Staff Senate Meeting Minutes

THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN-DEARBORN
2006 STAFF SENATE
July 26, 2006
9:00-11:00
1227 UC
MEETING #7

MINUTES

MEMBERS PRESENT: Diane Leach, Shelley Harris, Sandy Kulka, Cindy Kecskes, Vera Kapulak, Bill Romej, Judy Wilson, Amy Kazakowski, Linda Southward, Lori Kornelson, Sharon Bingley, Marlene Pruitt, Diane Sigler, and Michelle Barnes

MEMBERS ABSENT: Betty Greco, Bob Crocker, Paul Beteag and Judy Walker

1. CALL TO ORDER
2. ADOPTION OF AGENDA
3. Visitor – Jeff Evans re: HR Brown Bags Jeff Evans attended the Staff Senate meeting and said he is agreeable to have brown bags for employees to answer any questions they may have regarding comp time, vacation time, flex time, etc. Jeff also mentioned FLSA (Fair Labor Standards Act) applies to anyone who works 40 hours a week in terms of overtime. He noted that comp time does not exist under the law. If someone works more than 40 hours in a particular week, the University is required to pay them overtime. Vacation accrual is different for non-exempt employees. Non-exempt employees receive time-and-a-half for overtime. Exempt employees get straight time for overtime. Supervisors are trained to handle overtime properly. Exempt staff can have overtime added to their vacation time.
4. ANNOUNCEMENTS:

4.1 Committee Reports:

4.1.1   Benefits Committee – The committee is still working on the annual report, but it should be finished by the middle of August. Sandy Beck’s term on the Benefits Committee ends soon. Linda Southward will ask Sandy if she is interested in continuing.
4.1.2    Budget Committee – Committee hasn’t met recently, but there will be a 3% salary package. Departments may hold back .5%. The tuition increase will be 8%.
4.1.3    UMake a Difference Committee – Nothing to report.
4.1.4     Recognition Committee – The committee met and picked all of the winners. The winners will be announced next week.
4.1.5     Voices of Staff – The group is focusing on a website showing all the perks and benefits in one place.
4.1.6     Longevity Recognition - Linda Southward obtained a new list of staff and salary information. Bill distributed a copy of Leah Long’s recognition proposal.
4.1.7     Leadership and Development Committee – Nothing to report.
4.1.8     Hospitality Committee – Everything for the picnic is all set. Amy will be talking to the vendors that not yet responded. Seven vendors have agreed to attend. The Staff Senate’s suggestion box will be placed on the registration table. The Hospitality committee will make sure that all senators have signed up to help during the picnic. The field house is reserved in case of rain.
4.1.9     Workplace Environment Committee – The committee finalized the letter to accompany the $2 token. The committee was asked by the Senate to forward a copy of the letter to the Senate for final approval. The committee will meet July 31st to assemble the envelopes. In order to save money, the committee will use outdated department envelopes. An additional table for distribution of the tokens was requested to be set up by the registration table.
4.1.10     Election Commission - Nothing to report.
4.1.11     Communication Commission – Nothing to report.

4.2 Flint Senate Visit – Bill sent an email to Barb Bassett who was the chair of the Staff Senate in Flint and asked if they would be interested in attending the August meeting. She let Bill know that she would pass on our invitation to the new chair. Bill will send her a follow-up
4.3 Chancellor meeting – It was cancelled. The next meeting is August 15th.
4.4 Medicare Part B – It was not on the Regent’s agenda in July but will be presented again in September. It has been suggested that we have different groups do the presentations so the Regents can see just how many groups are supporting reinstatement. Bob Frazer agreed that Laurita Thomas’s statement that this cut would save the University money “into infinity” is ludicrous.

5. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION AND ACTION:

5.1 Mission Statement – After some discussion, a motion was made by Cindy Kecskes. seconded by Diane Sigler, that we stay with the current mission statement. Vote: unanimous

6. Roundtable

Respectfully submitted,
Judith K. Wilson