Minutes - January 16, 2003

Members present: Phyllis Akmal, Pat Alfano, Jan Ballard, Glen Baum, Janet Bensman, Alison Louise Brown, Helen Burnette, Joanna Castillo, Johnnie Conley, Julie Cunniff, Marlis Dagg, Michelle Dean, Phillip Dubov, Mike Farmer, Jeff Flagg, Robin Fradenburgh, Phil Gavenda, Royce Gehrels, Joni Goan, Sandra Godfrey, Andrew Gordon, Kathy Guajardo, Christy Habecker, Margo Hamby, Dora Hilgart, Marcus Horton, C. W. Matthew, Jim McElroy, Alan McKendree, Earl McMannis Jr., Cheryl McVay, Mary Beth Mercatoris, Lou Montgomery, Kim Montroy, Peggy Mueller, Philip Mullins, Greg Murphy, Sam Owens, Chuck Pearson, James Piper, Ana Raley, Alicia Reffett, Susan Robbins, Karen Rogers, Christopher Ruggeri, J. R. Schlesinger, William Sederholm, Frank Simon, Sandra Sleeper, Didi Smith, Joe Sosler, Dana Springs, Sarah Supulski, Kitty Villa, Erin Waneck, Glen Worley

Members absent with notification: Steve Johnston, Martha King, Noah Lowenstein, Shannon Palmquist, Amy Pinkston, Stella Smith, Jerry Spillar, Elsa Villanueva

Members absent: Michael Acuna, Johnny Castilleja, Ken Grant, Schuler Hupp, Bo Lawrence, Donna Maga, Maria Martinez, Ann Seago, Mauro Torres, Dalton Wall

Guests: Douglas Laycock, Law School; James Derossitt, Law School

Human Resource Services: Linda Casarez, Debra Kress, Monica Reed

Welcome:

Chair Frank Simon called to order the regular meeting of the UT Staff Council at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 16, 2003 in Main 212. 56 Staff Council representatives were present.

Announcements:

Frank welcomed and introduced Julie Cunniff, new representative from District 129, Social Work.

Frank asked Glen Worley, UTSC representative and member of the University's Task Force on Assembly and Expression, to introduce Professor Douglas Laycock, the chair of the Task Force. Professor Laycock reported on the Task Force's recommended changes and clarifications of rules and the creation of five new locations on campus for rallies and other public assemblies using amplified sound. The expectation is a final policy will be in place this spring..

Minutes from the previous meeting:

The minutes from the December 12, 2002 meeting were approved.

Chair's report:

Frank reported he had received a letter from Connie Deutsch, Director of the Employee Assistance Program, requesting names of staff members interested in serving on the confidential committee to review applications for the Staff Emergency Fund. Interested staff members are asked to contact Dr. Connie Deutsch, 471-3366.

Frank reported on three letters received from President Faulkner in response to Staff Council submitted issues.

Issue 2002-3; 2001-4 and other related issues concerning Enhancements to the Staff Educational Benefit: President Faulkner supports the first recommendation, that UT Austin staff employees working at remote locations, such as the McDonald Observatory at Fort Davis or the Marine Science Institute at Port Aransas, be provided an educational benefit equivalent in value to that provided to UT Austin staff working on the Austin campus. Associate Vice President Kyle Cavanaugh was asked to explore the practical possibilities and to make a recommendation to the Vice Presidents' Council.

President Faulkner stated he was "not inclined to accept the Staff Council's second recommendation, concerning transferability of the benefit, without a more thorough investigation of the possible costs to the institution of implementing it." President Faulkner noted that a "principal institutional purpose in sponsoring the benefit is to achieve a better educated, more versatile workforce. That purpose is not supported by transferability, so the costs become "purer" costs and the question arises as to whether it would be better to provide some other benefit with the same resources. I am passing the second recommendation to Vice President Patricia Clubb with a request that she investigate its practicability and financial implications. Once I have her comments, I can respond more conclusively."

Issue 2002-20: Definition and limits of "other duties as assigned". President Faulkner accepted the Staff Council's recommendation that the phrase in current job descriptions be modified to read "other related duties as assigned." Kyle Cavanaugh, Associate Vice President, will take action to implement the Council's recommendation.

Issue 2001-1: Restructure of the Grievance Procedure. President Faulkner stated he appreciated the "effort and thought that went into the report" of the UTSC Grievance Committee. President Faulkner stated the "revision of the grievance policy has been on the table for a long time. … a working committee, chaired by Thomas Griffy in 1999 resulted in some of the same recommendations as the Staff Council Committee. Some initial work went into a revision of the
Grievance Policy that was drafted by an ad hoc policy committee in the summer of 2000. Thus it seems wise to build on the work of the Griffy committee and the ad hoc policy writing committee as we bring into existence a formal revised policy." President Faulkner asked Frank Simon, UTSC Chair, and Kyle Cavanaugh, Associate Vice President, to work together to draft a revised policy that could be considered for adoption by the University. President Faulkner provided comments as guides in drafting the policy and included: ..."Increased attention should be paid to the use of mediation and informal resolution methods. However, I do not support the appointment
of an Ombudsman." ... President Faulkner also stated: "I believe significant improvements have been made in the overall employment climate during the past three years since the appointment of Kyle Cavanaugh as the Associate Vice President for Employee and Campus Services. The implementation of the Staff Council has aided in those efforts. Although the University has and will continue to face challenging economic times, the employment climate for our faculty and staff will remain a priority. It is time, however, to move forward and produce a revision of Chapter 9, Section 49(a), Grievance Policy and Procedures, of the Handbook of Operating Procedures, for
inclusion in the new Handbook of Operating Procedures."

President Faulkner expressed his appreciation to the Staff Council and its working committees for the work put into producing the reports and recommendations on these Issues.

Chair Frank Simon received a letter from Charles A. Roeckle, Deputy to the President, in response to the Staff Council's request for a half-time staff position to support the UTSC. This request was among the requests for new recurring funding made by Vice President Patricia Clubb to the University Budget Council. Dr. Roeckle's letter stated, "There were not sufficient funds to meet your request" and that Dr. Roeckle noted we may wish to submit the request in the new budget cycle.

Frank also received a copy of a letter from President Faulkner conveying the joint memorandum from the Faculty Council and the Staff Council regarding health benefits for domestic partners (Issue 2001-2) to Dr. Teresa A. Sullivan, Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, UT System.

Frank will meet with Dr. Charles Roeckle concerning University Standing Committees.

Vice Chair's Report:

Phillip Dubov reported the beta web site, has additional materials. The work on the Issue Proposal database is in progress.

Unfinished Business:

In accordance with UTSC Bylaws and as proposed in the December UTSC meeting by the Bylaws Committee, the following amendment to the UTSC Bylaws, Article V., Meetings; Section D.; UTSC Quorum, was considered as an agenda item.

Strike: "A two-thirds majority of the membership shall constitute a quorum."
Insert: "A quorum shall consist of a simple majority of the membership."

The vote was 43 for and 7 against; the amendment was accepted.

Committee Reports:

Issues Committee: Phyllis Akmal, Chair, reported one issue from the committee.

Issue 2003-1: Bereavement leave (allow a staff member 4 hours of bereavement leave, not vacation leave, to attend the funeral of a co-worker)
Representative: William Sederholm

Action: accepted and referred to the Miscellaneous Benefits Committee.

Parking and Transportation Committee: Glen Worley, Chair, reported on a meeting with Glen, Dana Springs, Marcus Horton and Bob Harkins, Bobby Stone, Joyce Berecki and Jane Wilcox of Parking and Transportation Services concerning Issue 2002-13: occasional parking plan. Parking and Transportation staff said the demand for parking garages was high; however, there was discussion that the occasional parking proposal might be considered later in the spring semester for garages 2,5 and 7 after the impact of closing surface Lot 67 was assessed. Parking and Transportation Services will present information to the UTSC about alternative transportation at a future meeting before parking permit renewals are begun.

New Business:

Frank reminded UTSC representatives of the 5 p.m. January 31 deadline for nominations for UT Staff Excellence Awards and Outstanding Supervisor Awards. Online nomination form and information at http://www.utexas.edu/staff/excellence/

The meeting adjourned at 4:00 p.m.

The next regular meeting of the UT Staff Council is Thursday, February 20, 2003, 2:30 p.m., in Main 212.

Peggy Mueller
Recorder/Secretary
January 21, 2003

Minutes corrected and approved February 20, 2003