Minutes - December 15, 2005

In attendance: Yolanda Aldaco, Linda Breining, Lisa Camero, Vanessa Cobb, Johnnie Conley, Vickie Drake, Neil Fahlund, Danielle Fournier, Phil Gavenda, Claudia Gerardo, Paul Grotevant, Clifford Haby, Bretna Hackert, Phillip Hebert, Tom Horn, James Janknegt, Amy Jones, Elizabeth Korves, Collin Logan, Noah Lowenstein, Debra Madden, Gary Martt, Alan McKendree, Terry Moore, Kimberly Montroy, Rita Moreno, Joyce Moyer, Laura Najera, Pamela Owen, Eric Patkowski, Carl Roell, Kathy Romberg, Christopher Scherer, Craig Schroer, Nadine Schulte, Sandra Sleeper, Olen Smith, Kim Snyder, Barbara Thompson, Alayna Wadleigh, Kim Wallace, Erin Waneck, JR Watson, Sara Jackson Watson, Ashley Williams, Cynthia Wilson,

Absent with notification: Alison Louise Brown, Marlis Dagg, Patrice Fox, Philip Guerrero, Christy Habecker, Lynn Lecropane, Keke Kelly Liao, Billie Pierce, Janet Reed, Andrea Zabcik

Absent: Rufino Aguirre, Jeri Baker, Jennifer Betancourt, Layne Brewster-Smith, Melba Catchings, Curtis Drosche, Christine Gauger, Marco Gonzalez, Vicki heydron, Greg Howard, Dreya Johannsen, Troy Johnson, Candace Legge, Lou Ann Marrs, Donna O’Kelly, Albert Puga, Barbara Reyes, Edie Shugart, Jennifer Trost, Kimberly Williams

Guests: Monica Reed, HRS; Debra Kress, HRS; Sarah Y. Shafer, HRS

Meeting called to order at 2:04 PM

Announcements:

Next meeting is Thursday, January 19, 2006 from 2:00pm to 3:30pm, in Main 212

Chair’s Report: Erin Waneck

The Executive Committee discussed need to record meetings. There was discussion as to the ability of the video to be made as a live feed on the web and archived for up to 3 months. There was discussion as to the technical aspects of the recording. The chair asked for a motion from the floor on whether to record our meetings. There was discussion as to the sensitive nature of parts of the meeting. Tom Horn moved that the UTSC will record its meetings from here on in and suggested that the bylaws committee be directed to draft specific verbiage including a provision for suspending the recording if we hit an especially contentious issue. There was discussion. Colin Logan moved that the provision for suspending the recording be struck from the motion. Tom Horn rescinded his motion. There was discussion. Terry Moore moved that the UTSC record its meetings, it was seconded. The motion passed.

The chair reported there have been complaints that constituents have not been informed of what is going on in UTSC. The chair stressed the need to keep our constituents informed to keep the UTSC a viable organization and to promote interest and participation in the future

The chair reported on items of importance from the University Leadership Council. Credit by exam will no longer be calculated in the GPA at UT. There was also discussion within the ULC of a 4-5 year study on promotion for faculty and equity in pay. The chair also has available a list of potential University Commencement speakers.

Vice-Chair’s Report: Phil Gavenda

The Vice-Chair requested volunteers for the newly formed ad-hoc committee on a UTSC Mentoring Program. Interested parties can contact the Vice-Chair at vice_chair@utsc.utexas.edu. There was discussion as to whether new members should join the committee and it was expressed that any and all input is welcomed.

Recorder: Phillip Hebert

Upon reviewing email and minutes, the Recorder discovered that the September minutes never got approved. He asked for approval of the minutes. Hearing no objections, they were approved. The Secretary also asked for approval of the November minutes. Hearing no objections, they were approved.

Committee Reports:

Bylaws and Procedures Committee: Tom Horn

Tom Horn moved that the UTSC adopt the revision to the Bylaws as drafted. The chair asked for a motion to open discussion. It was made and seconded. Tom and the Bylaws Committee immediately accepted some minor grammatical changes. Discussion followed concerning the definition of “below the level of Director” and the inclusion of the list of Code 1000 job titles. Further discussion included why those at the level of director are not included in representation by the UTSC. The chair requested a motion to return the proposed revision to the bylaws back to committee. The motion was made and seconded. The motion passed.

Issues Committee: Amy Jones

2005-16: Improve Salary Increase Procedures, Submitted by Gary E. Martt (540.1) for Joseph Jackson. Amy stated that the basic idea is that a merit based increase is not as fair as across the board raises. The Issues Committee recommends validation and referral to the Compensation and Classification Committee. There was discussion. Joseph Jackson, author of the issue, was present to clarify the issue. Following clarification, some representatives expressed frustration over how merit increases are determined. There was a motion to accept the author’s version and refer it to committee. It was seconded. There was no clear majority and a rising vote was taken. The motion passed with 26 for and 17 against.

2005-17: Staff Time Off for Volunteerism, Submitted by Amy Jones (160) for David Burns. The Issues Committee recommendation is to validate and send to Miscellaneous Benefits. There was discussion. The recommendation passed.

2005-18: Health Insurance Premium Salary Supplement Adjustments for Part Time Employees, Submitted by Sandra Sleeper (550). The Issues Committee recommended validation and sent to the Insurance Committee. The recommendation passed.

2005-19: Travel Policies, Submitted by Amy Jones (160). The Issues Committee recommended validation and for the issue to be sent to Compensation and Classification. The recommendation passed.

Insurance Committee: Danielle Fournier

Danielle reported on 2005-10: Staff Health Insurance Options. This may or may not be the last year for the HMO plan, however this will not be known until the estimate is given to UT System. Should UT System decide HMO Blue is too expensive to be an option, there should be time to search out other options through RFP process for FY 06-07, although the turn around time will be tight. Craig Eivens at UT System did note that the statement in the HR Forum of June 8, 2005 might have been overemphasized, as UT System does not yet know what the rates are going to be for UT Austin’s HMO option. However, with the rates to cover the HMO option continuing to rise all over the country, it is a possibility. We must await a final decision from UT System. The Insurance Committee recommended no further action at this time. The committee chair stated a full report is available from her by email at d.fournier@mail.utexas.edu. There was discussion. There was a motion to write a letter to UT System saying that while we understand no decision has been made, we would really like it if there were more than one option, thereby asking them to take our side. There was discussion. The motion passed.

New Business:

Bretna Hackert, District 540, moved that a letter be sent to the President’s Office requesting at least a 2-hour notice that the University will not open as previously reported. After some discussion, the motion passed.

Adjournment:

The meeting was adjourned at 3:19pm

Phillip Hebert
Secretary/Recorder
District 190 Representative
UTSC
Email: recorder@utsc.utexas.edu
Office:  232-9599