Draft Minutes - July 15, 2004

These minutes were approved at the UT Staff Council meeting on August 19, 2004

Members Present: Yolanda Aldaco, Pat Alfano, Mack Andrews, Karis Beasley, Philemon Brown, Alison Louise Brown, Philemon Brown, Alanna Burney, Tara Carlisle, Melba Catchings, Julie Cunniff, Marlis Dagg, Laura Davis, Neil Fahlund, Linda Frost, Rick Garza, Phil Gavenda, Freida Golden, Mark Gonzalez, Christy Habecker, Charlotte Harris, Phillip Hebert, Gayle Hight, Tom Horn, Marcus Horton, Greg Howard, Dreya Johannsen, Elizabeth Korves, Liz Landeros, Noah Lowenstein, Lynn LeCropane, Debra Madden, PG Moreno, John Nelson, Albert Puga,Jorge Puig, Kathy Romberg, Leslie Saucedo, Craig Schroer, Frank Simon, Sandra Sleeper, Didi Smith, Olen Smith, Sheril Smith, Alayna Wadleigh, Erin Waneck, Sara Jackson Watson, Shane Williams, Teresa Williams, Cynthia Wilson, Gabby Yearwood

Members Absent with Notification: Vickie Amidon, Johnnie Conley, Margaret Evans, Pat Fox Royce Gehrels, Philip Guerrero, Kim Johnson, Amy Jones, Billie Pierce, Jo Ann Richmond, Barbara Thompson, JR Watson, Glen Worley

Members Absent: Oscar Carmona, Augustin Collazo, Bert Herigstad, John Hibbitts, Margaret Hill, George Hughes,Sonja Lane, Suzanne McIntyre, Chuck Pearson, Kay Randall, Jerry Spillar

Guests: Jennifer Trost, OPA, Monica Reed, Debra Kress HRS

Quorum: 74 filled UTSC representative places divided by 2-37(for quorum)

Welcome:

Vice Chair Phil Gavenda called to order the regular meeting of the UT Staff council at 2:05 p.m. on Thursday, July 15, 2004 in MAI 212; 51 UTSC representatives were present.

Announcements:

The Vice Chair announced that the new notebooks were available, and gave a special thanks to Linda Casarez and Sarah Yallalee who put the books together and made them available at the UTSC meeting. He pointed out that future UTSC meetings are listed in the book as well as the web.

The Vice Chair announced that Glen Worley and Ann Seago will be the representatives for the UT System Employee Advisory Council and Erin Waneck would act as alternate.

Next meeting is Thursday, August 19, 2004 from 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. in Main 212.

Vice Chair:

The Vice Chair clarified the role of the Chair and the UTSC officers, as having official media privileges as defined in the Bylaws 6.I., and that no member should discuss issues not yet decided on with the media. Any individual can of course discuss issues with the media, as long as they do not represent themselves as speaking for the UTSC. The official spokesperson is the Chair. The main point is not to discuss issues that are still in committee that have not been acted on. Another issue came up about what restrictions there were on representatives discussing issues with their constituents. There was a general agreement that there are no stated restrictions in place.

The Vice Chair reminded everyone to attend meetings of the council and to give proper notification if not attending. The allowable limit is five absences.

He asked also, that everyone try to serve on a committee, because the bylaws state that each committee must have at least five members.

Savings bond issue is resolved. A link is now up on the Payroll page. Here is the link: http://www.utexas.edu/payroll/bonds.html

Recorder/Secretary: 

Approval of minutes

Issues Committee - Didi Smith

#2004-16  Suggested locations for trash cans, submitted by Glen Worley, Distr. 130

Objective: Trash cans placed at locations where there are none at this time and are needed due to amount of trash that is always present. Also, it would be great if there was a web site or e-mail address to be set up where this kind of concern could be sent.

Reason: Staff member noticed several places where people tend to leave trash because there are no trash cans conveniently located nearby.

Expected UTSC action: Recommendation

Expected University action: Physical change - placement of new trash cans

If approved by UTSC, the Issues Committee recommends this be referred to the Facilities Committee.

Olen Smith pointed out a website where these types of requests may be made: http://www.utexas.edu/facilities/fis/famishelpcenter/index.php

Result: Accepted and referred to Facilities Committee.

Committee Reports:

Wellness Ad-hoc committee:

Erin Waneck requested new members to join and to select a new chair for that committee.

Miscellaneous Benefits committee:

Philemon Brown reported on four issues.

Issue 2004-15

Objective: Develop a Staff Benefit system, where UT employees would receive discounts from participating vendors.

Result: The miscellaneous benefits committee found that this issue has already been put underway by Kyle Cavanaugh, and is currently at the Regents Level for approval.

Recommend: Writing a letter of support.

Issue 2004-12

Objective: To request HR to put information regarding the Staff Educational Benefit, prominently on their website, so all UT staff, including staff in Port Aransas and the McDonald observatory might access the information.

Recommend: Place SEB information on the HRS website

Result: Accepted

Issue 2004-6

Objective: To allow other vendors, besides The Commons, to provide food at Pickle Research Center.

Recommend: The miscellaneous benefits committee felt it would be a good idea for the Commons to take a survey at PRC to determine what type of foods they want there.

Discussion: Pat Alfano explained that employees at PRC want the same choices as main campus in where they can eat. The Commons doesn’t want the competition, however many staff members do not like the food, and cannot afford to eat there on a regular basis. They want more choices, affordable food options, and convenience.

Sheril Smith indicated this is a problem at Lake Austin Blvd. Site, which previously had outside vendors for food and snacks, but this practice was terminated because of concerns with health department compliance issues.

Suggestion to make an assessment at PRC was dismissed since it was felt that it would not help the overall issue. Another issue was brought up by Tom Horn who felt we would need to study what type of contract the current vendor has, and what time frame would be involved to allow more competition.

Result: Issue sent back to committee for further work.

Issue 2004-8

Objective: Gaining cooperation among managers for UTSC representatives to receive the allotted time off work to attend meetings, and participate in committees.

Recommend: Posting information on the web so every office would have access to the same information in a uniform manner.

Discussion: Frank Simon explained that HRS currently sends letter to supervisors explaining the requirement of staff representatives to attend meetings. Now it appears to be a compliance issue. Suggestion was made to revise the current letter managers receive. Another suggestion was to put the letter on the UTSC website. This was not accepted because it did not address those managers who were non-compliant.

Result: Sent back to committee for further work.

Unfinished Business:

Gayle Hight requested an update to issue 2004-7. The Vice Chair responded that the Chair would write a letter to President Faulkner concerning appointing a time reporting officer for UT staff. The issue is ongoing.

New Business:

Gayle Hight made a motion that all issues be posted on the UTSC website, including both pending and resolved issues.

Result: Motion passed

Gayle Hight made a motion that the minutes be posted by an established deadline, in a timely manner.

Discussion: Shane Williams reminded everyone that there are no paid staff on the UTSC and that to demand a particular deadline would not be appropriate since every effort is already made to post the minutes in a timely manner.

Result: Motion did not carry.

Adjournment:

The meeting was adjourned at 3:15.
The next meeting of the UTSC will be August 19 at 2:00-3:30 in Main 212.