STAFF SENATE MEETING
SMB Seminar Room
November 5, 2003

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

Members Absent: Barbara James and Teresa Holguin

I. Vice President Tina Rippa called the meeting to order at 10:00 am.
A. The meeting began with the pledge of allegiance.
B. Roll call was taken.

II. Approval of Agenda-Senator Fischer made a motion to approve the agenda, and Senator Bettison seconded the motion. Motion carried.

III. Approval of July 2, 2003, August 6, 2003, September 3, 2003, and October 1, 2003 minutes. As per staff senate minutes of September 3, 2003, July 2 and August 6 minutes were approved. Senator Fischer stated that July 2 minutes needed to be corrected. The July 2 minutes did not include changes to Staff Handbook and changes to constitution. Motion was made by Senator Fischer to change July 2 minutes and Senator Soucy seconded the motion. Motion carried. Parliamentarian Bettison said that the approval of the minutes should have been rescinded before voting to change them, and she made a motion to rescind the approval of the minutes of July 2. Senator Biglin seconded the motion, and the motion carried. Parliamentarian Bettison made a motion to accept July 2 minutes with approved changes and Senator Fischer seconded motion. Motion carried.

Senator Biglin made a motion to approve the minutes of September 3 and Senator Bettison seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Senator Bettison made a motion to approve the minutes of October 1, with the correction on the President’s report of the time of the potluck from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. Motion was seconded by Senator Fischer to approve minutes with correction. Motion carried.

IV. President’s Report-Vice President Tina Rippa reported the following:

V. Treasurer’s Report-Senator Manzano reported that the balance in the staff senate account is $273.42, this balance does not include the purchase of seven name plates for the new senators. The cost of the seven name plates will be $70.00. The balance on the staff recognition account as of September 30, 2003 is $784.48.

VI. Old Business
Vice President Rippa stated that Senator Biglin and Senator Fischer had changed committees. Senator Biglin changed to Rewards & Recognition and Senator Fischer to Staff Handbook.

A. Committee Reports
1. Staff Handbook-Senator Fischer stated that her committee had met to review the staff handbook. On November 17 the Staff handbook committee will be meeting with off campus sites at ITV.
2. Rewards & Recognition-Senator Biglin reported that her committee had met on October 16, 2003. The meeting had been a good meeting. Senator Biglin also recommended changes to the Policy of the Staff Employee Of The Month. Senator Bettison made a motion to approve the changes and Senator Soucy seconded the motion. Motion carried. Senator Biglin also recommended changes to Staff Employee Sick Leave Recognition Plan. Discussion followed regarding the changes. Senator Fischer made a motion to table the Sick Leave action request and Senator Saari seconded the motion. Motion carried.
3. Salary & Classification-Senator Soucy reported that 124 surveys were returned back, 12 surveys had to be discarded. The Performance/Merit is the number one choice and the Cost of Living Adjustment is the number two choice. Senator Soucy stated that the Merit increase could not be implemented before December 2003. Senator Soucy stated the committee will request a 6% cost-of-living (COLA) adjustment be added to the salary midpoint in order to meet inflation since the last adjustment. Senator Bettison had issues regarding the survey. She made a motion to rescind the survey and Senator Biglin seconded the motion. Discussion followed regarding the survey. Senator Morales stated that the tally of the survey is the same as the elections. Senator Rios agreed with Senator Morales regarding the survey. After a lengthy discussion regarding the survey, Senator Bettison, made a motion to accept the committee’s recommendation to do the cost-of-living adjustment. Senator Soucy seconded the motion. Motion carried.
4. New Employee Orientation-Senator Foster reported that his committee meets twice a month. The second meeting is for new employees. He also stated that all employees are invited to attend his meetings regarding information for new employees. Vice President Rippa, reporting for President James, stated that information regarding the Wellness Center will be included in the New Employee Orientation. She asked Senator Foster to discuss the information with President James.
5. Election-No Report.
6. AQIP-Vice President Rippa reported the committee had invited Dr. Kathie Gilbert to the AQIP committee meeting held on 10/30/03. Vice President Rippa reported that Advising and Funding could be phased out this year and that new action projects will be selected to replace them.

B. Reports on Issues & Goals for Upcoming Year-Senator Fischer addressed the issue of some supervisors not allowing employees to participate in committees. Senator Bettison made a motion to table the Issues & Goals action, Senator Fischer seconded the motion. Motion carried.

VII. New Business
A. Employee of the Month-November- Vice President Rippa and Senator Biglin recognized Debbie Reyes, employee in Financial Aid, as the November Employee of the Month.

VIII. Open Forum-Charles Kelly requested that the Salary and Classification committee announce their meetings.

Mary Camarena-Hittle gave a report on the staff assessment committee. She stated the committee is finalizing and a meeting should be called. She also stated that student representation on the staff assessment committee will be from the student organization MECHA.

IX. The next meeting will be on Wednesday, December 3, 2003, at 10:00 am in Seminar Room of the Student Memorial Building.

X. Senator Soucy made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 11:20 am; Senator Fischer seconded the motion. Motion carried.