated by a 3-member committee, including a staff representative from the Commission, personnel from the City of Toronto, and the ACAT’s Chair or Vice Chair.

The selection committee shall make its recommendations to the Toronto Transit Commission whose members shall make the final decision and appointments to ACAT.

c. In addition to those applicants appointed to the ACAT membership, other qualified individuals will be identified as Pool members and appointed to the Pool for that year. Anyone of whom may be called on by TTC staff to fill a vacancy in the course of a year.

 A member from the Pool who fills a vacancy for less than twelve (12) months may reapply without serving the one (1) year absence from the ACAT membership requirement.

3.2 Individuals who are recommended for an appointment to ACAT will be invited to submit a brief biography for inclusion in information packages.

Agreement

Individuals appointed to membership in ACAT or its Pool agree to the following:

a. Adhere to and respect Toronto Transit Commission personnel, its policies, and regulations.

b. Respect for ACAT colleagues.

c. Adhere to ACAT’s Terms of Reference and its procedures for Committee and Subcommittee meetings.

d. Follow ACAT Member Guidelines.

New Member Orientation

Individuals, who are appointed by the Commission, will attend an orientation on the roles and responsibilities of the Committee. They will be provided with current information on subcommittees and will be given the Terms of Reference, Subcommittee Guidelines, Meeting Protocols, and other pertinent documents.

4. Executive

4.1 The Officers shall consist of a Chair and two (2) Vice Chairs. Officers shall be elected by the ACAT Committee membership at its January meeting of the calendar year. For each officer's position, the member with the most votes on a single secret ballot is declared elected.

In the event there is a tie, a second vote will take place. If there is still a tie, then the Chair will be determined by drawing straws (longer straw wins).

4.2 Given the complexity of the Chair position and that appointments to ACAT are for a three (3)-year term, and that the Chair is voted annually, the Chair shall be an individual that has served on the current ACAT Committee for a minimum of one (1) year.

4.3 The Chair shall preside at all ACAT General and Special meetings, attend Commission meetings, and represent the Committee at public functions. The Vice Chairs shall serve in the absence of the Chair.

4.4 The Vice Chair(s) will accompany the Chair when he/she meets with the Chair of the Toronto Transit Commission.

5. Quorum and Voting

a. Eight (8) of the eligible Committee Members constitute a quorum for every ACAT General or Special meeting of members.

b. Each member is entitled to one vote on each motion.

5.1 Meetings

a. General Committee meetings shall be held monthly or at the call of the Chair. The exception will be in the month of January where two (2) meetings will be held to facilitate the election of the Executive.

b. The Committee will entertain deputations from the public, with respect to issues pertaining to accessible transit for persons with disabilities and seniors. Each deputation shall not exceed five (5) minutes in length.

A deputant must make the request for a deputation ten (10) days prior to the upcoming ACAT meeting, and must provide a brief written overview of the topic/s to be addressed.

6. Commission Staffing

6.1 TTC staff shall act as a liaison and resource to the Advisory Committee and all other subcommittees convened by ACAT, as mutually agreed upon to ensure expedient responses to recommendations and areas of concern.

6.2 Clerical support shall be assigned by Wheel-Trans staff for the purpose of recording and distributing Committee and Subcommittee minutes, meeting notices, correspondence, etc.

6.3 The General Superintendent of Wheel-Trans and its appropriate staff will provide ongoing support, liaison, and administration to the Advisory Committee and they shall attend all meetings of the Advisory Committee. Other Commission staff will also be called upon to attend as issues warrant.

Support will be provided at all ACAT General and Subcommittee meetings, as required and requested (including, but not limited to, personal support workers), to assist with the accommodation of the ACAT members and the public.

7. Amendments

Recommendations for amending the Terms of Reference may be made by submission in writing to the Chair by any member of the Advisory Committee. Only recommendations approved by a majority vote of the Advisory Committee shall be forwarded to the Commission for consideration.

7.1 Governance Procedures

ACAT and its Subcommittees meetings are governed for process and procedures by ACAT Meeting Protocols, Guidelines, and these Terms of Reference.