Minutes - June 16, 2005

These minutes were approved at the UT Staff Council meeting on July 21, 2005

Members present: Yolanda Aldaco, Jeri Baker, Jennifer Betancourt, Carlos Bowles, Alison Louise Brown, Lisa Camero, Johnnie Conley, Mary Criner, Vickie Drake, Neil Fahlund, Danielle Fournier, Christine Cauger, Phil Gavenda, Claudia Gerardo, Marco Gonzalez, Paul Grotevant, Christy Habecker, Bretna Hackert, Phillip Hebert, Tom Horn, Greg Howard, James Janknegt, Troy Johnson, Amy Jones, Elizabeth Korves, Karen Landolt, Lynn Lecropane, Candace Legge, Debra Madden, Lou Ann Marrs, Gary Martt, Kimberly Montroy, Terry Moore, Rita Moreno, Pamela Owen, Eric Patkowski, Carl Roell, Kathy Romberg, Christopher Scherer, Craig Schroer, Nadine Schulte, Edie Shugart, Sandra Sleeper, Olen Smith, Barbara Thompson, Alayna Wadleigh, Kim Wallace, Erin Waneck, JR Watson, Sara Jackson Watson, Ashley Williams, Kimberly Williams

Members absent with notification: Vanessa Cobb, Marlis Dagg, Curtis Drosche, Philip Guerrero, Vicki Heydron, Dreya Johannsen, Kelly Liao, Noah Lowenstein, Billie Pierce, Layne Brewster-Smith, Cynthia Wilson, Gabby Yearwood, Andrea Zabcik

Members absent: Rufino Aguirre, Tara Carlisle, Oscar Carmona, Melba Catchings, Patrice Fox, Linda Frost, Freida Golden, John Hibbits, Collin Logan, Suzanne McIntyre, PG Moreno, Laura Najera, Donna O’Kelly, Albert Puga, Jennifer Trost

Announcements:

Welcome guests

The next regular meeting of the UTSC is July 21, Main 212, from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m.

Chair's report:

Connie Deutsch, Director, Employee Assistance Program informs the UTSC that the annual Brown Bag with representatives from the insurance companies who will discuss the mental health benefits on the insurance plans. It's scheduled from 12-1 on July 21 in the Texas Union Governor's Room, UNB 3.116, and is co-sponsored by EAP and HRS Benefits Services.

Salary News excerpted from FY 05-06 Final Budget Policies and Budget Preparation:

"I am pleased to announce that for the year 2005-06, we will centrally fund a 3% merit-based salary pool for Faculty, Teaching Assistants and Assistant Instructors, Administrative and Professional Staff, Classified Staff, and wages accounts."

Also, classified employee and non-academic student pay plan minimums will increase by 2% and increase to the maximum of a range will be adjusted proportionally. Within the 3% classified salary pools, departments must ensure that all employees are paid at the new minimum rate for their title."

"The minimum rate for hourly/classified employees is increased from $9.19 to $10.00 per hour. Accordingly, the new minimum annual rate for all titles in the classified pay plan will increase to $20,800, which reflects the new minimum hourly rate of $10.00. Additional allocations above the 3% pool have been provided for this increase."

Benefit information and other information of interest to staff can be found at the HR Forum minutes for June 2005 available on the HRS web page under "HR Forum."

The Chair read the response from Vice President Pat Clubb to issue No. 2004-06 Food choices at PRC. Vice President Clubb listed several improvements to the Commons Cafe that are being implemented.

Vice Chair's report:

Recorder/Secretary:

The minutes from the May 19, 2005 meeting were approved, with one amendment: That it be noted that nominations for Staff Council Officers were thought to still be open, and would be accepted at the June meeting.

Committee Reports:

Committee on Committees, Craig Schroer, Chair:

Outline of procedure for volunteering for service on campus-wide committees.

Submission of the slate of committee assignments for approval by the UTSC. The slate of assignments was handed out at the meeting.

A motion to adopt the slate of committee assignments was made and seconded.

Nominations and Elections Committee:

Alayna Wadleigh announced the election process and asked each candidate to address the UTSC.

Nominations were closed, however a motion to re-open them was passed by a simple majority.

Discussion ensued about the appropriateness of re-opening nominations, and whether the bylaws supported this. Shane Williams stated that the bylaws did not forbid further nominations, however a UTSC member disagreed about the interpretation of the wording in the bylaws. At this time the "Point of Order," or decision to accept nominations or not went to the Chair. The Chair accepted the nomination of Phillip Hebert as Recorder.

Election of UTSC Officers

Nominees for Chair: Sandra Sleeper, Erin Waneck

Nominees for Vice Chair: Phil Gavenda, Erin Waneck

Nominees for Recording Secretary: Tom Horn, Phillip Hebert

Each nominee, made a brief statement to the UTSC members. The election was conducted by secret ballot. Former UTSC members counted ballots.

While the ballots were being counted, the various UTSC committees met briefly to organize, and possibly select a chair.

Election results were announced:

Chair elect: Erin Waneck

Vice-Chair elect: Phil Gavenda

Recorder elect: Phillip Hebert

The outgoing Chair passed the UTSC gavel to the newly elected Chair, Erin Waneck.

New Business:

Adjournment: