Staff Council Minutes
Thursday, July 6, 2006
2:00—3:00pm Campus Center 204
Submitted by Adrianne Andrews (Co-Secretary)
**Draft**

Quorum Present

Attending: Adriarine Andrews, Joseph Bialek, Sandy Bycenski, Janice Cole, Navae Fenwick, Chris Gentes, Lou Ann Krawczynski, Linda Laflam, Kathyrn Messier, Rick Rubin, Bill Sheehan, Sam Rush, Laura Wyman

Excused:

Guests: Stacey Anasazi

The meeting was called to order at 2:10pm by Staff Council Chair, Sam Rush.
Minutes of the June 1, 2006, Staff Council meeting were approved and accepted.

Announcements:

Three names have been selected by the Nominations and Elections Committee to be submitted to ACRA as candidates for the Staff Council representative to ACRA.

Discussion of individuals (2) currently being considered as Presidential Representatives to Staff Council.

Old Business: None

Committee Reports:

Nominations and Elections: Bill Sheehan requested names be submitted to any member of the Nominations and Elections Committee for representative(s) to serve on the President’s Campus Planning Committee. These were needed as soon as possible.

Activities Committee: Linda Laflam reported that the 2nd Annual “a Night at the Movies!” event, featuring a free showing of “Chicken Little,” will take place on the evening of July 28, at Dusk/8:3Opm on Burton Lawn (Rain location — Stoddard Auditorium), including free popcorn and Sno Cones. An announcement is also located on the Staff Council webpage.

A Dog Day activity is being planned, tentatively to take place in October. The event will require a nominal fee. A photographer, prize(s) for Best and Show, sponsorsfor the event (Dave’s Pet Store and others) are being considered. An anticipated 100 dogs will participate. Location is TBA (possibly Davis Lawn or across from the Stables.

A Staff Council get-together is in the works, a “get-to-know-you” event, self-pay, to be held during 1st or 2nd week in September. Location TBA, possibly at the Northampton Brewery.

The popular and fun Halloween Cookie-Making exchange will take place again this year.

Personnel Policy Committee: Sandy Bycenski reported that PPC will meet with the Director of Human Resources, Larry Hunt, in July.

Various Staff Council members raised questions about the wording of recently received salary letters — Cost of living raise not mentioned in letters but only merit, why? PPC will ask Larry Hunt about flat merit increases, the immediate supervisor’s/manager’ role in determining how this is distributed among staff; and the concern that was voiced about number of merit awards decreasing. There are now team awards, but in some categories there are apparently no awards at all.

It was suggested that training for supervisors for consistency and equal application of measurements of performance would be a positive step in assuring fairness, clarity, and transparency in the performance review process. Stacey Anasazi stated that the performance review is a guide for year-long touching bases between supervisor(s) and th individual(s).

A request was made by a member of Council for an update on new Human Resources staff members, Who’s new? What’s their role?

A question was raised about the Tufts to Harvard Pilgrim transition.

These questions and concerns will be brought to the attention of the Director of Human Resources at the July meeting with PPC. [minutes of the July 21 PPC meeting with Director of Human Resources, Larry Hunt, are attached]

There was discussion of the status of SAMS response to the Morale Report. Staff Council wants to be sure that SAMS continues to keep it “on the table.” Sam Rush, representing Staff Council, will discuss this status with Larry Hunt.

There was also discussion of traffic flow on and around campus, the increase of traffic on West Street, and the parking and safety issues raised by the Hospital Hill development and the future Engineering Building. A member of Council reported that a consultant has been hired to address these issues, Gary Hartwell (Project manager — Physical Plant) is serving as Liaison.

Diversity Committee: Adrianne Andrews reported that the Diversity Committee has been unable to meet due to schedule conflicts of its members but will meet in Augusi to make plans for the upcoming year’s activities.

Communications Committee: Bill Sheehan reported that the Committee is working on developing an idea for a Fall Community Forum.

Chris Gentes will now be in charge of Staff Council website maintenance.

Rick Rubin shared that volunteers are needed for Van Tours for new employee orientation (and other times?)

Xinh Spangler will be editing the September Staff Council Chronicle (items are needed b/mid-August for the September edition). Stacey Anasazi will edit the December and April editions of the Chronicle.

There was discussion of E-Digest and how to make it more accessible to recipients Bill Sheehan suggested one possibility would be to use an HTML format.

Also, there was discussion of the need for more “PR” for Staff Visions, beginning in November, December.

Concerns were raised about the annual parking sticker renewals, the issue of notification and communications about how and where to renew them. The process differed this year from previous years. It was stated that there is a need for effective communication of the process to the College community.

A concern was raised about the Mass Buying website and the need for a password to access the “buying power.” A Council member stated that there is a password and username. Those in attendance were advised to contact Judi Marksbury (Public Relation regarding any suggested changes to website, and for password information. It was mentioned that Stanley Rosko (Purchasing) may be the contact person for the site, or Pat Morrier.

New Business:

Staff Council Budget — Jan Cole, Treasurer, recommended that unspent monies be transferred to the Activities Committee ($4800). Bill Sheehan moved that the unspent Staff Council fiscal year 2005-2006 monies be transferred to the Activities Committee Budget. Lou Ann Krawczynski seconded the motion. The motion was voted on and passed.

The meeting was adjourned at 3:00pm.

Next meeting: August 3, 2006 at 2:00pm Location: MMD