PARKERSBURG Board members approved a new manager of operations Tuesday at the Mid-Ohio Valley Transit Authority meeting.
The board unanimously approved the recommendation of the search committee to hire Tim Thomas of Cross Lanes in Kanawha County to fill the newly created position of manager of operations.
The decision comes a month after transit manager Joe Lockhart announced he planned to retire in September 2011.
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MOV Transit Authority
Thomas will begin his post in November, said Lockhart.
The position was created as a replacement for Lockhart when he retires next year.
With more than 20 years of experience in the transportation industry, Thomas serves as a transportation system analyst III with the West Virginia Department of Transportation.
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Photo by Natalee Seely
Board members Ron Jalbert, from left, Belinda Fetty and Sam Baldwin discuss the union contract.
"I look forward to working with each and every one of you," Thomas said Tuesday.
About a dozen bus drivers with the Mid-Ohio Valley Transit Authority attended the meeting in support of assistant general manager Sandra Chaddock, who also applied for the manager of operations position.
Jim Asbury, chair of the search committee, said the committee did not come to a decision lightly.
Fact Box
Thomas File
- Tim Thomas of Cross Lanes was selected by local transit board as new manager of operations.
- Thomas has more than 20 years experience in transportation.
- Union contract negotiations ongoing.
- The position was created as a replacement for Joe Lockhart, who plans to retire in September 2011.
"It was a difficult process. There was a lot of support for all the candidates," he said.
Fifteen people applied for the position, and four were selected to be interviewed by the search committee on Sept 14.
Board member Belinda Fetty, also on the search committee, said she was appreciative of the support of the bus drivers, but she felt the committee recommended the right person for the job.
"I personally interviewed every applicant, and we did not make a decision quickly. We selected our candidate based on qualifications and leadership experience," she said.
In other transit business, negotiations on a finalized employee union contract are still ongoing.
Under the current contract, membership in the union is a requirement for employment with the MOVTA. Last month, the board sought to change the language in the contract, giving transit employees the option of belonging to the union.
Non-union members would be required to pay a service fee. The union rejected the change, stating union membership should be mandatory for all transit employees.
"None of the board members want the union to go away, but we did want to give employees the choice to be in it or not," said Fetty.
The union also rejected the board's proposal of a $300, one-time signing bonus, instead of an annual one percent raise. The union countered with the proposal of a $900 signing bonus, which the board did not approve Tuesday.
Until negotiations are finalized, employees will work under the existing contract.
