Employee Assembly Meeting
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
12:15—1:30 p.m.
316 Day Hall
Minutes

I. Call to Order

J. Seymour called the meeting to order at 12:22 p.m.

II. Call for Late Additions to the Agenda

There were no late additions to the agenda.

III. Business of the Day-Final Charter discussion/vote

J. Seymour said he hoped everyone has had the chance to review the amended charter. P. Mahoney motioned to approve the charter as amended. L. Lawrence seconded. The amended charter was approved by a vote of 9–0−0.

J. Seymour thanked the committee for their hard work. This will be sent to employees for a referendum vote. A. O’Donnell commented it should also be sent to the counsel’s office. P. Mahoney thanked A. Epstein for his outstanding help. G. Stewart asked what the communication strategy to inform employees is. J. Seymour said they will work mainly with A. Epstein, M.G. Opperman and President Skorton to get this changed to be a short document with several bullet points explaining the changes. There will be more on this to come. L. Lawrence suggested some open forums. D. Stein has suggested this in the past also.

IV. Report from Employee Elected Trustee

No report.

V. Report from SA representative

No report.

VI. Report from UA representative

B. Liddick said the President would be attending the next meeting to give an update.

VII. Report from EA representative to the Faculty Senate

No report.

VIII. Report from Staff Climate Survey Steering Committee representative

No report.

IX. Report from Chair

J. Seymour said the President’s open forum for staff on Monday went well. P. Korolov said he answered questions thoroughly. L. Lawrence said he liked the format where the President answers questions unfiltered.

X. Approval of Minutes - 3/4/2009 Meeting

J. Seymour asked members to review the minutes from last meeting. P. Mahoney asked for a minor change under Roman numeral three. L. Lawrence motioned to approve the minutes as amended. P. Mahoney seconded. The members approved the minutes by a vote of 6–0−0.

XI. Committee Reports

a) Executive committee
P. Korolov gave information pertaining to the elections Information Session and the deadlines. J. Seymour will contact people who have picked up packets to encourage their attendance at the Information Session tomorrow. P. Mahoney asked for the names to be circulated to members. Some discussion was held on this.
b) Staff Recognition & Award committee
L. Lawrence stated they have received copies of four applications for consideration for the next George Peter award for Dedicated Service.
c) Communications committee
No report. J. Seymour said they will resume meeting now that the charter is finished.
d) Finance
No report.
e) Emergency Grant Fund
P. Mahoney said the committee met last week. They have made good progress. They discussed the hardship fund and how to do publicity for both funds. B. Liddick agreed that they have made good progress.
f) Personnel Policy
P. Mahoney said the committee had not met.
g) IOC
P. Korolov asked EA members who are planning to run again for a seat to send him an email so he is aware of who is running. G. Stewart asked why M.G. Opperman chaired the Informational Session. P. Mahoney offered some context to the members that she helps explain things from an HR and an administrative perspective. A. O’Donnell added she had attended this meeting for a long time, and that other assemblies do a similar session with the Dean of Students to provide information to prospective candidates. A brief discussion followed.
P. Mahoney asked if they would be reviewing the elections packets. She asked how to fill seats to get more people in correct seats. She suggested we fill existing members in the correct seats and elected members be placed in the remaining seats. J. Seymour said the Employee Assembly could do a two-thirds vote to correct seat issues. J. Seymour said it would be made clear at the Information Session tomorrow that anyone could run for the EA without concern to seating.
h) University Benefits
No report.
i) Employee Education
No report. J. Seymour said they will start meeting again soon.
j) “Ad Hoc” Charter Review
J. Seymour said the membership portion will need to be reviewed next year. There will need to be a decision as to whether this committee will continue with current members or not.

XII. Old Business

None.

XIII. New Business

G. Stewart suggested in the Info Session tomorrow the assemblies’ structure and Employee Assembly be explained thoroughly to people who attend.

XIV. Open Forum

Waited a few minutes for A. Mittman to arrive to give an update on finances. He was unable to attend.

XV. Adjournment

P. Korolov motioned to adjourn. G. Stewart seconded. Meeting was adjourned at 1:08 p.m.