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e m 0 To: Board o Directors From: R. G. Ande n-Wydcoff, General Manager ~at~ November 24,1997 Re: Resignation as Project Manager of Courthouse Square In view of the recent public focus on Courthouse Square, the policy issue facing Salem Area Transit is whether or not the project shouid proceed. My opinion is an emphatic, yes! The Board unanimously and enthusiastica~ly confirmed that at its Board meeting November 20th. Having said that, however, my leadership in the project, right or wrong, has been questioned in the press and, as a resuit the cxedibility of the project is cast in the same light. The focus on my role has taken the focus away from the primary issue: Courthouse Square is a good project. I, therefore, am taking myself out of the day-to-day management of the project and am reassigning those responsibilities to the District's Planning & Marketing Manager, John Whittington. In order to assure that Mr. Whittington will have the flexibility needed to perfoRn these duties in the best interest of the District, Mr. Whittington will report direc:tly to the Board of Director's on project related issues, rather than to me. I will continue to provide whatever resource the Board directs and is considered appropriate to meet the public intent served by this change in management of the project. Mr. Whittington will be responsible for directing the Transit retated development elements of the project, and will coordinate with Marion County's project manager with respect to the issues common to both agencies. Courthouse Square is a partnership with Marion County that deserves to move forward. There are mutual benefits derived by both partners that would not ~be ava~able to the taxpayers without the partnership. The project as curren~y designed provides all the elements originally prescribed by the Board and approved by FTA, except daycare. The project has not been "down-sized" and all of the Transit elements are funded by Federal Grants, earmarked by Congress specifically for this project. The site was determined 20 years ago and reconfiRned on numerous occasions by citizens' committees and the Board over the intenrening years. Courthouse Square is unique. We have known that from the beginning. There has been no "play book" to guide our actions, only our dedication to the vision and our trust in the expert consultants retained by Marion County and ourselves to advise us on the project. In retrospect, there were some decisions made which, with the benefit of hindsight, may have been made differently, but that is a luxury decision-making at the time did not have. To attempt to defend them now, when hindsight shows that other options may have been more prudent, is futile. I can say, however, witho~t reseniation, that every decision made on this project was made with the best information and advice available at the time, and always with the taxpayers' "retum on investment" utmost in our minds. What is of paramount importance now is the viability and necessity of the project and that the Board take whatever action is necessary to advance the project is a timely and cost-effective manner. ~