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Hampton Roads Transit's (HRT) board has agreed to extend President and Chief Executive Officer Philip Shucet’s contact through Jan. 31, 2012, but at a reduced salary.

HRT's board voted 9-2, with one abstention, last week to extend Shucet's contract "in order to get Norfolk’s (Va.) light-rail line launched," HRT officials said a The Virginian Pilot news article posted on the agency’s website. The light-rail opening has been pushed back from May; a new date has not been set.

Shucet, who works under a consulting contract, is paid $40,000 a month. But, as of August, he will be paid $28,000 a month, or $336,000 annually. His contract was extended once, for six months, to August 2011.

Shucet was hired on a temporary contract to control costs on Norfolk's light-rail project after Michael Townes resigned amid $106 million in project cost overruns, according to HRT.

Also last week, HRT's board awarded a $1.2 million contract to E.V. Williams Inc. to build the first parking lot for light rail, and voted to hire Good Harbor Consulting to conduct four emergency readiness drills for the light-rail system for $74,000.

Meanwhile, the Port Authority of Allegheny County’s board elected officers for 2011. The board decided to retain its officers unchanged from 2010. They are: John Brooks, chairman; Guy Mattola, vice chairman; James Dodaro, treasurer; and Charles Martoni, secretary.