MARSHALL UNIVERSITY CLASSIFIED STAFF COUNCIL MINUTES
Thursday, July 26, 2001
Stadium – Big Green Room

President Barrett called meeting to order at 1:05 pm. Motion to accept minutes made by Lu Ann South,  seconded by Joe Wortham and approved by Staff Council. 

INTRODUCTION OF NEW MEMBERS: 

President Barrett announced that several new members were present for their first meeting and asked that everyone introduce themselves.  She foresees our new year as a very busy one with much work to accomplish.

 COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS:

President Barrett announced the committee appointments as follows:
            Financial Affairs            --      Elizabeth Graybeal
            Legislative Affairs         --       David Cremeans
            Membership/Election    --      Carla Rae Cook
            Personnel                      --      Sonja C. McKenna
            Physical Environment     --      Betty Cook
            Service                          --      Bernice Bullock
            Staff Development         --      Muhammad Chaudhry

 In accordance to the constitution, President Barrett submitted these names to Council for approval.  Motion was made, seconded and approved.

FACULTY SENATE:
            Athletic Committee       --      Jill Burcham
            Budget & Academic      --      David Blackburn
            Legislative Affairs         --      David Cremeans
            Physical Facilities          --      Betty Cook           
            Student Conduct & Welfare – Leah Tolliver
            University Functions      --      Charlene Hawkins    

 Motion was made, seconded and approved to accept these individuals as Faculty Senate Committee members. 

The next two years the ACCE  members will be Stephanie Neal/MU  & Joe Taylor/MUGC and the Institutional Board Of Governors  member will be Tanya Bobo. 

NEW BUSINESS:

President Barrett advised that after conversation that morning with Mike McGuffy her understanding of the salary schedule was now back at square one.  President Barrett asks that Tanya Bobo and Stephanie Neal give overview of  recent meetings they had attended.  

Stephanie reported at the recent Policy Commission meeting held June 29^th guidelines were recommended as follows in establishing the salary schedule.  The  Commission recommended that  all institutions be required  to establish a multi-year salary policy to make even and significant progress toward the full implementation of a new salary schedule; including movement of current employees who are below the equity or 0 step on the salary schedule to the equity or 0 step. 

Stephanie noted also that the Advisory Council had recommended that an additional sentence be added implementing this schedule be done within a four-year time frame. The policy Commission  rejected this recommendation and made approval of the following: that a multi year salary policy be established which gave the institutions total flexibility on time frame. Stephanie also noted that whatever is decided will be reported fully at the  LOCEA  meeting in November. Basically this means each institution in the state will be funding the salary schedule at whatever time frame they deem most appropriate which could be as much as 2-6 years  and the money they have available for funding. 

Tanya reported that the Board of Governors voted to approve a recommendation presented by Vice President Herb Karlet to partially fund the new salary schedule.  The proposal would mean a percentage increase for all staff – classified and nonclassified, as well as faculty.  The exact percentage was not released. 

The proposal the Chancellor sent out after that made no provision for nonclassified staff or faculty and put almost all the monies available on the equity end of the new salary schedule.  Meaning that new employees would benefit the most.  It was not clear at that time whether or not the Chancellor planned to “mandate” his proposal, or if it indeed was just a suggested proposal for the administration to take under consideration.

Council members  further discussed the issue  that failing to have a formula in allocating  raises would possibly bring repercussions due to employees filing grievances.  The concern being if the Chancellor’s recommendation were followed, new employees would be greatly compensated and those employees with any length of longevity would receive very little if anything.  Second concern was that all new employees coming on board after October would be hired in on the new the new scale which  would place them very high on the salary schedule and above employees with longevity.

President Barrett advised Council that a recommendation had to be submitted to the President by 9:00 am Friday morning.  Should Council vote to go with  the Chancellor’s recommendation or the Governing Board?  Joe Wortham made a motion that we send President Angel the following from Staff Council; “We recommend that Marshall University follow guidelines set forth by our Board of Governors at their most recent meeting.  We feel the proposal by the Chancellor’s office would be grossly unfair to current employees.  It would certainly benefit all new employees but those having any longevity would not benefit.” 

Stephanie suggested to President Barrett  that we stipulate in the recommendation that we want the 4-year plan in place for the salary schedule.  Stephanie also advised that she would need a copy of this recommendation to e-mail Amy Pitzer, Chair of the Advisory Council and this would also be discussed at the upcoming council meeting. 

ACCE

Stephanie reported that Richard Shearer had resigned from the Policy Commission and Governor Wise had appointed Mary Clare Eros of Shepherdstown to complete the term.  He also informed committee that  PEIA Public Information Meetings of  Focus Groups  will be scheduled throughout the state  so people could address problems or concerns with which they may be dealing.  The first PEIA meeting  was  held in Beckley, WV on July 12^th.  At this time the next scheduled meeting date had not been set. 

The JEC has scheduled to meet  three days in September to start review of the Physical Plant Job family.  This is the first time JEC will be looking at the PIQ’s and this will be a year long process.  There is a process ongoing at the present time  to clean up the all system wide  titles and Institution Specific titles by Human Resource administrators.  At some point all titles in the classification system  will become system wide instead of  some system wide and some institution specific.   

Two items were brought to Stephanie’s attention with the first being salaries and the second Series 62.  Question was raised if Series 62 was going to be revised or just certain parts of 62.  Stephanie felt that a complete overview would be given to Series 62.  Stephanie noted that both the Faculty Advisory and  Advisory Council would be conducting meetings at this Retreat.  A joint  meeting of both Councils has been scheduled and staff council presidents have been invited to attend this meeting. 

FREE FORUM
Lu Ann South reported to Council that her home had recently been broken into and all medications stolen.  Upon contacting PEIA to see what she need to do for refills at her co-payment rate she was told this was not permissible. The insurance company is not responsible for any lost or stolen medications.  The financial responsibility belongs to the individual unless they want to appeal to PEIA and obtain a waiver.  On the three 90 day quantity medications stolen, Lu Ann was able to obtain samples to cover two.  The last one, tamoxifin-a cancer therapy drug-could not be obtained in samples as the manufacturer does not dispense samples.  Lu Ann then contacted Felicia Joseph, pharmacist for PEIA and was given a waiver that allowed her to get her prescription filled at the co-payment rate. 

Longevity pay – question was raised if taxes would be taken from this pay.  President Barrett noted the IRS is not going to give us anything but we would not be taxed at the high rate of 28% and that we would be receiving this on the 31^st of July. 

Sonja McKenna reported that she had been asked to serve as Staff Council representative on a Flood Relief Committee and that Steve Hensley is Chairman.  She informed Council that Marshall as a whole would be collecting any type of educational  supplies.  The purpose for this is to help those school systems throughout WV that had received so much devastation from recent flooding.  A local trucking firm had agreed to transport all materials collected.  She hopes that we can gather supplies or conduct drives throughout our offices.   If anyone has questions or ideas,  please call or contact her by e-mail. 

Cora Westmoreland reported she had recently been contacted by the retirement board asking if she would like to switch back to the Teacher’s Retirement Plan and wondered if anyone else had been contacted.  She had been advised that she would not lose any of the funds she has already built into her retirement. It was noted that this had been on the local news and that they are accepting only so many back into this plan.

 With there being no further business meeting adjourned at 2:45 pm.