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(Board Meeting 12/07/17)
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Board Meeting Transcripts
December 07, 2017
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] The Board Meeting of the Port Authority of New York and New
Jersey and its component units is now called to order. Earlier today, the Committee on Capital
Planning, Execution, and Asset Management met in public in executive session. The Committee
on Security met in Executive session, the reports will be filed within the official minutes of
today's Board Meeting. The Commissioners also met in executive session earlier today to discuss
matters involving ongoing negotiations or reviews of contracts or proposals and to discuss and
act upon matters involving public safety or law enforcement. I'll now request that our Executive
Director provide his report. Rick?
[R. Cotton] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Good afternoon, Commissioners and members of the
public. As this is the last Board Meeting of the year, I want to pull the lens back and begin with
some highlights of 2017. I started my role here only in late August, but these highlights, of
course, span the entire year and reflect the hard work and achievements of everyone at the
agency. Following that, I want to look forward and quickly update you on status of our major
capital projects heading into 2018, a very brief word on our 2018 budget which is pending before
you. And also update you on leadership appointments to accelerate our work in the areas of
diversity and inclusion and compliance and ethics. To begin in terms of 2017 with Aviation, our
airports expect to set a passenger traffic record of more than 133 million customers in 2017. In
June, the Terminal 1 Redevelopment program at Newark Airport broke ground with
commencement of work on three roadway bridges, and with Board approval today and nearly
$500 million of additional work will start very shortly. In August, the agency broke ground on
the redevelopment of the east side of the new LaGuardia airport with the $4 billion Delta Air
Lines Redevelopment of its Terminal C and D. Together with the LaGuardia Gateway Partners,
redevelopment of Terminal B. On the west side of the airport, there is now a whole new $8
billion airport under construction. At JFK, the initial phase and the redevelopment of that airport
began with the Board's approval last month and a major new cargo facility in the new
consolidated cargo area recommended in the report of Governor Cuomo's Airport Advisory
Panel. Turning to our tunnels, bridges, and terminals, in February, the Bayonne Bridge's new
elevated roadway opened to traffic, a very, very important infrastructure achievement of the
region as discussed by Steve Plate. In May, the redeveloped George Washington Bridge Bus
Station opened for bus operations. In June, the first, the eastbound span of the replacement
Goethals Bridge opened to traffic, which is the first major new bridge built by the Port Authority
since 1931. The pedestrian safety fence on the upper level walkway at the George Washington
Bridge which we announced in September that we would install by the end of this year is on
schedule to be completed by the end of this month. Turning to PATH, PATH will carry a record
80 plus million riders in 2017. PATH's weekday average ridership at nearly 285,000 riders is
also a new record. PATH cross honored really one million New Jersey transit passengers this
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past summer during Amtrak's track repair work at New York Penn station while maintaining an
on-time performance record of 98%. Turning to the ports. Container cargo volumes will also set
a record in 2017. Volumes are up 7.8% year-to-date through October compared to 2016's record
levels. Based on the Bayonne Bridge achieving navigational clearance of 215 feet, again as Steve
Plate has said in September, the largest container vessel ever to call on the US East Coast, the
Theodore Roosevelt crossed beneath the newly raised roadway. A truck management system was
rolled out this past year at the GCT Bayonne Terminal to schedule times for trucks to arrive at
the terminal to pick up containers since its introduction that system has reduced truck time, turn
times by 45%. It has truly been an active year. Turning to the budget, the year began, we should
remember with the adoption of the agency's $32.2 billion 2017 to 2026 Capital Plan, the agency's
largest ever. With the agency's key strategic projects now defined the Capital Plan and set the
course on which we are currently traveling with respect to investment priorities. And we have
developed and published what we believe to be a disciplined 2018 budget that you, the Board,
will be considering and voting on later today. Let me now turn and look briefly at the capital
project trajectory in 2018. We continue to focus on our major capital projects with much
momentum as we head into 2018, and we are focused on on-time, on budget performance to
avoid some of the issues that arose in prior projects, and we are going to learn lessons from that
experience. Newark Terminal A redevelopment, in additional to the presentation by Huntley
today on early construction of key landside and airside elements of the program, the procurement
process of the actual design built contract for Terminal 1 is going to be awarded early in 2018.
The LaGuardia AirTrain planning on this important priority project is continuing following last
month's Board approval of funding for additional planning work. At JFK, Mott MacDonald, our
expert airport planner and Grimshaw, its corresponding architect team that we hired to develop a
master plan are hard at work and in dialogue with key airport stakeholders. Our goal and mission
is focused on translating the vision plan outlined by Governor Cuomo's Airport Advisory Panel
into reality. PATH to New York, public scoping hearings took place in New York last week,
commencing the formal environmental process on that project that will take place over the
course of the coming year. Port Authority Bus Terminal redevelopment. Proposals for the
environmental, and architectural, and engineering services have been received pursuant to the
RFP, and we hope to make an award in the very near future. This will enable us to ramp up the
formal environmental review and permitting process to advance this project with, of course, the
addition of the new build in place option. The Goethals Bridge, the project is on track to
complete the second westbound span of the replacement bridge in 2018 which will mark
substantial completion of the entire program to be followed by demolition of the existing old
bridge. The Bayonne Bridge, the Board will be voting on the reauthorization today as described
by Steve Plate, but under Steve's leadership, this project is now moving forward under extremely
tight supervision. In 2018, demolition of the old lower roadway and construction of the second
set of new elevated roadway support piers is scheduled to be completed keeping the project on
target for completion in 2019. Let me turn now to a brief update on diversity and inclusion. This
subject is very important to me and, I believe, to the Port Authority as an institution. We must
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significantly increase our focus on assuring that the port is as diverse and inclusive organization.
We have named Mike Massiah, who you know from his prior role as the chief of Capital
Planning, Execution, and Asset Management, and a 36-year veteran of the Port Authority as the
agency's new Chief Diversity and Inclusion officer. Mike, in his new senior position, will report
directly to me. He will organize and drive multiple initiatives across the agency. Starting with
significantly improved employee recruiting practices designed to achieve an appropriately
diverse workforce representing the community that we serve to employee training and
communication to emphasize the business value of a diverse workforce to reviewing our MWBE
contracting practices to achieve the agency's participations and indeed increase them for MWBE
participation in our construction projects. The creation of this position and Mike's appointment, I
hope signals our commitment to the values of diversity and inclusion and their importance to
achieving the business objectives of the agency. Compliance and Ethics. On the Ethics and
Compliance front, the Chairman and I were pleased to announce the hiring of Debra Torres as
the agency's first Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer. Debra will join the Port Authority at the
beginning of the year. She is a 36-year veteran of the legal field with a significant background in
Ethics and Compliance, having most recently served as a Senior Vice-President and Chief Ethics
and Compliance Officer of PepsiCo. Her first tasks will be the roll out of the new Employee
Code of Conduct and the development of a new and improved employee compliance tracking
program with computer based interactive video modules. With Debra in place, I'm confident that
we will put the agency on track to have an Ethics and Compliance program that will be in the top
ranks of large public and private organizations. Finally, I want to pay tribute to the hard work of
the Port Authority's dedicated staff in 2017. Nothing, obviously, happens without them. They
deserve a vote of thanks from us all. And in that connection, I'm hopeful that 2018 can mark the
year in which we began to make progress on addressing the large backlog of expired labor
contracts affecting the Port Authority's represented workers. In summary, I believe the agency
has accomplished a lot in 2017 and put in place the ground work for a productive 2018 across
many fronts. That concludes my report, Mr. Chairman.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Thank you, Rick. Just a couple of comments based on your comments.
We've been at this now, Rick, for five months, and in many ways when we started this in August,
you know, I came in here with a very cynical eye towards what is the function of the Port
Authority, cynical of what their mission statement was, cynical of what the folks, the employees
did. And when you and I took the first few weeks, Rick, and we went to each facility and we
talked to some of these employees and found out about their level of dedication in their mission
statement. It slowly dawned on me what their statement and purpose was. And I will tell you, I
think you and I share, we've found the most extraordinary bunch of dedicated employees I've
ever seen in my 30 years in public service. Extraordinary. And my admiration goes up every time
I see another project minus the Bayonne Bridge fiasco, but it's extraordinary what they do. And
to you, Rick, and I've said it before and I'll say it again and people get tired of hearing me saying
it, you are an extraordinary public servant. What you have done in five months here has restored
(Board Meeting 12/07/17)
the trust of all of us in both states, Commissioners, constituents, employees, you brought a very
bright light here. And when I sit on your weekly meetings with your senior staff and you talk
about purpose, you talk about budgeting, you talk about ethics, you know, first in class, on-time
delivery. You brought this real world corporate experience and excellence to a facility that's
surely needed it. And you, my friend, are the most extraordinary public servant I've ever worked
with in 30 years.
[applause] So when you mentioned about some of these positions, we fill with Mike and with
Debra, so the public understands very clearly. About a year ago, there was a search was taken to
fill a number of these positions. When I came here in August and sat with Rick, we were kind of
handed a folder and said, well, the search has been going on for six, seven, eight, nine months,
and so decisions have been made, are being made. So Rick and I took a step back and did our
due diligence, did some other interviews, and some decision, some hard decisions were made.
And I will tell you what Debra and Mike are going to bring to the table, and Mike clearly now,
extraordinary, and it's going to be a great addition to this world-class organization. With your
comment about the labor contracts, I don't think anybody here would disagree with what you've
said, "Long overdue." Commissioner Pocino pulled me aside in his ever gentle and persuasive
way, I said, "Let's get it done in February." I think we'll get it done, right? We're going to get it
done. We're going to work hard, A lot of spade work has been done, a lot of discussions have
been had by the public, public officials, folks that are sitting in this audience, every time you get
up and speak to us we hear very loudly and clearly what you're saying. To the hard working
employees, we hear what you're saying in terms of this long delay of the contracts and
negotiations frustrating to all of us. There's been some problems, hurdles. I think we're close to
resolving a lot of those issues that we're talking about. I'm hoping February, March is really
going to be a dawning of a new decade here. So let me just conclude my first five months here,
six months here. It's hard to believe, six months. They give you the six-year term and you think
it's going to be casual, you know, public service. Commissioner Eve, there is no casual public
service here. You drink from a fire hose every single day and it does not stop, and I'm honored to
sit with my fellow Commissioners, I mean this, you know, there's an activity every day, there are
emails every day, there's conversation every day, meetings every day, all of us have. You know,
I know we're volunteers, but this is a greatest volunteer service I've ever had, and I serve with
you as partners, and my partner Jeff over here. Thank you for being, the wise counsel slows me
down just a little bit. But I look forward to 2018 with great hope and optimism that this Board
will continue to work together. Not having the demarcation lines of New York and New Jersey,
but Port Authority, we work together. I know you like the New York side even though you're a
Springfield guy in New Jersey.
[Commissioner R. Bagger] Spring Lake.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Yeah, Spring Lake. So I will tell you with great optimism and the
(Board Meeting 12/07/17)
shadows you saw in the past are disappearing and disappeared. So we thank you for working
with us, all the folks either listening or employees, better days are ahead, and I look forward to
working with each and every one of you in the future. Any other comments or questions for our
Executive Director?
[R. Cotton] Mr. Chairman, I
[applause] I would just like to return the compliment. I appreciate your comments, but I have to
say we have formed an excellent partnership. I've been impressed by your leadership and the
other thing I would emphasize is what you've said which is what the public does not see is the
consultation and advice that comes from all of the Commissioners that has been a very active
dialogue across all the issues that I get involved in. And I would thank all of the Commissioners
for their advice, their help, and their engagement.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Thank you very much.
[Commissioner L. Eve] Mr. Chairman.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Yes, Commissioner.
[Commissioner L. Eve] Just briefly, I want to echo plus one everything you said. We could not
As a new Commissioner as well, just been beyond impressed with the extraordinary employees
who make up this great organization led by, you know, a best-in-class leader in Rick Cotton.
Everything that you said in your report gives us such, makes us so excited about what's been
accomplished and what lies ahead. And I just want to put a fine point in particular on the
appointments of Mr. Massiah and Ms. Torres, I think they're going to bring much needed skills
and focus and attention on areas that require attention. And in particular with respect to Mr.
Massiah on issues of diversity, diversity is our strength. This is the right thing to do, but it is a
smart thing to do. Our Board is stronger because it is diverse in so many different ways in terms
of people, and thoughts, and experiences, and backgrounds, and that's going to be the case for
our staff as well, and the businesses with whom the Port chooses to do business. So thank you,
again, for your leadership in accelerating that decision making process of putting in stellar
people to those very important positions to help the Board continue and the Port to continue to
move forward.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Thank you, Commissioner. Any other Commissioners? Comment,
questions? Okay, we'll move ahead. Our next order of business is a presentation by our Chief
Financial Officer, Libby McCarthy, who will present the Port Authority's proposed 2018 budget
for consideration by the Board following the public speakers program. The budget was posted on
the Port Authority website on November 8 for the public comment, and our chief financial
(Board Meeting 12/07/17)
officer will provide an overview of the nature of the comments received as part of a presentation.
Libby?
[L. McCarthy] Thank you. Good afternoon, Commissioners. Today on behalf of the Management
and Budget Department, I am requesting that you adopt the Port Authority's proposed 2018
budget. As you just noted,
[PROPOSED 2018 BUDGET] we did post for public comment and I will be summarizing those
as I go through the presentation.
[The Proposed 2018 Budget Sources and Uses] But first an overview of the budget and what
you're being asked to propose. Proposed 2018 budget represents a balanced budget that was
prepared in a fiscally disciplined manner, consistent with the authority's responsibilities to its
stakeholders. The proposed 2018 budget is funded by multiple sources including gross revenues
and the issuance of consolidated bonds and notes. As you know, the Port Authority raises funds
for its activities based primarily on the strength of its own credit, and has no power to levy taxes
or assessments. The uses of funds that are shown here are what we are asking you to approve and
I will provide you more detail in the following slides of those expenditures.
[The Proposed 2018 Budget is fiscally balanced with expense growth in-line with inflation] The
2018 budget continues to ensure our strong financial position. Gross operating revenues of $5.3
billion are projected to increase 2.5% and more than offset the increase in operating expenses.
This growth is driven primarily from higher revenues from aviation facilities as well as higher
rental income at the World Trade Center and at our Port facilities. Toll and fare revenues are
projected to grow based on our modest growth projections. Operating budget of $3.2 billion is an
increase of 1.9% or $61 million over the 2017 budget, well in line with the rate of inflation. I will
discuss the details of these expenditures in a moment. But also shown on this slide is the 2018
debt service budget of $1.3 billion which is increasing to reflect the placement of additional
assets into operations both in 2017 and projected in 2018. The net revenues after operating
expenses and debt services that are shown here together with bonds proceeds and other sources
are what we use to support our substantial $3.4 billion 2018 capital spending.
[Proposed $3.2 billion 2018 Operating Budget Highlights] Here you see the allocation of the
operating expenses to our various spending categories. Our largest operating expense budget
increase in the 2018 budget is an additional $20 million to ensure the safety and security at our
facilities supported by new counter-terrorism police posts, additional police classes, and other
initiatives including our cyber security program. All necessary in the world we operate in today.
Expenditures to support the efficient operations and maintain agency facilities are increasing to
reflect both new work load and the additional World Trade Center facilities coming into
operations. The remaining expenditure shown here allow us to support the authority's businesses
(Board Meeting 12/07/17)
and to meet our obligations to our landlords.
[The Proposed 2018 Operating Budget also funds a number of initiatives and projects]
[that align with key priorities] The budget also includes funding for a number of initiatives and
projects that align with the key priorities across all of our businesses, including continued
enhancement of security and preparedness, creating a customer service focus in the operations at
all of our Port Authority facilities, increasing our investment in sustainability and environmental
protection initiatives, and improving the Port Authority's use of technology across the Board
both to serve our customers better and to improve the efficiency of Port Authority operations.
[The Proposed 2018 Capital Budget of $3.4 billion advances key projects and aligns with the
2017-2026 Capital Plan] The 2018 capital budget of $3.4 billion funds major state of good repair
work at the tunnels, bridges, airports, and PATH system, while investing in major projects to
replace aging facilities with modern state of the art infrastructure that provides for future growth.
The budget aligns with the 2017 through 2026 Capital Plan that was adopted by the Board in
February.
[Proposed 2018 Capital Budget Highlights] Rick has already mentioned a number of the key
major projects that are included in the 2018 spending. In addition to those projects, we also have
continued spending on the PATH's Signal System Replacement program. Positive train control
will be implemented by the end of 2018 as a result of the spending in accordance with the federal
mandate. In addition, at the Port facilities, the Port Express Rail intermodal facility construction
will continue to help improve the flow of goods to and from the ports. And we'll have continued
planning activities for the Gateway Program consistent with our commitment to set forth in our
10-year Capital Plan.
[Proposed 2018 Budget was released for public comments via our website on November 8, 2017]
Here you can see a summary of the comments by category that we received after the posting of
our budget for public comment on November 8. We invited comments both through email and
through social media outlets. Through last night, we received a total of 15 comments, and I have
provided those to you in advance of today's meeting and discuss them with you. We received six
comments suggesting modifications to the 2018 capital expenditure portion of the budget, four
advocating for the funding of the 2018 Capital Budget for a permanent federal inspection
services area at Stewart International Airport to facilitate a growing international service at that
airport. Planning and design work on this facility is currently underway, but it's not yet complete
enough to enable it to be included in the budget. The remaining comments related to the PATH
extension to Newark Liberty Rail Link Station program. One comment suggested that the
program was unnecessary and a second advocated for including planning monies in the 2018
budget for upgrades to select PATH stations to take full advantage of the rail extension. As
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PATH has started its environmental impact study for its extension projects, these comments will
be forwarded to the project team for consideration in that process. We also received three
observations about the 2018 budget but with no suggested budget changes. And finally, we
received six comments raising awareness of the posting of the budget or the Port Authority's role
in the regional transportation network also with no suggestion for budget changes. Given these
comments, we do not recommend any changes to the proposed 2018 budget as it was originally
posted. Therefore, Commissioners, we would appreciate
[Requested 2018 Budget Authorization] We are asking that you would adopt the 2018 budget as
posted, and we appreciate your guidance during this budget process.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] First of all, well done, Libby, you and your staff, exceptional job.
[L. McCarthy] Thank you.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Really amazed. So when did you start the process of the 2018 budget?
How long ago?
[L. McCarthy] We started the process in the spring, early spring. We send guidance out to all of
the departments, and then we pull that together and negotiate. Management and Budget
Department has the laboring oar here of working through this with all the departments and
pulling together the proposed budget.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] And how much of a focus of your time and your office's time from
spring to present day that you dedicate to this proposed budget?
[L. McCarthy] Well, MBD, it's almost a 100% other than every month tracking how people are
doing to the prior budget. And then for me, it's a big part of my time, yeah.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] With regard to the largest increase, we're seeing in this budget the $20
million dollars you've spoken about, that is not a one shot deal. We're talking about cyber
security upgrades, police academy funding for, and other security measures. Do we forecast it
will be having those additional increases going forward?
[L. McCarthy] We have a process underway that we are taking a holistic look across the Board
with respect to our security and safety programs, as well as our emergency preparedness
programs. And we'll be continuing to evaluate that and brief the Board on that as we go forward.
Clearly security and safety at our facilities is a key priority for the Authority and this
environment is going to require continued focus on that.
(Board Meeting 12/07/17)
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Right, thank you. Any Commissioners have any questions or Yes,
Vice-Chair.
[Vice-Chair J.H. Lynford] I know the budget preparation is an exacting and precise task. And I
want everyone to understand how hard your staff works in setting priorities, changing priorities,
assessing risks, responding to the unanticipated. So I want to say on behalf of the Commissioners
once again, bravo.
[applause]
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Any other Commissioners have any comments or questions for our
CFO? If not, okay, we will move along, and as we mentioned earlier, we'll defer voting on this
matter until the public speaking portion is over. Our next order of business is a presentation by
our General Counsel, Michael Farbiarz, who will present a proposed revisions to the Port
Authority's public access to records which will be considered by the Board following the public
speaker's program. Michael?
[M. Farbiarz] Thank you, good afternoon. I appear before you, Commissioners, today in
connection with a proposed resolution that will transfer responsibility for the Port Authority's
Freedom of Information practice to the office of the general counsel. Transparency, as we know,
is one of the fundamental building blocks of public accountability, and Freedom of Information
obligations are part of how that commitment to transparency is put into practice, put into action.
Freedom of Information obligations allow the public to see for itself what we're doing and to
decide for itself how well we're doing it. In 2015, New York and New Jersey each passed
statutes that required the Port Authority to hew to those states Freedom of Information laws.
Those were statutes that were passed and that were welcome development that were passed. All
of us are much more likely to trust what we can ourselves verify. As Freedom of Information
obligations are now binding as a matter of law, not as a matter of choice, but as a matter of law,
it makes sense for lawyers to take on a central role in administering that process to help ensure
that Freedom of Information law is simply followed, to make sure that we are discharging our
legal obligations as to Freedom of Information fully and faithfully. I'm pleased to answer that
backdrop to advance the resolution that would transfer responsibility to the law department for
the Freedom of Information policy and, of course, to answer any questions that you might have.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] You have a question, Jeff?
[Vice-Chair J.H. Lynford] After you.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Sure. Thanks. The first page of the resolution work was resolved and
therefore, the Board's continuing commitment to enhance the openness and transparency of the
(Board Meeting 12/07/17)
agency through the provisions of timely access to the public records of the Port Authority and its
component units. Very clearly saying, that's what we are obligated to do. You cite the 2015 laws
are passed in New York and New Jersey. We assume this resolution in its current form and it's
going to be, I assume, revised a little bit. We'll comply with those, the passages of those laws in
New York and New Jersey.
[M. Farbiarz] Absolutely. And the piece that you pulled out and that you quoted, Chairman,
that's how I plan to manage this program with respect to that goal that the Board has set a
commitment to quote enhancing transparency and openness. Not just legal compliance, but
achieving that goal of enhancement.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] So just so we're clear how this came about. Again, I've been here for
six months now, and I've heard a number of complaints from some individuals. Some who would
just ask for public access to records and they've been either frustrated or seemingly frustrated by
some of their requests. I've heard from some members of the press who were saying that our
compliance is somewhat derelict that we are not complying with those 5 or 20 days of required.
Sometimes there's a non-response or a non-answer. So part of that, I heard you, so what we're
doing today is putting together reshaping of this office. So there will be an exact response. And,
Michael, you will be held responsible for those responses, you as the General Counsel to this
Port. So if there is some concern that there a request has been made and it is not being complied
with, you will stand here before all of us and have to answer for that. Correct?
[M. Farbiarz] That's right. I plan to be personally involved in making sure this is done right. And
I fully expect that you will hold me personally responsible for how it's done.
[
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Because I didn't want to tell the public that we have a faceless
bureaucrat, in the layman's language, was just not getting to it in time, wasn't compliant 'cause he
or she didn't think it was the proper form. You will be facing probably folks who are saying,
here's the request, you blew the deadline, explain yourself, and you will be held responsible for
that. Second part of this, Mike, and I know you're professional, I know you'll do that, I know this
will sharpen our response to this very important responsibility. If the Executive Director makes
changes I think we're talking about revises. If changes are to be made, it's my understanding
they're going to be brought back to this Board.
[
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Is that correct?
(Board Meeting 12/07/17)
[M. Farbiarz] Exactly. What's going to happen is to the extent that the Executive Director wants
to make changes to the Freedom of Information policies that currently exist, he's going to be
required under the last sentence of this resolution to provide them to the Board, the Board will
have 30 days with any proposed policy changes and absent objection, but only absent objection,
they'll go into effect. So the Board will have a chance to review any changes that the Executive
Director might propose.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] And that to me is really important. From a policy standpoint, the 11
soon to be 12 of us have to be held responsible if there's a breakdown, and not fulfilling that
mission statement of getting out the access of those public records. We have to answer for that.
It's ultimately our responsibility. I'm very comfortable with that. Vice-Chair, you have a
question?
[Vice-Chair J.H. Lynford] Actually, you're very good. And I don't have any questions.
[laughter]
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Any other Commissioners? Yes, Commissioner Bagger.
[Commissioner R. Bagger] And I think I want to applaud these actions today. And, Michael, if I
could just ask you, if you could explain, you know, whether this action we're taking today is
consistent with the sort of revision from the special panel report, and how it builds upon that and
whether it, in fact, answers it.
[M. Farbiarz] Sure. We'll do that. The history here is that since the late '70s, the Port Authority
has had a voluntarily undertaken policy with respect to public access to records. But for decades
and decades, the statutes that generally require of public agencies disclosures of this kind just
didn't apply to Port Authority. And so when with the special panel had its report, this kind of
policy was central and still very much is. In a nice development thereafter in 2015, what
happened is these statutes were passed that required the Port Authority as a matter of law to
abide by Freedom of Information commitments. Consistent with how other major public
agencies discharge their legal obligations, whether it comes to Freedom of Information or other
things, there is sense in having two things. First, lawyer is involved, as they need to be because
this is now a legal obligation. And second of all, frankly, singular responsibility so that I am
personally and individually accountable for making sure that this entire process which needs now
lawyers involved, but then it runs right.
[Commissioner R. Bagger] Thank you.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Any other questions or comments? Michael, excellent job. Thank you
(Board Meeting 12/07/17)
very much. We will defer voting on this until the public speakers' program is over. We now
provide an opportunity for members of the public to comment on Port Authority matters. This
public comment period which maybe limit to 30 minutes in total provides an opportunity for
members of the public to present their views directly to the Board. And we try not to encourage
the dialogue, but we do want to hear what you have to say. Members of the public wishing to
discuss a specific item with the Port Authority staff are advised to contact our Public Affairs
Department. Speakers are used to comply with a fixed time of three minutes. We do have 21
speakers who have signed up. So let's see if we can get that done in a fairly orderly fashion. First
one is Deputy Mayor Mohammed from Newark. Deputy Mayor? Okay, next one is Reverend
Tim Graff from Archdiocese.
[Reverend Tim Graff] Good afternoon. I'm Father Timothy Graff representing the Archdiocese
in Newark, the 1.6 million Catholics who live in Northeast Jersey and our spiritual leader
Cardinal William Tobin. We're here to stand solidarity with our subcontracted airport workers
and New York JFK and LaGuardia airports. We are here because we believe in the dignity of
each human person that has been made in the image and likeness of God. We have given some
guidance on this recently by Pope Francis, but he talks about two things that we see within the
gospel. First of all, we are called to care for those who are less privileged. Obviously, everyone
knows that. But secondly, as he points out which is something not as commonly known or
accepted is that we are called to see them. We are called to see those around us in need because
there's this fallacy, if I do not see those in need, I'm not responsible for those in need. And so as
we stand in solidarity with our airport workers this afternoon we say, we are here, and you've
seen us and now you're responsible for us to work with us, and be with us as well. Both Cardinal
Tobin and myself have worked for many years listening to the stories of airport workers and the
working poor, and that's why we're here. We'd like to talk briefly about three areas. One is
sustainable family wages. Currently, most of our workers are making $10.20 an hour. If you can
support a family on that, you're better than I. And so we urge you to look at that to work with us
on that. We believe that as seemly immoral for those who are working full-time in this area not
to live above the poverty line. We believe the poverty line itself is rather faulty at best. Secondly,
healthcare. We believe that healthcare is not a privilege, but it's a right as been seen and taught
by the church for many years. And so we do not want to force people into the choices that they
need to make about their healthcare. If I leave work today, I'm not going to be paid so I can go to
the doctor. Those common things that many of us take for granted cannot be taken by many of
our airport workers. And third, to provide safety training for those around us. Those we place on
the frontlines of our safety at our airports need the proper training to do that. That's simply is in
their dignity as human beings. And so we stand in solidarity with our subcontracted worker to
take care of them, to see them, to be responsible for them. And we are so grateful for being with
us and hearing us, and I've 18 seconds left which I'll give back to the Board.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Thank you, Father. Thank you for your comments.
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[Reverend Tim Graff] You're welcome.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Thank you.
[applause] Neile Weissman? Neile Weissman from Complete George.
[Vice-Chair J.H. Lynford] It's Neile.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] They have an E there.
[Vice-Chair J.H. Lynford] I know, but it's still a Neile.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] It is? I apologize.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Niele.
[Neile Weissman] Chairman O'Toole, Director Cotton, and Commissioners. To reprise a century
old facility like the George, one considers not only blueprints, but its documentary history,
contemporaneous structures, used projections, and design variations, I believe the exercise
supports allocation of resources other than currently planned. You have copies of extended
remarks with images and online at CompleteGeorge.org, what would Othmar do? Opened in
1903, the Williamsburg Bridge connected Brooklyn to Manhattan with a pair of 20 footpaths.
GWB Chief Engineer Othmar Ammann would certainly have been familiar with this magnificent
public space. Prior to the George's opening, the agency may use projections out to the 1960. We
presume diligences each mode represents a discrete revenue stream. Car trips were projected to
grow from 8 to 60 million or annual growth of 2.5%. Pedestrian trips, 1.4 to 3 million, 3%
growth which begs the question, by what rational would foot travel grow faster than car? One
clue comes from the design drawings which double path width to 16 foot. Again, this tells us
greater path capacity was envisioned, but not why. Perhaps the cyclists like were told and their
catchment far exceeds pedestrians, and widened paths make more sense than increasingly
crowded roadways. A complementary explanation is afforded by standing on the paths and
looking out. Extending them beyond cables creates a contiguous unobstructed belvedere with
views like none other in the region. That the agencies saw revenue potential in the George, as a
destination, is supported by its reporting of pedestrian tolls from the opening day celebration.
And a contemporary study projects that a Linear Park across the George would annually attract
300,000 new visitors spending $40 million. If consulted, Chief Engineer Ammann would be
aware. Cyclings current growth far exceeds other modes then and now. Of the George's single
importance to the region's act of transportation grid and its enhancements to public health
affordability, sustainability, and resilience. Realizing the George's potential as a tourist Mecca
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would drive foot traffic through the bus terminal. And then that 49 North Jersey municipalities
were now calling for wider paths, the same group Mr. Ammann lobbied in the 1920s to get the
build bridge in the first place. Knowing this, I'm confident, the politically astute chief engineer
would support wider paths, and to reserve a portion of the lower level to mitigate visual
disruption of the anti-suicide barriers. Thank you all. Good holidays.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Thank you. You too. Margaret Donovan?
[Margaret Donovan] Good afternoon, Commissioners. I am very encouraged by what I heard the
General Counsel say. But I will give you my remarks as prepared. Good afternoon,
Commissioners. Listening to Port Authority officials talk about the agency's commitment to
transparency is like tapping into a parallel universe. The latest reminder of that was the ruling
last week of an appeal to the Freedom of Information request I made for the findings of an OIG
investigation. We requested last year and to the ultra-prime space that the public is paying the
Durst Corporation to keep empty in Midtown. The answer came back, "Disclosing even the mere
existence of an investigation potentially deprives individuals who are the subject of unproven
allegations of wrong doing of their right to a fair adjudication and could unduly invade their
privacy. They either will willfully or ignorantly apply the personal privacy protections in the law
to give cover to a private corporation that has entered into and benefits from a partnership with
the public." The suspicious reasoning throughout the decision misstates the law. And as I pointed
out in my appeal the matters but examined I'll be not in depth in the press. Our concern was not
so much with the Dursts toward supremely able to take care of their own interests, but the other
end of that public private partnership. Who is looking out for us? And where do we go for
answers to very reasonable and substantial concerns? I believe the Chairman is sincerely
concerned with promoting transparency, but without the legislation that gets defeated year after
year, it looks like it maybe a bridge too far. My concern wasn't with the Durst position on this
matter, but with the Port Authority decision makers who took over almost a million square feet
of space without the right to sublet, to cover the public's unnecessary exposure. Through August
of this year, that has cost the public over $120 million for space that the Durst decided to keep
empty pending lucrative leases, and why not? But that figure is 25% higher and climbing than
their $100 million equity in the World Trade Center. How bizarre is that? If anyone really thinks
that the right to sublet would have jeopardized the Condé Nast move, maybe they would be
interested in buying a bridge to Brooklyn. My year end conclusion is that no one is truly,
tirelessly, thoroughly looking out for the public that so lavishly supports this agency with such
mixed results. Not the Governors, not the Inspector General, and not the media, which is highly
selective in protecting the public interest no doubt because of time constraints. I could challenge
in court a dozen of these efforts to withhold information from the public and win every one. Only
to have the agency defy the court order as it did in the finding in our favor last year or I could
start lobbying the legislatures to include a public ombudsman in their next attempt to hold the
Port Authority transparent and accountable, and that's what I will do. Thank you, Richard
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Hughes was sorry, he couldn't be here today. We both wish you safe and joyful holidays and a
happy new year.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Thank you, Margaret.
[applause] And, Margaret, I'm glad that you are encouraged by the counsel's comments. I will
tell you, you're part of the reason why we're making this change. We heard you, okay?
[applause] Louis Heimbach?
[Louis Heimbach] Mr. Chairman and members of the commission, my name is Louis Heimbach,
and I speak to you today as the Chairman of the Stewart Airport Commission. I was one of those
who took advantage of the public comment period and wrote to you and the staff asking for the
inclusion of monies to build the federal inspection station. I was really disappointed that that did
not happen. You're out spending upwards of a million dollars to do the planning and the design
for that facility which I understand is some 80% complete, and it will be ready for, I guess,
bidding sometime early in 2018. It makes no sense to spend the public's money to design
something and not have the money to build it. Such an appropriation was included in the Capital
Budget back in 2015, but because it was one of the things built it and they will come, we were
waiting until they came. Norwegian Airlines has since last May come to Stewart Airport with
some 21 weekly flights to Scandinavia, and to Ireland, and Scotland and as adding several
hundred thousand passengers a year. We desperately need such a facility and I respectfully ask
that you amend the budget before you pass it, and include the funds necessary to build this
facility. Thank you, gentlemen.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Thank you for your time. Thank you for your comments.
[applause] Karl Olszewski. Oh, I'm sorry. Give it a shot. I apologize.
[Vice-Chair J.H. Lynford] Olszewski.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Karl? No? Okay. Bruce Hain?
[Bruce Hain] Good afternoon. I'm here to promote an alternative to the LGA AirTrain which is
included in your budget. I think I ran across an article in a tabloid, free tabloid in the subway.
That says you had a $25 million consulting contract, and they came back last month, and they
hadn't selected a route, or it's a complicated thing because with all that spaghetti of highways and
stuff, I mean, maybe it's difficult to decide. And I don't know if there is any provision to have a
stipulation that you decide on a route with this next $35 million. But I have an alternate plan
which I would like you all to look at and I brought some cards that have not only the address of
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my website but my email because I can send you some more detailed things. This plan is pretty
right, it's been in the making for a few years and now it's getting somewhat more details. It's a
roller coaster. And I unsolicited, I had an approval way It's wrongly regarded by the preeminent
roller coaster manufacturer. Now I know you've had trouble with people roller coaster engineer
in Germany. I know you've had trouble with people movers, but I think there is more mileage of
roller coasters and they behave more reliably than many people movers I know of. So it might be
something worth looking into. And I'd like you to see it. So that's it. I intend to have it looked at
it. It's dependent on having Harold Interlocking with the four tracks as originally planned. The
people who design Harold Interlocking put certain of the tracks out in the perimeter with a
reverse curves, it would be easy to convert it to four tracks on to the Hell Gate Bridge. I mean,
you don't just build a bridge for four tracks and leave it two tracks until the end of time. So that's
something that will come up for review, and this project that I'm trying to promote you as an
alternative is depended on it. Nobody is going to use the LGA AirTrain because it's too
circuitous, nobody will want to use it for that. And it's only a mile and a half long. Come on, $70
million?
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] If you could pass your comments, I understand.
[Bruce Hain] Thank you very much.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Thank you for your comments.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Jorge?
[Bruce Hain] Yeah, that's the card.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Thank you. Jorge? Patrick Jean?
[Patrick Jean] Good afternoon. Thank you for having me. Good afternoon, members of the
Board. My name is Patrick Jean. I'm a flight catering worker at LSG, Sky Chef at JFK airport. I
work in the food production and transportation department making sure all of our flights leave on
time with all their foods and drinks. The works take a physical and emotional toll on my body.
On top of this, I often work overtime which prevent me from spending time with my family. I do
this because I cannot afford not to work overtime. I have bills to pay, I have rent to pay, and I
have to put food on the table. Yet, what I make at the airline catering worker at JFK does not
allow me to make ends meet. We deserve to make the living wage. There is a new Governor in
New Jersey and new faces on this Board. Commissioners, you have the authority and ability to
change almost 40,000 workers' lives by increasing the minimum wages for all airport workers in
New York and New Jersey. Our work preparing and delivering the airplane meals is also
important to the airport's securities. We deserve the same pay as the unarmed security guards, the
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Port Authority employees at the airports. More importantly, as you do this, including in-flight
catering workers, we have been left behind in the past our action for justice and equality. Please
think of many workers who can't wait for tomorrow, we need the change now. Thank you.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Thank you, Patrick. And thank you colleagues for coming. Dennis
Diaz?
[Dennis Diaz] Good afternoon, Commissioners. My name is Dennis Diaz. I'm the Airport
Director of Unite Here Local 100. Our union represents about 5,000 workers which 1,800 of
them work as airline catering workers at the Port Authority here in JFK, LaGuardia, and New
York. Now that New Jersey has elected a new Governor, the Port Authority should act to raise
the wages for all for all airport workers. They deserve to be paid equally to the Port Authority's
unarmed security guards. Newark and New York airline catering workers continue to get to be
stuck in poverty and are tired to be left behind. Airport workers or airports across the country are
raising wages for workers. In San Francisco, airline catering workers organize for a living wage
that airport's minimum wage for all workers including airline catering workers is now $14.50 per
hour. For some workers, that means a raise of $5 per hour. In Washington, D.C., the airport
authority passed a living wage policy in April that includes airline catering workers. Airline
catering workers want to be treated equally and paid a living wage. Thank you. Happy holidays.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Thank you very much. Beverly Thompson?
[applause]
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Beverly Thompson?
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Yvonne Garrett Moore? I'm sorry, Beverly is there? I apologize.
[Beverly Thompson] Good afternoon. My name is Beverly Thompson. And I have worked at
OTG, Newark Airport for three years. I'm Unite Here Local 100 union member, and I'm here
today to say now that New Jersey has selected a new Governor, the Port Authority should act to
raise wages for all airport workers including New York airline catering workers now. These are
people who prepare the food for the flights, the people who drive, and load it on to the planes.
Airline catering workers are important part of ensuring the flight is clean and on time. Airline
catering workers are also important part of making sure airports are safe and secured. Workers
make sure nothing dangerous goes on planes, food courts. Low wages, and high turnouts put our
airports at risk. Airline catering workers, Newark Airport workers want to be treated equally and
paid a living wage. The time for you members of the Port Authority to act now.
[Beverly Thompson] Thank you. Happy holidays.
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[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Thank you. Thank you. You too. Yvonne Garrett Moore?
[Yvonne Garrett Moore] Good morning, Commissioners. How are you?
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Good, thank you.
[Yvonne Garrett Moore] All is well. I was in a fire a couple of weeks ago and that's why I wasn't
here in November. Thank goodness for that Beth Israel and St. Barnabas Hospital. Three weeks
in the hospital recovering, actually I went through the fire, but prior to going through this fire, we
were pressing to address economic development in and around Newark International Airport. We
have a great opportunity to help these wonderful people and their families by looking at our
economic capability and maximizing the potential. So I came before you in October sharing with
you a group of key stakeholders came together under the guidance and leadership of our
Aviation Department with Port Authority and Government Affairs to look at conversations
around economic development in and around Newark International Airport. There is a concept
called Aerotropolis which I have brought before you many times, it is a sound economic
development concept. It is an economic engine provider. And so we are now looking at the best
practices to develop economic opportunities in and around Newark Airport with these key
stakeholders which includes City of Newark, Port Authority leadership, the Newark Economic
Community Development Corporation, NJIT, Rutgers, Newark Regional Business Partnership,
Regional Plan Association, RPA. We have come together, as we should, as a committed
community to look at best practices and opportunities to address the disparities Executive
Director that we know exist that Newark Airport is at the bottom of the list of amenities and
services. When we decide that we are going to major on hospitality and service that we are the
global port of choice in our global community when we create that atmosphere, we are going to
attract a greater population and greater economic development. So as a result, we've had two
meetings. One in October here at Port Authority at the Airport in Newark, and then the
subsequent meeting in November took place at Newark Community Economic Development
Corporation. Out of that meeting came three components. One is a startup development for
Newark Airport City, Aerotropolis economic community development. That's the focus. New
Jersey Institute of Technology is saying that they will help lead the way with this startup
initiative looking at best practices, looking at evidence based opportunities, and then we look at
intermediate, and then a management structure for this Newark Airport City, Aerotropolis
economic development initiative. At this point, we would like the Board of Commissioners to
look at number one, establishing a free trade zone at Newark International Airport to examine
what a free trade zone would mean in terms of economic development opportunities, to attract
greater businesses into our area. Number two, we would like for the Board of Commissioners
Thank you. To consider a resolution for the Newark Aerotropolis development. And appropriate
funds for that Newark Aerotropolis at the tune of $250,000 which would establish an initiative.
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Prudential Arena has already Prudential insurance company has already agreed that they see the
value of this, NJIT has committed to this. I've reached out to Vornado Real estate group in New
York. They are saying we are eager to talk to Newark about the real estate opportunities, in and
around Newark International Airport. So we are asking the Commissioners to work with us, very
closely, with Government Affairs. Last point, and I thank you for this time, the PATH train
presentation went exceptionally well. And we want to thank Steven Plate and Tina Lado for their
leadership in presenting the PATH train. It was well received in the Newark community.
However, the thought is that it needs to be expanded to Newark Elizabeth line. So that's a
consideration. We will send you forthcoming information, specifically, about the Newark Airport
Aerotropolis community economic development, and look for your leadership to continue to join
with us to create opportunities for these wonderful people.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Okay.
[Yvonne Garrett Moore] And we thank you.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Thank you.
[Yvonne Garrett Moore] All right, God bless you.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] I'm glad you're feeling better now.
[Yvonne Garrett Moore] Yeah, much better.
[Yvonne Garrett Moore] Thanks.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Terrific. Thumbs up. Scott Spencer?
[Scott Spencer] Good afternoon, Commissioner O'Toole, Vice-Chairman. The Chairman
O'Toole, and Vice-Chairman Lynford, and Executive Director Cotton, and your fellow
Commissioners. I'm Scott Spencer with the Empire State Gateway. And I'm here to speak about
specifically, the Gateway Program, the $17 million in the budget for the related improvements
including the Hudson Tunnel Project, the Penn station, New York. This project as many of the
major investments of Port Authority considers its utility and impact for the next 100 to 200
years. But as I've testified in the EIS process for the Hudson Tunnel Project, this project, the
Hudson Tunnel Project, unfortunately has a number of flaws and limitations particularly in the
fact that they did not consider the cost capacity and capabilities of this tunnel compared to other
alternatives. In fact, one of the major flaws of the Hudson Tunnel Project is that it will be the
first in the history of New York City to be a new tunnel, a bridge across the Hudson that provides
no increase of capacity, whether it would be rail or highway across the Hudson. And another
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major flaw of this project in the EIS process, again, looking at what we face for the next 100 to
200 years, it does not consider its ability to function in the face of future flood risks. There has
been no consideration of flood resiliency, so you would have a multi-billion dollar facility
opened, still at risk with the flooding at Penn Station, New York and the East River Tunnels that
sever the vital Northeast Corridor and the commuter capabilities. There is also an issue before
politicians on this project where $450 million is being sought by the Gateway Development
Corporation to build the tunnel box under the Hudson yard buildings that are under construction.
And that's greatly at fault because it's using tax dollars to support what really is an air rights
agreement. The developer should be responsible to support whatever development they want, not
the taxpayers for that tunnel box. And also I'd like to request that the Port Authority consider
seeking an independent engineering evaluation of the existing Hudson Tunnels. There is no
doubt that future capacity has to be created, but it's may not be as critical when you consider that
the PATH tunnels were built with much less robust since they are only cast iron tunnels and they
are not facing the same risk as the solid concrete tunnels, the Hudson River, so independent
engineering valuation would be prudent to consider its true risk in the timeline that we are
facing. And lastly, I'd like you to consider as I propose the EmpireStateGateway.com. I'd be
happy to meet with the Executive Director to explore more concisely why this is a more robust
multi-modal alternative, since it also removes buses from the Lincoln Tunnel and eliminates the
cost of having to build a new Port Authority Bus Terminal as well. Thank you.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Thank you for your comments. Demetrius Lucky?
[Demetrius Lucky] Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Demetrius Lucky. I live
in Newark. I work as a baggage handler for Newark Airport for 11 years. I'm here today to ask
you to make fairly sustainable wages and better healthcare reality for me and 40,000 of my co-
workers who keep Newark, and, JFK, and LaGuardia running. You heard from some of my co-
workers last month. They shared their own struggles to make ends meet. I want to take the
opportunity to tell you more about my own situation. I take pride in my work as a baggage
handler. I make sure passenger's luggage get to the right destination. Today my co-workers and I
are the first line of defense if a bag looks suspicious, we immediately call the cops. I make only
$10.20 an hour. I pay $1,300 for an apartment I share with my teenage daughter. I buy a $100
worth of groceries each week. I pay $59 for a bus card a month if I want to get to work. I'm
lucky to have $3 saved for emergency for my paycheck. By helping us to earn a dignified salary,
you'll also be able to retain more of your long-term employees. I'm ready, when I have the proper
training to do my job to its best. Airport workers are stronger when we have adequate insurance
that helps keep us healthy so we can work harder and provide the best service for our passengers.
Our airports are safe when we are able to earn fairly sustainable wages that allow us to say to our
job for years to come. The fact is that we make the airport run smoothly, we make them safely,
it's time for you to take the necessary steps to ensure our employees are ready, safe, and strong.
Thank you.
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[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Thank you for your comments.
[applause] Now thank you colleagues and your co-workers. Christina Watson? Christina
Watson?
[Christina Watson] Good morning, everybody. My name is Christina Watson. I'm a part-time
security officer at Newark Airport. Like many of my co-workers, I make $10.20 an hour. I really,
really struggle to make ends meet. I live with my parents in Newark to save on rent, but I help
them with the utilities and other bills. So I only make $5.25 each paycheck. And when I receive
my paycheck, it's gone within the same day. About $400 go to the utility bills, $70 go to my
transportation back and forth to work. I used to have a car when I was working full-time but not
anymore. A family-sustainable wage and more training will help the A family-sustainable wage
and more training will help me be more stronger in my capacity as a security officer. The reality
is right now, they are the working class, I'm the working class. We are the poor working class.
And my paycheck always My paycheck always
[Public] All right, take your time.
[Christina Watson] This really mean a lot to us. It's not helping. What we are going through, we
should have to go through. We get up every day to make sure that business run effectively,
smoothly every day and our business is to run the same. I provide vital service at the airport, and
I should be better compensated. Thank you for taking the time to listen to our struggles today.
Now is your time to take action for our airports, ready, safe, and strong. Thank you.
[applause]
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Christina, thank you very much for coming up. Selwyn Baptiste or
Baptist?
[Selwyn Baptiste] A pleasant good afternoon to the Commissioner, Assistant Commissioner, all
members of the Committee. I'm a Security Guard at JFK. My name is Selwyn Baptiste, and I'm a
Security officer at JFK. I've worked at the airport for numerous contractors or subcontractors for
one and a half year. I work hard at my job, helping passengers safe and helping them on their
journey. Every day, I just want a good job that helps me support my family. It is hard to get by
on minimum wages in New York. New York City especially when my employer Global Security
is not treating me and my co-workers fairly. They don't pay us for all our hours we work.
Recently, Global settled class action lawsuit with some of my co-workers over wage theft. Wage
theft, we're not getting enough already and now you're stealing it. We do important work to keep
the community safe, we are proud of our jobs. We deserve family sustaining wages, we deserve
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respect from our employer to pay us fairly for our work that we can make the airport ready, safe,
and secure. Thank you very much. Have a happy Christmas.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Thank you very much for your comments. Thank you. Jonathan
Bryan? Jonathan?
[Johnathan Bryan ] Good afternoon. My name is Jonathan Bryan. I'm a Security officer at JFK
Airport. I work at Terminal 1. The airport workers are basically the building blocks that hold this
airport, without them, the airports can't be safe and secure. We are here today to ask you guys,
some of you might be new, some of you might not be new, but to take action to help airport
workers all of us to make a good living wage. I live in Long Island. I don't know if you know
about New York and Long Island, but it costs a lot. It's a lot. And for wage of $11 per hour, is
just not enough, you know. I was there to give you an example when they had the active shooting
incident where we had many passengers run to us, asking us for help or what to do and where to
go, you know, we need better training, and better pay, and better benefits to help us to sustain our
families and our lives. For example, me, my father died just recently and after that my mother
with bills to pay, you know, and I'm looking for to go back to school. I've not been able to do all
of that because of wages, you know, it's really hard. You know, I've worked there for almost two
years now and to be honest, I've seen so many workers come and go. It's a high turnover, you
know. And with a better pay, you have a better environment, better moral, and people will
actually work better, and work harder to keep the airport safe and secure so that the passengers
can travel back and forth happily, and feeling safe. So it's up to you guys, the Port Authority
Board, to make this a reality. It's a new day, it's a new dawn, and it's up to you guys to help us,
airport workers, please help us. Thank you.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Thank you. Thank you.
[applause] Deborah Sinico? Deborah Sinico?
[Deborah Sinico] Sorry.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Deborah or Deborah.
[Deborah Sinico] I can't hear you.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] I apologize. I have Jeff whisper in my ear, I'm mispronouncing every
other word so
[Deborah Sinico] That's okay.
(Board Meeting 12/07/17)
[Vice-Chair J.H. Lynford] It’s fine.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] I am!
[Deborah Sinico] My circumstances isn't as severe as theirs. However, I do have to commute on
the PATH and I'm just wonderful to hear Mr. Marino with regards to what they're doing with the
PATH. It's hard to get to work in the morning Monday to Friday at 8:30 because half of the time,
it's delayed and schedules like signals or derailment, every week it's something. And, you know,
I'm glad to hear they're doing things, but how do I keep telling my employer every week, "Yeah,
I'm half hour late because blah-blah-blah " You know, I could be unemployed because of this. So
something does need to happen. And the weekend schedules, you got to be kidding me, the
overcrowding, between Monday through Friday overcrowding is horrendous. The people are so
tense. I saw a woman get thrown off a train 'cause a guy got mad because she was trying to
wiggle her way in. He threw her off. We luckily enough helped the train doors open so she could
get back on. That's how tense it is. You have no idea. And it's hard for you to conceive if you
don't walk in someone else's shoes, I suggest, all of you Monday through Friday at 8:30 in the
morning take Grove Street to the 33rd street, and see what the experience is or even on the
weekends, this Journal Square to Hoboken routine is got to stop. You got to be kidding me. I
understand 20 years ago when there was nobody taking the service that much. But today, you've
got overcrowding because of all the development. When Trump started to build his tower in
Jersey City, you got to be kidding me, guys. You should have seen it. It's a wakeup call, hello,
hello. Development, it means a lot of people, you have to make adjustments. Now I'm not trying
to be a kvetch, and constantly, you know, sorry. But it gets old. So if you could fix the 33rd,
weekend, gotta stop that, and make a better system to where we don't have such overcrowding.
It's just horrendous. And I got to thank the task force Mr. Marina. They were wonderful, they did
give me a call back after I complained via email. They were very nice, Jessica Mills, and
Rebecca Cassidy, were very nice in letting me know what was going on. So thank you. Thank
you for the time.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Thank you very much for your comments. Michael DeFrietas?
Michael DeFrietas?
[Michael DeFrietas] Yes, sir. A pleasant good afternoon to the Board of Governors. This is a
very special moment for me. My name is Michael DeFrietas, and I'm a Security officer at JFK.
I've worked at the airport for a little over a year. I'm struggling to support my family with
minimum wage and without benefits. After transportation, rent, and food, there is not really
anything leftover. All I want is a fair wage so that I can support my family and provide a bright
future for my kids. All my colleagues at the airport just want the same thing. That's why we need
the Port Board to set a standard of living wages and benefits so that workers can support their
families, stay on the job, and make our airports safer. Both New York Governor Cuomo, and
(Board Meeting 12/07/17)
New Jersey Governor-elect Phil Murphy have said their support family-sustaining wages and
benefits for airport workers. Now is the chance for you, the Port Board, to make this a reality for
40,000 contracted airport workers like me at JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark. That way, we can
make the airports ready and safer. But in my final comment, I want to say this. It's very
important that we understand that unless we take a policy position in arriving to the consensus of
concluding and arriving at answers to ready answering the need for airport workers, we will not
get it done because at presently, as I've done many studies and I've read many issues relating to
business and economical fears around the world, inflation rates on cost of living has gone up
more than 40%. You have, in the United States of America, 10 out of every 9 person or 10
persons, 9 persons who are financially stressed. People are jumping out of windows in monotony
I've read it in the news. Financial issues in this city and in this country is real, and so I ask the
Board today to kindly and artfully, understand the cry of the poor, help us to get above poverty,
and help to solve the social and economic problems we face in this country. Thank you and have
a good afternoon.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Thank you for your comments. Charlene Talarico. Final speaker.
[Charlene Talarico] Good afternoon. Today is my fifth appearance seeking assistance from this
Board after being physically assaulted by Diannae Ehler, now the Director of TB&T for which
criminal charges are pending against her. The trial is scheduled to begin on December 19. If she
apologizes for what she actually did which does not have to be done in court, I will gladly drop
the charges. Remember, I have no intention of suing the Port Authority for her actions or the
abuse I received at the Lincoln Tunnel. This is about the truth. On November 20 of this year,
over a year after the incident occurred, I was finally allowed to submit civilian complaints
regarding the actions of the Lincoln Tunnel Captain, the Lieutenant, the Sergeant, and the police
officer who wrote the reports. These reports are inaccurate and they refuse to assist me in an
effort to protect Diannae Ehler and hide the truth. For the record, I believe the officer only did
what she was ordered to do. The police report state that my complaint was a verbal dispute. This
is untrue. After Diannae Ehler pushed me and tried to rip my personal cell phone from my hand,
I immediately went downstairs to the Captain And stated I was assaulted by Diannae Ehler and
wanted to press criminal charges. The captain went upstairs and spoke to Diannae Ehler and
Gerald Lindenmeyer, he then returned downstairs and told me, the matter didn't rise to a criminal
complaint, and he would not accept it. As a formal deputy court administrator and as I
understand the law, that decision was not up to him, but should have been decided by a judge
which it was, that's why there are criminal charges pending against her. Since it's taken over a
year to finally be allowed to submit civilian complaints, I have little faith that they will be
properly investigated. For the record, before I was unjustly put out of work, I had perfect
attendance for my entire Port Authority career, and no disciplinary actions against me. Also if I
was this terribly disruptive difficult employee they say, then why did they try to force me back to
the Lincoln Tunnel with criminal charges pending against my boss Diannae Ehler. Also if the
(Board Meeting 12/07/17)
abuse I received at the Lincoln Tunnel from other Lincoln Tunnel staff wasn't true, then why
would they give me my own refrigerator for my lunch with a lock on it? I'm a hardworking,
dedicated employee seeking justice. Police reports are totally inaccurate, mail has been stolen,
medical examination was videotaped, and the inspector general's detective lied to the
Weehawken prosecutor about my investigation. I read the newspapers and watch the news every
day. After each of these meetings, I see articles written I'm aware of that. Thank you. After, after
each of these meetings, I see articles written and reports done about the bus terminal, the low pay
of the airport workers, etcetera. Why is it that none of the reporters here care about this
disgraceful situation? That maybe the only way the truth will ever prevail. God knows the Port
Authority hasn't been good about investigating itself. I only wish they were. I will continue to
pursue this matter until the truth prevails regardless of where I have to go What I have to do, or
how long it takes. Thank you for your time, and I wish you all a happy, healthy, and safe holiday
season.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Thank you. That closes the public portion. We'll now proceed with the
voting of items before the Board today for consideration which each of the respective Committee
Chairs will provide a brief report for prior to the matter being considered by the Board. We'll
have Commissioner Bagger start the portion of the proceedings with the 2018 budget as Chair,
the Committee on Finance. We will follow with a report by Vice-Chair Lynford on behalf of the
Committee on Capital Planning, Execution, and Assess Management, and World Trade Center
redevelopment Sub-Committee. Report by Commissioner Turner on behalf of the Committee on
Governance and Ethics will follow, and I will conclude with a report on behalf of the Committee
on Operations. Commissioner Bagger.
[Commissioner R. Bagger] Great, thank you, as Chair of the Finance Committee, recommend
approval today of our 2018 budget as outlined by our Chief Financial Officer Libby McCarthy
earlier in the meeting. What we are voting on now is both our Operating Budget and our Capital
Budget for 2018. Our operating budget is $3.2 billion representing a 1.9% increase over the
current year. That budget forecasts total revenues that will be increasing by 2.7% in 2018, excuse
me, 2.5% increase in revenues with no changes, no increases in tolls or fares. The difference
between our revenues, our revenues minus our operating expenses and our operating budget
results in a $1.5 billion net operating income that is applied to and spent on our capital program.
So our Capital Budget which we are also proving today for 2018 is $3.4 billion. So $1.5 billion
of that is pay as you go through our net operating income, you know, which is very impressive.
Net Capital Budget for 2018 is consistent within the court with our 10-year Capital Plan. So this
budget, as colleagues know, has been reviewed by the Finance Committee, it's been the subject
of extensive discussion, you know, joint meeting of the Operations and Finance Committees and
considered by the full Board posted in full for public review and comments that have been shared
back with the Board. So at this point, I would like to recommend action on this and begin by
asking the corporate Secretary if we have any recusals.
(Board Meeting 12/07/17)
[K. Eastman] No recusals.
[Commissioner R. Bagger] We have a motion to prove the 2018 budget?
[Commissioners] So moved.
[Commissioner R. Bagger] Is there a Second? Any questions or discussion? If not, a roll call,
please.
[K. Eastman] Chairman O'Toole.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Vice-Chairman Lynford.
[Vice-Chair J.H. Lynford] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Bagger.
[Commissioner R. Bagger] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Eve.
[Commissioner L. Eve] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Horwitz.
[Commissioner D. Horwitz] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner LaBarbera.
[Commissioner G. LaBarbera] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner McDonald.
[Commissioner G. McDonald] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Pocino.
(Board Meeting 12/07/17)
[Commissioner R. Pocino] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Rosado.
[Commissioner R. Rosado] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Turner.
[Commissioner C. Turner] Yes.
[Commissioner R. Bagger] That item is approved.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Thank you, Commissioner Bagger. Exceptional job as always,
Richard, truly exceptional. Vice-Chair Lynford, can we have your report?
[Vice-Chair J.H. Lynford] As Chair of the Committee I didn't want you to hear that. Thirteen
certain specific resolutions, so I ask your indulgence as I will move rapidly through these
respective items. The first item which was discussed in Committee earlier today authorizes the
expenditure of $496 million to implement certain airside and landside elements of the Terminal
A Redevelopment program at Newark Liberty International Airport and agreements with the
rental car companies operating at Newark Airport to conduct a feasibility study for an integrated
rental car facility and Port Authority operated public parking garage with the Port Authority's
portion of the feasibility study cost capped at $8 million. This item also authorizes two additional
projects that must be closely coordinated with Terminal A redevelopment program, specifically,
$175 million project to design and construct a south airfield and $75 million project to design
and construct certain footings for the future alignment of AirTrain Newark. Lastly, this item also
authorizes the Executive Director take actions necessary to implement the aforementioned work
and submit an application to the federal aviation administration to recover certain Terminal A
redevelopment cost via passenger facility charges. Prior to making a motion on this item, I would
ask the Corporate Secretary to note any Commissioner recusals on this matter.
[K. Eastman] There are no recusals.
[Vice-Chair J.H. Lynford] Do any Commissioners have any questions or comments on this item?
Hearing that, I will now request a motion on this item.
[Commissioners] So moved.
[Vice-Chair J.H. Lynford] Can I have a second? Got it. I will now request the Corporate
Secretary to call the roll for voting on this item.
(Board Meeting 12/07/17)
[K. Eastman] Chairman O'Toole.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Vice-Chairman Lynford.
[Vice-Chair J.H. Lynford] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Bagger.
[Commissioner R. Bagger] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Eve.
[Commissioner L. Eve] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Horwitz.
[Commissioner D. Horwitz] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner LaBarbera.
[Commissioner G. LaBarbera] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner McDonald.
[Commissioner G. McDonald] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Pocino.
[Commissioner R. Pocino] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Rosado.
[Commissioner R. Rosado] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Turner.
[Commissioner C. Turner] Yes.
(Board Meeting 12/07/17)
[Vice-Chair J.H. Lynford] As the votes are in order, the item is approved. The next item
authorizes $35 million to undertake an environmental review of two preferred alternatives
identified in the cross harbor freight movement program tier one, environmental impact
statement and authorizes the Executive Director to two agreements for professional advisory
services to assist with the environmental review. Prior to making motion on this item, I would
ask the Corporate Secretary to note any Commissioner recusals on this matter.
[K. Eastman] No recusals.
[Vice-Chair J.H. Lynford] Do any of the Commissioners have any questions or comments on this
item? Hearing that, I will now request a motion on this item.
[Commissioners] So moved.
[Vice-Chair J.H. Lynford] Can I have a second?
[Commissioners] Second.
[Vice-Chair J.H. Lynford] I will now request the Corporate Secretary to call the roll for voting
on this item.
[K. Eastman] Chairman O'Toole.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Vice-Chairman Lynford.
[Vice-Chair J.H. Lynford] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Bagger.
[Commissioner R. Bagger] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Eve.
[Commissioner L. Eve] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Horwitz.
(Board Meeting 12/07/17)
[Commissioner D. Horwitz] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner LaBarbera.
[Commissioner G. LaBarbera] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner McDonald.
[Commissioner G. McDonald] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Pocino.
[Commissioner R. Pocino] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Rosado.
[Commissioner R. Rosado] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Turner.
[Commissioner C. Turner] Yes.
[Vice-Chair J.H. Lynford] As the votes are in order, the item is approved. The next item, which
was discussed in Committee today authorize a program to rehabilitate and replace key
components of PATH's rail car fleet, to maintain them in a state of good repair and extend their
useful life at an estimated cost of $79.5 million. This item also authorize a word of negotiated
contract to Kawasaki Rail Car Inc. to overhaul the PATH rail car fleet. Prior to making motion
on this item, I would ask the Corporate Secretary to note any Commissioner recusals on this
matter.
[K. Eastman] There are no recusals.
[Vice-Chair J.H. Lynford] Do any of the Commissioners have any questions or comments on this
item? I will now request a motion and a second on it.
[Commissioner] So moved.
[Commissioner] So moved.
[Vice-Chair J.H. Lynford] Thank you. I will now request the Corporate Secretary to call the roll
(Board Meeting 12/07/17)
for voting on this item.
[K. Eastman] Chairman O'Toole.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Vice-Chairman Lynford.
[Vice-Chair J.H. Lynford] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Bagger.
[Commissioner R. Bagger] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Eve.
[Commissioner L. Eve] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Horwitz.
[Commissioner D. Horwitz] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner LaBarbera.
[Commissioner G. LaBarbera] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner McDonald.
[Commissioner G. McDonald] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Pocino.
[Commissioner R. Pocino] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Rosado.
[Commissioner R. Rosado] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Turner.
(Board Meeting 12/07/17)
[Commissioner C. Turner] Yes.
[Vice-Chair J.H. Lynford] As the votes are in order, the item is approved. The next item which is
also discussed in Committee earlier today authorize a $150 million project to purchase 50 new
rail cars for PATH. This item also authorizes the award of a negotiated contract with Kawasaki
Rail Car Inc. to design, fabricate, test and deliver the new rail cars with an option to purchase an
additional 22 additional rail cars with the exercise of set options subject to further Board
authorization. This item also authorizes a seven-year extension of existing agreement with the
joint venture of LTK Engineering Services/Parsons Transportation Group for professional
management services in support of the project. Prior to making motion on this item, I would ask
the corporate Secretary to note any Commissioner recusals on this matter.
[K. Eastman] There are no recusals.
[Vice-Chair J.H. Lynford] Thank you. Do any of the Commissioners have a question or
comment on this item? Hearing that, I will now request a motion and a second on this item.
[Commissioner] Second.
[Vice-Chair J.H. Lynford] Very good. I will now request the Corporate Secretary to call the roll
for voting on this item.
[K. Eastman] Chairman O'Toole.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Vice-Chairman Lynford.
[Vice-Chair J.H. Lynford] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Bagger.
[Commissioner R. Bagger] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Eve.
[Commissioner L. Eve] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Horwitz.
(Board Meeting 12/07/17)
[Commissioner D. Horwitz] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner LaBarbera.
[Commissioner G. LaBarbera] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner McDonald.
[Commissioner G. McDonald] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Pocino.
[Commissioner R. Pocino] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Rosado.
[Commissioner R. Rosado] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Turner.
[Commissioner C. Turner] Yes.
[Vice-Chair J.H. Lynford] As the votes are in order, the item is approved. The next item
authorizes $70.6 billion project for the rehabilitation and expansion of PATH's existing
substation number 14 including the retention of architectural and engineering design services for
the project. Substation 14 suffered damages as a result of super storm Sandy, and this project will
replace damaged equipment and provide for improved resilience from future storms. Prior to
making a motion on this item, I would ask the Corporate Secretary to note any Commissioner
recusals on this matter.
[K. Eastman] No recusals.
[Vice-Chair J.H. Lynford] Do any of the Commissioners have any questions or comments on this
item? I will now request a motion on this item and a second.
[Commissioners] So moved.
[Vice-Chair J.H. Lynford] I will now request the Corporate Secretary to call the roll for voting
on this item.
(Board Meeting 12/07/17)
[K. Eastman] Chairman O'Toole.
[Board Chair J.H. Lynford] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Vice-Chairman Lynford.
[Vice-Chair J.H. Lynford] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Bagger.
[Commissioner R. Bagger] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Eve.
[Commissioner L. Eve] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Horwitz.
[Commissioner D. Horwitz] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner LaBarbera.
[Commissioner G. LaBarbera] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner McDonald.
[Commissioner G. McDonald] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Pocino.
[Commissioner R. Pocino] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Rosado.
[Commissioner R. Rosado] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Turner.
[Commissioner C. Turner] Yes.
(Board Meeting 12/07/17)
[Vice-Chair J.H. Lynford] As the votes are in order, the item is approved. That's six of the 12
pages.
[Commissioner] No, you're kidding.
[Vice-Chair J.H. Lynford] No, I'm not. The next item authorizes $29.2 million project to replace
the track interlocking and track structures which served PATH's Hoboken Station including a
retention of architectural and engineering design services for the project. Prior to making a
motion on this item, I would ask the Corporate Secretary to note any Commissioner recusals on
this matter?
[K. Eastman] No recusals.
[Vice-Chair J.H. Lynford] Thank you. Do any of the Commissioners have questions or
comments? I will now request a motion and a second on this item.
[Commissioner] So moved.
[Vice-Chair J.H. Lynford] Thank you. I will now request the Corporate Secretary to call the roll
for voting on this item.
[K. Eastman] Chairman O'Toole.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Vice-Chairman Lynford.
[Vice-Chair J.H. Lynford] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Bagger.
[Commissioner R. Bagger] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Eve.
[Commissioner L. Eve] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Horwitz.
[Commissioner D. Horwitz] Yes.
(Board Meeting 12/07/17)
[K. Eastman] Commissioner LaBarbera.
[Commissioner G. LaBarbera] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner McDonald.
[Commissioner G. McDonald] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Pocino.
[Commissioner R. Pocino] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Rosado.
[Commissioner R. Rosado] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Turner.
[Commissioner C. Turner] Yes.
[Vice-Chair J.H. Lynford] As the votes are in order, the item is approved. The next item which
was discussed in Committee earlier today, we authorize the Bayonne Bridge navigational
clearance program increasing the authorized program budget from $1.3 billion to an estimated
range of $1.654 billion and $1.692 billion. This increase is necessary to accommodate the
revised construction timeline and asked by the Port Authority in October 2015 based on multiple
complexities and construction challenges associated with implementing the project. Prior to
making a motion on this item, I would ask the Corporate Secretary to note any Commissioner
recusals on this matter.
[K. Eastman] There are no recusals.
[Vice-Chair J.H. Lynford] Thank you. Do any of the Commissioners have any questions or
comments on this item? Hearing that, I will now request a motion and a second on this item.
[Commissioner] So moved.
[Commissioner] Second.
[Vice-Chair J.H. Lynford] I will now request the Corporate Secretary to call the roll for voting
(Board Meeting 12/07/17)
on this item.
[K. Eastman] Chairman O'Toole.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Vice-Chairman Lynford.
[Vice-Chair J.H. Lynford] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Bagger.
[Commissioner R. Bagger] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Eve.
[Commissioner L. Eve] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Horwitz.
[Commissioner D. Horwitz] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner LaBarbera.
[Commissioner G. LaBarbera] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner McDonald.
[Commissioner G. McDonald] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Pocino.
[Commissioner R. Pocino] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Rosado.
[Commissioner R. Rosado] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Turner.
(Board Meeting 12/07/17)
[Commissioner C. Turner] Yes.
[Vice-Chair J.H. Lynford] As the votes are in order, the item is approved. On behalf of the
World Trade Center site redevelopment sub-committee, I will now submit an item for the
Board's consideration that authorizes funding for an existing contract with Cushman &
Wakefield and the amount of $52.3 million for continued management and operation and
maintenance services at the World Trade Center site including public spaces and centralized
infrastructure for a one-year period. Prior to making a motion on this item, I would ask the
Corporate Secretary to note any Commissioner recusals on this matter.
[K. Eastman] No recusals.
[Vice-Chair J.H. Lynford] Do any of the Commissioners have any questions or comments?
Hearing that, I will now request a motion and a second on this item.
[Commissioner] So moved.
[Commissioner] Second.
[Vice-Chair J.H. Lynford] Thank you. I will now request the Corporate Secretary to call the roll
for voting on this item.
[K. Eastman] Chairman O'Toole.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Vice-Chairman Lynford.
[Vice-Chair J.H. Lynford] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Bagger.
[Commissioner R. Bagger] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Eve.
[Commissioner L. Eve] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Horwitz.
(Board Meeting 12/07/17)
[Commissioner D. Horwitz] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner LaBarbera.
[Commissioner G. LaBarbera] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner McDonald.
[Commissioner G. McDonald] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Pocino.
[Commissioner R. Pocino] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Rosado.
[Commissioner R. Rosado] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Turner.
[Commissioner C. Turner] Yes.
[Vice-Chair J.H. Lynford] As the votes are in order, this item is approved. The next item
authorizes an $8.8 million contract to railroad construction company incorporated for the
fabrication and installation of a low-grade flood mitigation and resiliency improvements to
protect Port Authority transportation assets at the west basement levels of the World Trade
Center site. Prior to making a motion on this item, I would ask the Corporate Secretary to note
any Commissioner recusals on this matter.
[K. Eastman] No recusals.
[Vice-Chair J.H. Lynford] Thank you. Do any of the Commissioners have questions or
comments on this item? George? Thank you. I will now request and I want to make sure you are
listening. Excuse me, while I catch my breath. I will now request a motion and second on this
item.
[Commissioner] So moved.
[Vice-Chair J.H. Lynford] I will now request the Corporate Secretary to call the roll for voting
on this item.
(Board Meeting 12/07/17)
[K. Eastman] Chairman O'Toole.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Vice-Chairman Lynford.
[Vice-Chair J.H. Lynford] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Bagger.
[Commissioner R. Bagger] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Eve.
[Commissioner L. Eve] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Horwitz.
[Commissioner D. Horwitz] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner LaBarbera.
[Commissioner G. LaBarbera] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner McDonald.
[Commissioner G. McDonald] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Pocino.
[Commissioner R. Pocino] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Rosado.
[Commissioner R. Rosado] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Turner.
[Commissioner C. Turner] Yes.
(Board Meeting 12/07/17)
[Vice-Chair J.H. Lynford] As the votes are in order, the item is approved. The next item would
amend the extra work allowances under certain World Trade Center transportation hub
construction contracts in order to support the completion of the project within the existing
authorized total project budget. The amends are necessary, as certain scopes of work have been
reallocated among contractors in order to be most effectively complete the project. Prior to
making a motion on this item, I would ask the Corporate Secretary to note any Commissioner
recusals on this matter.
[K. Eastman] No recusals.
[Vice-Chair J.H. Lynford] Thank you. Do any of the Commissioners have any questions or
comments? Hearing that, I will now request a motion and a second on this item.
[Commissioner] So moved.
[Commissioner] Second.
[Vice-Chair J.H. Lynford] Thank you. I will now request the Corporate Secretary to call the roll
for voting on this item.
[K. Eastman] Chairman O'Toole.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Vice-Chairman Lynford.
[Vice-Chair J.H. Lynford] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Bagger.
[Commissioner R. Bagger] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Eve.
[Commissioner L. Eve] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Horwitz.
[Commissioner D. Horwitz] Yes.
(Board Meeting 12/07/17)
[K. Eastman] Commissioner LaBarbera.
[Commissioner G. LaBarbera] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner McDonald.
[Commissioner G. McDonald] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Pocino.
[Commissioner R. Pocino] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Rosado.
[Commissioner R. Rosado] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Turner.
[Commissioner C. Turner] Yes.
[Vice-Chair J.H. Lynford] As the votes are in order, the item is approved. Running into the
homestretch. The next item authorizes $500,000 increase and a six-month extension of an
existing architectural and engineering services agreement with Perkins Eastman Architects to
arise construction design bid documents in support of the development and property management
facility and Port Authority police department command facility at the World Trade Center. Prior
to making a motion on this item, I would ask the Corporate Secretary to note any Commissioner
recusals on this matter.
[K. Eastman] No recusals.
[Vice-Chair J.H. Lynford] Thank you. Do any of the Commissioners have any questions or
comments on this item? George?
[Commissioner G. McDonald] No, sir.
[Vice-Chair J.H. Lynford] Thank you. I will now request a motion and a second.
[Commissioner] So moved.
(Board Meeting 12/07/17)
[Vice-Chair J.H. Lynford] I will now request the Corporate Secretary to call the roll for a voting
on this item.
[K. Eastman] Chairman O'Toole.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Vice-Chairman Lynford.
[Vice-Chair J.H. Lynford] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Bagger.
[Commissioner R. Bagger] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Eve.
[Commissioner L. Eve] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Horwitz.
[Commissioner D. Horwitz] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner LaBarbera.
[Commissioner G. LaBarbera] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner McDonald.
[Commissioner G. McDonald] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Pocino.
[Commissioner R. Pocino] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Rosado.
[Commissioner R. Rosado] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Turner.
(Board Meeting 12/07/17)
[Commissioner C. Turner] Yes.
[Vice-Chair J.H. Lynford] I introduce a certain amount of levity to keep the attention of my
fellow Commissioners. These are all very important and I thank you and I apologize for speaking
rapidly, but I thought it was important to get it done. Thank you.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Well done, Vice-Chair. Commissioner Turner, may we have your
report?
[Commissioner C. Turner] As Chair of the Committee on Governance and Ethics, I will now
report on an item that authorizes certain amendments to the Port Authority's public records
access policy, consistent with the parameters described by general counsel during his
presentation of this matter. Prior to making the motion on this item, I would ask the Corporate
Secretary to note any Commissioner recusals on this matter.
[K. Eastman] There are no recusals.
[Commissioner C. Turner] Do any of the Commissioners have any questions or comments on
this item? I will now request a motion on this item.
[Commissioner] So moved.
[Commissioner] Second. I will now request the Corporate Secretary to call the roll for voting on
this item.
[K. Eastman] Chairman O'Toole.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Vice-Chairman Lynford.
[Vice-Chair J.H. Lynford] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Bagger.
[Commissioner R. Bagger] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Eve.
(Board Meeting 12/07/17)
[Commissioner L. Eve] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Horwitz.
[Commissioner D. Horwitz] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner LaBarbera.
[Commissioner G. LaBarbera] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner McDonald.
[Commissioner G. McDonald] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Pocino.
[Commissioner R. Pocino] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Rosado.
[Commissioner R. Rosado] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Turner.
[Commissioner C. Turner] Yes.
[Commissioner C. Turner] As the votes are in order, the item is approved, and my utmost
confidence in our General Counsel and Michael Farbiarz, and our Executive Director Rick
Cotton to do this efficiently, expeditiously and in a way that meets the needs of the public. I
think it worked out.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole Are we finished, Commissioner Turner?
[Commissioner C. Turner] Done.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Great. Thank you very much. As Chair of the Committee on
Operations, I will now present for consideration an item that authorizes lease supplement with
our bond at the Port Authority bus terminal to adjust the lease square footage to extend the term
of the letting through February 2028 at an aggregate rental of $13.7 million. This lease will
continue to be cancelable without cause on a 30-day notice. Prior to making a motion, I ask the
(Board Meeting 12/07/17)
Corporate Secretary to note any Commissioner recusals.
[K. Eastman] No recusals.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Any Commissioners have any questions or comments? Motion please.
[Commissioner] So moved.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Second?
[Commissioner] Second.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Request for roll call.
[K. Eastman] Chairman O'Toole.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Vice-Chairman Lynford.
[Vice-Chair J.H. Lynford] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Bagger.
[Commissioner R. Bagger] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Eve.
[Commissioner L. Eve] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Horwitz.
[Commissioner D. Horwitz] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner LaBarbera.
[Commissioner G. LaBarbera] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner McDonald.
(Board Meeting 12/07/17)
[Commissioner G. McDonald] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Pocino.
[Commissioner R. Pocino] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Rosado.
[Commissioner R. Rosado] Yes.
[K. Eastma] Commissioner Turner.
[Commissioner C. Turner] Yes.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Item is approved. The next item authorizes a 10-year lease with
Santander Bank for its continued occupancy of retail space at Journal Square, transportation
center at an aggregate rental estimated at $2.4 million. Prior to making a motion on this item, I
would ask the Corporate Secretary to note any Commissioner recusals.
[K. Eastman] No recusals.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Commissioners any questions or comments? Motion please.
[Commissioner] So moved.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Second?
[Commissioner] Second.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Roll call.
[K. Eastman] Chairman O'Toole.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Vice-Chairman Lynford.
[Vice-Chair J.H. Lynford] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Bagger.
(Board Meeting 12/07/17)
[Commissioner R. Bagger] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Eve.
[Commissioner L. Eve] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Horwitz.
[Commissioner D. Horwitz] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner LaBarbera.
[Commissioner G. LaBarbera] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner McDonald.
[Commissioner G. McDonald] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Pocino.
[Commissioner R. Pocino] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Rosado.
[Commissioner R. Rosado] Yes.
[K. Eastman] Commissioner Turner.
[Commissioner C. Turner] Yes.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Item is approved. That concludes my report. There being no further
business, I move to adjourn. Second on favor.
[Commissioners] Aye.
[Board Chair K. O’Toole] Meeting is adjourned. Happy holidays to everybody.
[Commissioners] Happy holiday.