Staff Senate Meeting Minutes

THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN-DEARBORN
2006 STAFF SENATE
September 27, 2006
9:00-11:00
1227 UC
MEETING #9

1. CALL TO ORDER

2. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA

3 ANNOUNCEMENTS

3.1 COMMITTEE REPORTS:

3.1.1       Benefits Committee – The Medicare Part B cut-off was changed to March 31, 2006, and it affected 77 people. This decision was a fall back position to stop too many people from retiring early. Linda Southward asked HR to send information to employees about the results of the resolution that was presented by Staff Senate, Faculty Senate and several other groups. If HR doesn’t send out the information, Linda suggested that the Senate take the initiative.
A motion was made that if HR has not sent an announcement to the campus community regarding the outcome of the Medicare Part B resolution by October 4, an email will be sent by the Staff Senate to the campus community.
VOTE: Yes 12       No 0        Abstain 1
Bill Romej and Linda Southward agreed to write the email.

               3.1.2       Budget Committee – Nothing to report.
               3.1.3       UMake a Difference Committee – Nothing to report.

3.1.4       Recognition Committee – The committee is done for the year. There are four people whose appointments expire this year. Judy Walker will check to see of any of these people are willing to continue and report at the next Senate meeting.

3.1.5       Voices of Staff – An emergency meeting was called to discuss the MCare sale. President Coleman and Tim Solotto were present to answer questions about the reasoning behind the sale. Everyone who has MCare should keep it until 2007. The committee suggested that the Michigan website be updated so it’s easier to navigate and to add vendor discount information. The committee was interested in Dearborn’s Dependent Tuition Scholarship and how it got started. They also wanted to know if Ann Arbor staff could send their children to Dearborn and be eligible for the scholarship. It is being investigated. It was also suggested that a deal be worked out with an internet service provider for faculty and staff, since dial-up is going away in December. If any Staff Senate member knows of inexpensive internet service providers, please let Linda Southward know.

3.1.6       Longevity Recognition – The Senate chair passed out a draft of a longevity recognition proposal. Changes were suggested. Staff Senate was asked to submit additional changes by Friday, September 9, 2006. It was agreed that the budget proposal to the Senior Officers should include last year’s suggestions and be prepared by the Chair and submitted to the Senate at the next meeting for approval.

3.1.7       Leadership and Development Committee – Nothing to report.
3.1.8       Hospitality Committee – Lunch was provided for Facilities Management. The Hospitality Committee chair will complete the picnic report and submit it to the Chair. The Chair will forward the information to the Senate.

3.1.9       Workplace Environment Committee – 357 $2 awards were distributed. The committee spent $714 of the $900 original advance. Cindy Kecskes will deposit the balance back into the Staff Senate account.
3.1.10     Election Commission – Since the current Election Commission Chair’s term expires in December, Diane Sigler will talk to the Election committee about handling the upcoming election, and will report at the next Senate meeting.

3.1.11     Communication Committee – A new Senator was distributed to staff. It is also on the Staff Senate website.

3.2          Chancellor meeting – Diane Sigler and Judy Wilson attended the meeting and thanked the Chancellor for the 3% salary increase. The chancellor was pleased with the Medicare Part B change. The Chancellor was asked to keep the campus community informed as the MCare sale progresses.

3.3          HR Brown Bags – HR has agreed that they will have the requested informational brown bags the week of October 23. The Hospitality Committee needs to know the actual dates for planning. It was suggested that the Senate hold informational brown bags once a month.

3.4          File Cabinet from Diane Leach – It was agreed to have Diane Leach request plant move the Staff Senate file cabinet to the dock at the Fairlane Center. When the cabinet is moved, she should let Betty Greco know so she can have Ford move it to the Staff Senate room.

4. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION AND ACTION:

4.1 Open forum/Holiday brunch – After some discussion, it was agreed that Diane Sigler would provide the figures for last year’s Holiday Brunch at the next Staff Senate meeting.
4.2 Code of Academic conduct Appeals Board – A motion was made by Marlene Pruitt, seconded by Amy Kazanowski to reappoint Janice Lewis-Boyd as the staff member to the Code of Academic Conduct Appeals Board for a 3 year term and to ask for yearly reports. VOTE: unanimous

5. Roundtable

Respectfully Submitted:

Judith K. Wilson
Secretary