SANFORD — There will be fewer blue-and-white York County Community Action buses traversing the county in the coming weeks, delivering folks to grocery shopping or medical appointments. And there will be fewer drivers employed by the nonprofit corporation in two weeks; pink slips went out to 15 bus drivers and two office workers Monday.
A change in the way rides are arranged for MaineCare clients has meant the integrated bus system ”“ which provided transportation services for a number of other riders, as well as those receiving MaineCare ”“ will also change.
While some services, like Sanford Transit, the Ocean Shuttle, the summer Shoreline Explorer and the WAVE will remain intact, other bus services will be reduced, said YCCAC Executive Director Barbara Crider. Exact details are still being worked out, but some bus services that until now have been provided five days a week will be reduced to fewer days, among other changes.
YCCAC’s transportation program will continue to provide services that are funded under contracts and grants, said YCCAC Transportation Director Connie Garber, as well as those funded by the Federal Transit Administration, in addition to municipal support, business funding and rider fares.
When the news was delivered to the workers Monday that their jobs will be eliminated in two weeks, Crider said employees’ first concern was not for themselves.
“Their initial reaction, to a person, was how this would affect their riders,” said Crider, pointing out that some drivers have ferried some of their clients for 10-15 years.
Crider said it is a difficult time for everyone. In addition to the 17 layoffs announced Monday, six other workers in the transportation department have been laid off since Aug. 1, for a total of 23.
“These drivers know and care about their riders ”“ especially the children and adults with special needs and the seniors who can no longer drive, but who have been able to shop and remain independent because of our bus services,” Crider said.
She said the agency hoped to have more information available later today.
“We are working on several options for people who find this transition disruptive to voice their concern and seek help,” she said.
The reduction in service and the layoffs come in the wake of a decision by YCCAC in December to terminate its contract in February with the non-emergency MaineCare transportation broker Logisticare, which took over arranging rides for clients Aug. 1. The workflow system between the two agencies is cumbersome and a solution YCCAC proposed was rejected, said Crider.
A rate increase was approved by Logisticare, but at a lesser amount than YCCAC said was necessary to continue. Ultimately, those issues, coupled with poor communication between the entities and financial difficulties, prompted YCCAC’s decision to terminate the contract.
Until Aug. 1, YCCAC arranged the rides, which were provided by volunteers using their own vehicles, as well as YCCAC buses, other bus companies and taxicabs. That changed statewide, because the federal Center for Medicaid Services raised conflict of interest concerns. Maine chose the brokerage model from among four options.
Besides Logisticare LLC, other Maine brokers include Penquis and Coordinated Transportation Services, Inc. Following a deluge of complaints by riders, the latter was told by the state that its contract will not be renewed when it expires in June.
Garber, reflecting on what has transpired and the consequent layoffs and reductions in service, observed that the agency used to provide an integrated bus service.
“It’s been disassembled,” Garber said. “All of these cuts are as a direct result of YCCAC being put in a position where we had to terminate our contract as a transportation provider to the broker for York County, Logisticare.”
— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.
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