MILLER Newsletter 2015 Final with cream Small

IDENTIFY, AIM, EXECUTE
DRIVEN TO BE THE BEST
Transit Operations
The Customer Service Appreciation Program (CASP) luncheon
was held on Friday, May 9, 2014 to recognize outstanding
customer service provided by all YRT Contractors
and their operators. Operators who received three or more
verified CARES compliments in 2013 were awarded a certificate
of appreciation for going above and beyond the call of
duty in providing customer service. Sixteen individual operators
were recognized for their exemplary customer service.
In addition to individual operator’s awards, contractors were
awarded trophies for overall achievement including the
most substantiated commendations received.
YRT/Viva operators recognized for Outstanding
Customer Service
Miller Transit led the parade of having the most operators
receiving awards which included:
Annual Contractor Award – Miller had 142 commendations, the most ever by a Contractor
Annual Driver Award (Diamond Certificate of Excellence Award) presented to Operator Sarath Wedande for his achievement of
receiving 38 verified commendations in 2013, the highest number of CARES compliments given to an individual; operator to date.
The Platinum Certificate of Excellence awarded to operator Gobu Navarathnarajah, Silver Certificate of Excellence award to
operators; Dalia Berger, Evelyno Braganza, David Crann, Gary Durrant, Jeff English and Eric Vartiamaki.
On May 6, 2014 Leo McArthur and the
Transit Staff greeted and presented a
Pocket Watch to all transit employees
in appreciation to their performance in
miles between accidents and road calls,
customer service and maintaining Miller
Transit as the number 1 rank contractor in
York Region.
Operational Highlights
Miller Transit has successfully negotiated an extension to its existing contract with York Region Transit that will ensure continuity
of service until September 2023 with a possible extension of three further years. Congratulations to Dan Sguigna and his team for
providing outstanding customer service resulting in this contract extension. Miller Transit continues to work collaboratively with
York Region Transit to improve customer service, on-time service and fleet maintenance. This contract extension is evidence of the
quality of our transit team, from our managers to our support staff to our drivers – congratulations to everyone for an outstanding
job!
In addition, we received from the Region a total of 17 new buses and retired (10) Orion’s giving us a net gain of 9 buses this past
year. As a result we expanded our bus parking lot by 13 additional parking slots to accommodate the additional buses required by
late July 2014.
These additional buses were required as the Region transferred to Miller, routes 99 & late 98 from Veolia Southwest in September.
This transfer has increased our fleet by an additional 5 buses and 15 drivers, one Road Inspector and one Trainer for the Safety &
Training Department. The new routes will generate approximately 26,000 service hours. Due to this growth, we held two Driver
Training Schools to hire the 15 drivers. The first school started on June 9th, and the second school on July 14th, 2014. We may also
have to hold a third school which will start in March 2015.
Bloomington Downs held their annual staff appreciation day Golf Tournament on Aug. 13 followed by the
traditional buffet dinner. The last few players got caught in a rain shower towards the end but it did not
affect their appetite for dinner. A good time was had by all. The winners this year were Ashley Evison For
the ladies and for the first time in the history of the tournament we had a tie in the men’s division between
Andy Spiropoulos and Doug Henderson. It was agreed that these two gentlemen would play an additional
hole to determine the winner. This broke the
tie making Andy the winner for the men’s
division.
A huge thank you to all staff for coping with
all the elements thrown at us this season.
Starting with the severe ice storm damage
that had to be cleaned up in early spring,
it was massive as well as dealing with all
the wet weather this year making it very
difficult to maintain the course in a playable
condition. A job well done.
Bloomington Downs has made a significant
investment this year to further protect the
safety of all our employees and customers
with the installation of a state of the
art lightning detection alarm system. This
system is programed to operate from 6:30
a.m. until 9: 30 p.m. 7 days a week while the
course is open.
Recreation Operations
Damien Howes, Alannah Mulholland, Brent Monument,
Daniela Mulholland, Peter Collins
This system monitors the atmosphere for lightning
strikes within a 32KM area around the golf course and
follows them until they disappear or come within 8 KM
of the Golf course.
If the lightning strikes come within 8 KM of the course
six sirens in two locations on the coarse ( which can
be heard from anywhere on the course) are set off
automatically and all employees and customers are to
get off the course immediately and report back to the
pro shop.
This system continues to monitor the area, and as soon
as there has been no lightning activity within the 8KM
area for a 30 minute period an all clear siren is activated
automatically and everybody can return to where
they were before the alarm sounded. ONLY THE BEST.
We have received many positive comments from both
customers and staff on this addition to help keep them
safe.
88 MILLER / McASPHALT NEWSLETTER 2015 EDITION
MILLER / McASPHALT NEWSLETTER 2015 EDITION
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