Minutes

 

Marshall University Classified Staff Council

Meeting of December 17, 2004 in MSC 2W22

 

Members Present:  Barrett, Nina, Black, Barbara, Bolt, Teresa, Bradshaw, Angela, Bullock, Bernice, Dorsey, Tom, Dunn, Mike, Fry, Kimberly, Hawkins, Charlene, Hazlette, Betty, Hicks, Ronnie, Hurula, Carol, Imperi, Lisa, Lawson, Adrian, Lovely, Leonard, Neal, Stephanie, Noble, Sherri, Oden, Shirley, Olson, Terry, Smith, Feon, Wortham, Joe, Wu, Yanzhi.

 

Members Absent:  Hall, Gary, Johnson, Selma, Perry, Jody, Stephenson, Patsy

 

Guests:  Mr. Jim Stephens

 

The meeting was called to order at 1:10 p.m. by Chair Mike Dunn.

 

Approval of Minutes:

 

The minutes of the November 18th meeting are incomplete.  Mike Dunn indicated they would be voted on at the next meeting.

 

Guest – Mr. Jim Stephens

 

Mr. Stephens provided a handout listing the monthly deadlines for submission of PARs.  HR has always had these deadlines but has been lenient in accepting late PARs.  Because this has caused quality to suffer, HR will adhere to the monthly deadlines as listed.

 

Mr. Stephens shared a draft of a memo directed at new hires coming on payroll in the middle of December and, therefore, receiving the block of Christmas holidays.  According to the draft, “Classified and nonclassified regular-status employment appointments may not begin at the second pay period in December.” This policy will be publicized in the fall and affects new hires only, transfers and promotions are not affected.

 

HR has reinstated the Safety Committee.   This committee, which has been inactive for quite some time, consists of nine members; composed of one student and eight employees – Mike Dunn serves on the committee.  The committee is working on a web site at (http://www.marshall.edu/safety.  They also plan to have a Sharepoint site/bulletin board where safety concerning can be listed until they are resolved.  The Safety Committee will meet on the second Monday afternoon of each month.

 

Leonard Lovely asked if the reactivation of the Safety Committee indicated there will be more training for staff.  Mr. Stephens responded by saying that his area does not have resources in the budget for training at the present time.

 

Mike Dunn asked about the status of the campus phone book.  Mr. Stephens is still doing the final edit.  He feels the process should be completed next week.  Terry Olson asked about a prior request for a copy of the directory with home phone numbers for use by the Public Safety Department.  Mr. Stephens thought such a document had been sent to Jim Terry; he offered to check on the matter.

 

The question of PEIA proposed rate increases was raised.  Bernice Bullock said an article in the Charleston Gazette said the proposal was approved, but nothing appeared in the Herald Dispatch.    

 

Announcements – Mike Dunn

 

  • Extra Holiday (Ronald Reagan’s funeral).  The administration must follow the Supreme Court’s ruling #24155 which indicates “For a Presidential order . . . to create a legal holiday in West Virginia, as defined in WV Code, 2-2-1, the President must make such intent clear in his order . . . by either citing . . authority to create a holiday or by using the applicable language of the WV Code 2-2-1 and by expressing a clear intent that the holiday is to be for all citizens.”  This Supreme Court ruling will be placed on the Staff Council webpage.
  • Solicited a volunteer to serve on the Faculty Senate’s Student Conduct & Welfare Committee to replace Connie Zirkle.  Kimberly Fry agreed to serve.

 

Mike Dunn asked that the agenda order be amended because Sherri Noble and Stephanie Neal were still at the Board of Governors meeting.  Bernice Bullock made a motion that items 5 (Board of Governors’ Report) and 6 ACCE Report, be moved to later in the meeting.  Carol Hurula seconded.  Motion carried.

 

Salvation Army Angel

 

Angela Bradshaw reported that $140.00 was raised for a boy and girl chosen from the Angel Tree.  The money was divided evenly on gifts for the two children.

 

Standing Committee Reports

 

  • Service Committee – Lisa Imperi for Yanzhi Wu – The football raffle was won by Sharon Sluss.  The raffle raised $325.00 for the Flower Fund.
  • Personal Finance – Mike Dunn for Jody Perry – Emeritus recommendation will be presented at the next Executive Committee meeting.

 

 

Faculty Senate Committee Reports

 

  • Physical Plant – Terry Olson – Parking proposal change by Faculty  Senate’s Physical Facilities & Planning Committee, who want to make it an offense for students to park on levels 1&2 between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m.   The Committee feels it is an issue of fairness for commuter students.  Jim Terry agreed to do a survey in the spring semester of individuals using the parking garage and to tabulate the results.  If those using the garage feel such a policy would be helpful, it will be implemented.  The Committee approved the tobacco recommendation forwarded from Staff Council, indicating the more generic wording of “tobacco products”.  The Committee plans to provide a recommendation to Faculty Senate.  Asbestos abatement is ongoing. 

 

Old Business

 

Leonard Lovely circulated handouts concerning the judge’s decision on the extra holiday (Ronald Reagan’s funeral).   After much discussion, Leonard Lovely made a motion that Council vote on the feasibility of pursuing the extra holiday.  Motion was seconded by Teresa Bolt.  Motion carried.  A hand vote was taken, motion failed.

 

Mike Dunn announced that the Board of Governors meeting had ended and Stephanie Neal and Sherri Noble were on their way.  Bernice Bullock made a motion that we recess until they arrive. Ronnie Hicks seconded.  Motion carried.

 

Board of Governors Report – Sherri Noble

 

  • Mike Farrell was named interim president.  He will assume that position on January 1, 2005 at a salary of $10,000 per month.  Mr. Farrell is required to take a leave of absence from his law practice and cannot be considered as a candidate for the position.  The anticipated search timetable is six months.
  • The search committee will consist of current members of the Board of Governors, two members of the HEPC, Dr. Jan Fox and Dr. Larry Stickler.
  • Input from staff is requested by Sherri Noble as to characteristics/qualities the staff wants in a president.

 

Bernice Bullock stated that Faculty Senate was requested by the interim president to provide copies of minutes for the past year.  She suggested Staff Council provide the same information to Mr. Farrell. 

 

 

 

 

 

ACCE – Stephanie Neal

The Committee met December 16, 2004 and discussed the following:

 

·        Series 8 – The committee to work on the proposed revisions to the     personnel rule has been appointed.  The updated personnel rule will be a comprehensive rule to include provisions for classified employees, faculty and non-classified employees.  The HEPC is sending out notice of a public meeting on January 6, 2005 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Graduate College.  Anyone interested in the rule is encouraged to attend and will be permitted to speak if they desire.

  • The HEPC is working on a number of reports of interest to classified staff as required by the Legislature.  (Outsourcing, Employee Turnover Rates and Institutional Compliance with Legislative Mandates provided for in SB 653, SB 703, HB 2224 and SB 448).  A request was made for such reports to be listed on the HEPC and CTCC websites.
  • A discussion was held on Governor’s Wise’s proposed Executive Order which would provide state employees (including higher education) the right to “meet and confer.”  Stephanie has concern that it might be a way to do without an advising board. ACCE took no action on this issue because it was felt that not enough information was available at this time.
  • A major area of concern is PEIA and how the increases approved by the PEIA Finance Board will affect classified employees.  PEIA will be one of ACCE’s top legislative items during the 2005 regular session.

 

 

With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 3:47 p.m.

 

 

Minutes prepared by:            _____________________________________

                                                Charlene R. Hawkins, Program Assistant, Staff Council

 

Minutes approved by:           _____________________________________

                                                Michael Dunn, Chair, Staff Council

 

Minutes read  by:                   _____________________________________

                                                Michael Farrell, Interim President