Staff Senate Minutes
SMB Seminar Room
January 7, 2004

Members Present: Dean Foster, Barbara James Tina Rippa, Margaret Soucy, Shawn Sias, Cynthia Bettison, JoAnn Fischer, Julia Biglin, Leonor Mendoza, Virginia Manzano, TJ Robinson, and Julia Morales

Members Absent: Anita Rios and Jon Saari

Proxy Teresa Holguin

1. President Barbara James called the meeting to order at 10:00 am.
   1. The meeting began with the pledge of allegiance.
   2. Roll call was taken.
      
      
2. Approval of Agenda-Senator Rippa made a motion to approve the agenda and Senator Foster seconded the motion. Motion carried.
   
   
3. Approval of December 3, 2003 Staff Senate Minutes and December 8, 2003 General Assembly Minutes
   
   Senator Fischer made a motion to approve the December 3, 2003 Staff Senate Minutes with the following correction; item IV correcting the date of the Zia award to March 4, 2004. Motion was seconded by Senator Soucy to approve minutes with corrections. Motion carried.
   
   Senator Bettison made a motion to approve the minutes of December 8, 2003 General Assembly, motion was seconded by Senator Biglin to approve minutes. Motion carried.
   
   
4. President’s Report-President Barbara James reported the following:
   
   • President James thanked Dr. Counts for the extra days off during the holidays.
   • President James announced that the spring semester would begin on January 12, 2004.
     
     
5. Treasurer’s Report-Senator Manzano reported that the balance in the staff Senate account is $203.42; the balance on the staff recognition account as of December 31, 2003 is $816.48.
   
   
6. Old Business
   
   1. Committee Reports
      
      1. Staff Handbook-Senator Fischer presented the proposed changes to the staff handbook. Senator Fischer expressed concern that the proposed changes to the staff handbook that have been approved by the Board of Regents are not presented to staff. Now, approved amendments are sent to Human Resources office and the approved amendments are not presented to staff. Senator Bettison made motion that approved amendments sent to Human Resources should be forwarded to the executive assistant of the President for distribution to the staff, Senator Biglin seconded the motion. Motion carried. Senator Rippa made a motion to table approval and Senator Soucy seconded the motion. Motion carried. Discussion followed on the wording of the second paragraph of the proposed changes to handbook.
      2. Rewards & Recognition-Senator Biglin reported the change to the Staff Employee Sick Leave Recognition Plan on item 3.1, to read excluding donated sick leave. Senator Bettison made a motion to add to item1.1during the previous fiscal year; Senator Rippa seconded the motion. Motion carried. Senator Rippa stated the Staff Employee Sick Leave Recognition Plan did not recognize permanent part-time employees. Senator Rippa made a motion to table the addition of part-time employees to the Staff Employee Sick Leave Recognition Plan; Senator Soucy seconded the motion. Motion carried. Senator Biglin made the proposal of using funds from the Staff Recognition Account to include two fifty-dollar dinner certificates to the award of the Employee of the Year. Senator Fischer made a motion to approve using funds from the Staff Recognition Account to include two fifty-dollar dinner certificates to the Employee of the Year award; Senator Sias seconded the motion. Motion carried.
      3. Salary & Classification-Senator Soucy reported that the Salary & Classification committee were waiting for Dr. Counts approval on the recommendation of the 6% Cost of Living Adjustment to be added to the salary midpoint.
      4. New Employee Orientation-Senator Foster reported that his committee would be meeting on January 13 and January 29. The January 13 meeting will be a committee meeting and the January 29 meeting will be for the new employees hired on December and January.
      5. Election-No Report. President James reported that in March nominations would be held for Staff Senate President.
      6. AQIP-No Report.
         
         
   2. Reports on Issues & Goals for Upcoming Year-Vice President Rippa reported that the Staff Handbook Committee, Rewards and Recognition Committee, Salary and Classification Committee, New Employee Orientation Committee, AQIP Committee, and Election Committee, should address the suggestions for 2003-2004 Staff Senate Goals pertaining to their committee. Senator Soucy recommended using the Mustang Express general calendar to announce committee meetings. President James requested from Steve Liebhart, training for the Staff Senate using the Mustang Express. Vice President Rippa also reported on the other issues. Issue number 2. Concern over faculty initiating grounds for dismissal of staff. Motion was made by Senator Fischer to eliminate Issue number 2; Senator Morales seconded motion. Motion carried. Motion was made by Vice President Rippa to eliminate Issue number 5; Grant employees would like to have some leniency on using vacation time before end of the fiscal year, June 30. In a small department with everyone needing to use up their vacation time this leaves the office uncovered and would it be possible to extend their vacation through July to avoid this every year. Senator Foster seconded the motion. Motion carried. Motion was made by Vice President Rippa to eliminate Issue number 6 and forward to AQIP Communication Committee; Senator Soucy seconded the motion. Motion carried. Senator Bettison made a motion to eliminate Issue number 7 and forward to Staff Senate Handbook Committee; Vice President Rippa seconded the motion. Motion carried.
      
      
7. New Business
   
   1. Employee of the Month-January, 2004- President James and Senator Biglin recognized Alice Casares, employee in Information Technology, as the January Employee of the Month.
   
   
   
8. Open Forum-Senator Bettison reminded every one that the Fire Marshall would be on campus the week of the 19th inspecting offices.
   
   
9. The next meeting will be on February 4, 2004 at 10:00 am in Seminar Room of the Student Memorial Building.
   
   
10. Vice President Rippa made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 10:55 am; Senator Soucy seconded the motion. Motion carried.