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January 26, 2005
Approved minutes

Present: Debbie Clark, Christine Crews, Lurretta Daugherty, Yvonne Floyd, Linda Harmon, Shannon Hoehn, Donna Hopf, Christina Jines, Terry Martin, Terri Schaefer, Sheree Seib, Pam Van Vorst, Jalane Weber, Darlene Fisher and Julie Bordelon

Debbie Clark called the meeting to order at 2:06pm.

A motion to approve the minutes from the 12/15/2004, Staff Council meeting was made by Terri Schaefer and 2nd by Terry Martin.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Employee Relations: 246 tickets were distributed for the Family Eagles Day, December 31st basketball game played at USI.
A sub committee for the Giving Tree has been established to set some guidelines for next year.
Student worker appreciation week will be February 14th through the 18th. Announcements to students and campus departments will be on the Screaming Eagle TV, in the University Notes and an email message will be sent along with a sample of a certificate designed on Publisher.

Economic Benefits: Retta Daugherty received a sample of a survey from Angie Brawdy in Human Resources that has questions for all staff on additional types of insurance they might be interested in. Institutional Research will help correlate the data from the surveys to determine what insurance options are of interest to employees. The surveys will be distributed through mass email, attached in the University Notes and hard copies available to be completed and returned to Human Resources in the near future.
Retta Daughtery discussed with Darlene Fisher the possibility of offering a discount on school books purchased from the bookstore. Darlene explained a discount specifically for employees and not offered to other students, may be a cost savings of 20% to 25%, but the total amount of the book would be considered an income benefit and the employee would need to pay taxes on 100% cost of the books.
Terri Schaefer has asked about the possibility of increasing the shift differential wages of employees on third shift. A discussion followed and a request was made to research the number of employees that would be involved and the cost.
Debbie Clark will be making a PowerPoint presentation for Staff Council on February 21, 2005 at 8:30 am in UC 201-202 at the budget hearing. Here are the requests and points she will be presenting with statistical support:

1. Base wage increase adjustment at least at or better than the wage increase from last year of 2% increase with a possible 1% merit increase. Statistics of needed increase will list rise of costs in utilities, insurance, gas prices, etc.

2. Resubmit a request for short term disability insurance benefits option for employees.

3. Resubmit a request for an increase in employee vacation days for employees who have been at USI over 20 years, one day per each year of service maxing at 25 days or 5 weeks.

4. Resubmit for the third year, a revision of our retirement plan.

5. Possibly present a request for an increase of third shift custodial workers to $.10 above the wage of second shift wages.

Nominating Committee: Nothing to report.

NEW BUSINESS: Terri Schaefer mentioned on December 22nd at midnight, the mayor had issued a state of emergency due to bad weather conditions, and ordered all vehicles off the roads. Discussion followed in regards to time taken off and how it affected the different shifts. According to the employee handbook in regard to inclement weather recess “An emergency or inclement weather recess is declared when the emergency or weather situation is so severe that closing the University is warranted: classes are suspended, and office operations are closed. Only those staff members who have been designated by their department heads as "essential personnel during a recess period" should attempt to report to work. The decision to declare a recess and close the University due to emergencies or inclement weather will be made by the president”. The University was officially closed at 5 am. During states of emergency, do insurance companies honor insurance claims during these times. Concern was also expressed about an employee who fell in the parking lot on December 22nd and hurt her arm. The Student Wellness Office was closed, and when security was called, they could not help her because their equipment was in a vehicle that was frozen.

Staff Council is asking for a verification of what procedures need to be established in a state of emergency and more clarification in working hours in weather conditions of snow or flooding. Also, security medical emergency service must be available during bad weather conditions.
Debbie Clark read a memoriam for Gladys Loving.
Donna Hopf asked about the availability of snow shovels to employees and students. Terri Schaefer informed us there is a snow shovel in every building on campus and residence housing has shovels for students to use. Donna Hopf asked if students who are still on campus during breaks could have access to the food pantry.

OLD BUSINESS: There was discussion for phenomenal woman nominations, and Debbie Clark and Shannon Hoehn will submit the forms for those employees.

DISCUSSION/ANNOUNCEMENTS: Darlene Fisher announced the new Banner system switch for payroll went well, ID numbers are now used instead of social security numbers and the flex benefit feature now includes 30% of employees.

Our next meeting will be February 23, at 2:00 pm in UC 214.

ADJOURNMENT: Motion for the meeting to be adjourned was made by Retta Daughtery and 2nd by Pam Van Vorst.