August 6, 2003
1 p.m., MMD Conference Room
Attending: Kim Allen, Adrianne Andrews,
Nancy Brady, Chris Carr Hill, Janice Cole, Karen Hebert, Marti Hobbes,
Susan Hollingsworth, Linda LaFlam, Karen LeHouiller, Merrilyn Lewis,
Laura Matta, Laura Rauscher, Patricia Swan
Excused: Cristen Abrams, Adrian Beaulieu, Serena Harris, Janice
Mason, Janice McDowell, Dianne Mikucki, Steve Montiero, Angela Musiak,
Janine Nye, Linda Rainville, Barbara Spalding, Mike Washut, Tara
Zidonik
Guests: Stacey Anasazi, Sandy Bycenski
I. REVIEW OF PREVIOUS MEETING MINUTES
Minutes of July 9 meeting were approved.
II. COMMITTEE REPORTS
Nominations and Elections
After the parliamentarian questioned the validity of our 6/11/03
election of officers, the Chair put to a vote today whether we should
stay with current slate of officers or conduct a re-vote. It was
voted unanimously that we stay with the current slate of officers.
Not everyone got Serena's e-mailed Staff Council roster. Marti indicated
that she has posted this information on the Staff Council web site.
(Stacey Anasazi noted not all Staff Council representatives use
e-mail regularly or have easy access to the Internet and that we
should keep this in mind when distributing information.)
Personnel Policy
Sandy read the minutes to the 7/29 Personnel Policy meeting, a copy
of which Marti agreed to forward to Staff Council reps. Topics discussed
at that well-attended meeting -- which included Lianne Sullivan
Crowley, HR director as a guest -- were Ft. Hill renovations, internal
mobility program and HR's new-employee orientation. Personnel Policy
Committee has yet to meet with HR with their feedback about the
new-employee orientation, which they recently attended. Sandy reported
that one of the questions put to Lianne concerning the internal
mobility program was why grant-funded employees can't participate
in internal transfer program.
Discussion followed: It was agreed that we would ask Lianne more
about grant funded employees and other concerns when we meet with
her next month. Chris Hill said Lianne mentioned that part of the
internal transfer program is to enable scrutiny of current positions
as they become vacated.
Jan Cole, who works in the Controller's office, explained why even
if our endowment today were to increase to its earlier high level,
the operating budget would continue to be adversely affected by
the drop in market value for at least three years as the current
formula for calculating the operating budget takes into account
an average-over-three-years value. One point Jan made is that the
College is doing better than others financially and that there have
been a lot of savings over the years.
Discussion arose over how it would be helpful for staff to have
some of the budget concepts and current budget issues explained
in writing somewhere. Perhaps an FAQ kind of format made available
by Jay Yoder or Ruth Constantine. Jan said she'd check with Jay
about that.
Karen Hebert will post the Personnel Policy Subcommittee meeting
minutes at Physical Plant on a regular basis.
Activities
The committee met July 23 and Marti will e-mail the minutes to Staff
Council representatives.
Communications
No report because the committee has not met since the last Staff
Council meeting, July 9.
III. OLD BUSINESS
Merrilyn Lewis recalled her recent meeting with President Christ.
With regard to communicating budget information to staff, Christ
told Merrilyn she wanted to be as "transparent" as possible.
Christ also seemed receptive to Merrilyn's suggestion she be our
guest at a community forum. Christ said Staff Council should contact
her assistant to find out her availability. (Merrilyn asked the
communications subcommittee to follow up on this.) She also suggested
the communications committee contact HR to find out if they can
recommend speakers who could address a community forum about stress.
Adrianne suggested a good topic for a community forum would be coping
strategies. Merrilyn suggested the communications committee contact
HR for ideas on speakers on this topic.
The concern was raised that HR's training and development budget
has been cut, and Stacey Anasazi said that is not true.
Karen Hebert recommended that a list of resources be compiled and
made available for staff to address issues of career change,transition,
stress, etc. Perhaps this list could be distributed at a community
forum or posted in the Council Chronicle or on the Web site.
Merrilyn also sent around the Staff Council Representation list
and explained what it meant and how members were to use it. By clarifying
our representation responsibilities, it is hoped that all staff
will be aware of both issues on campus and Staff Council activities.
IV. NEW BUSINESS
Everyone agreed it was a good idea for Merrilyn to thank the labor/management
teams in RADS and Physical Plant on Staff Council's behalf.
At the request of Tamra Bates, the programming director of the campus
center, Merrilyn solicited ideas from reps for staff events in the
campus center. Some of the suggestions were massage therapists and
wellness program events (Physical Plant currently has an active
wellness program). Members are encouraged to bring ideas to the
September meeting or email them directly to Tamra.
Adrianne Andrews will be offering a Lunch 'n Learn workshop on conflict
resolution in October.
Merrilyn proposed the idea of holding a Staff Council tea to which
we invite our supervisors, co-workers, senior staff, etc. Everyone
agreed this was a good idea and that the end of January might be
a good time to schedule it - after the holiday rush.
Merrilyn also reported that President Christ requested nominations
from Staff Council for CCP and CMP committees. As there are often
requests for people to serve on a variety of campus committees,
she asked that reps forward names of individuals that might be willing
to serve in the future to Serena or Kim Allen.
Merrilyn reminded everyone that the next meeting will be held on
Wednesday, Sept. 3 from 1-2 in the new Campus Center, rooms 103
and 104. Dawn Mays Floyd of the Campus Center Lianne Sullivan-Crowley
of HR are the guest speakers.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:15.
Respectfully submitted,
Marti Hobbes, Co-Secretary
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