Half of All Recommendations Implemented
The update meets the NTTA’s first milestone in communicating progress to the judges, customers and stakeholders. Continuing updates will be provided as needed, and the NTTA will formally report again at the six-month mark.
“The NTTA board and staff are committed to addressing all of the remaining recommendations expeditiously and in a fiscally responsible manner,” said Kenneth Barr, NTTA chairman. “I am very pleased with our progress in the first 90 days. We will continue moving forward at a rapid pace.”
The County Review Action Plan Update is posted online, in addition to the original Independent Financial and Performance Review. The interactive update provides an overview on the status of each recommendation from the review.
Of 82 recommendations to be reviewed and considered for implementation by the NTTA Board of Directors, 56 percent (44) of the recommendations have been completed and implemented, 38 percent (30) are currently in progress, 6 percent (5) relate to the NTTA’s organizational design and are pending future action, and three recommendations relate to the county judges’ decisions.
The recommendations from the review are categorized into four major areas:
- Transparency: Focusing on governance, conflicts of interest, and board composition
- Procurement: Procurement policies and procedures, and diversity policy
- Organization: Performance management, current business model, and consultant use
- Finance: Liquidity, debt coverage, funding, and collections
Highlights from the Past 90 Days
At its December 2011 meeting, the NTTA board approved the Major Consultant Procurement Plan, including a master template for all future procurements. At its January 2012 meeting, the board approved its Ethics and Conflicts of Interest Policy by unanimous vote. Two recent Dallas County appointments have diversified the expertise of the board as recommended. The general counsel presented the legal services procurement process for future action. Several initiatives also have been instituted to optimize toll operations.