Benton Harbor City Manager Alex Little has been appointed to the Twin Cities Area Transportation Authority Board to ensure it still has a member of city staff on hand heading into the new year.
Due to the resignation of outgoing Commissioner Ron Singleton, the city’s slot on the board was about to become vacant just as TCATA begins talks with the Federal Transit Administration about a Dial a Ride replacement. City Commissioners on Monday discussed how to fill the board vacancy with Mayor Marcus Muhammad nominating Little. Commissioner Ethel Clark-Griffin questioned that, saying there are other options.
“We have nine elected officials, including the mayor, who is an elected member of the commission,” Clark-Griffin said. “And I know I can name at least four or five of us who hasn’t even been asked to serve on the dollar rise. So why would we skip over all the elected officials and make the city manager?”
Clark-Griffin said newly elected Commissioner Diedre Fields has expressed an interest in the TCATA Board seat. Muhammad said with Fields not assuming office until January 1, she can’t yet be appointed.
Meanwhile, Muhammad said the meeting with the FTA was slated for Tuesday.
“I have to make sure that Dial a Ride keeps going because our residents depend greatly on that transportation,” Muhammad said.
Commissioner Emma Kinnard suggested that giving another role to Little would overwhelm him. Clark-Griffin proposed a motion to table the appointment until after January 1, at which time commissioners would consider Diedre Fields. The motion failed.
The motion to appoint Little to the TCATA Board through October 1 of next year then passed with Kinnard and Clark-Griffin voting no.
