Eastern Kentucky University

Staff Council

Minutes

Meeting of September 12, 2006

Call to Order

Chair Burrus called the meeting to order on Tuesday, September 12, 2006 at 10:00 a.m. in the Teleconference Room of the Student Services Building.

Members present were: Beverly Burrus; Denise Conner; Ann Cotton; Tamala Cox; Anne Cross; Steve Fulkerson; Stephanie King; Jey Marks; JoAnn Storie; Carol Thomas; and Hossein Vaez.

Chair Burrus asked Staff Regent Fulkerson to report on the Board of Regents Meeting on September 9, 2006. Staff Regent Fulkerson gave a brief synopsis of issues that had been covered at the Board Meeting that would have an effect on staff here at Eastern Kentucky University. He handed out a copy of the Board of Regents Agenda - Action Agenda – Finance and Planning Committee, B-2, Approval of Allocation of Unrestricted Fund Balance for the Council’s information. Staff Regent Fulkerson stated that there are four areas of funding that were approved for allocation. These are: Financial Aid, Deferred Maintenance, Staff Equity, and the Contingency Fund. The Board approved that the President will have authority to designate the remaining balance to support the University’s academic and strategic goals. Staff Regent Fulkerson also reported that the Parking and Transportation recommendations regarding Service Permits changes, Fine Restructuring changes for fire lane and handicapped violations, Towing and Booting Policy changes, Metered Spaces and additional Handicapped Spaces changes, and Rezoning of Visitor area to the Powell West Lot.

Chair Report

Chair Burrus announced that Ms. Cotton had stated that the June 13, 2006 Staff Council Meeting Minutes were unanimously approved by all members through email.

Chair Burrus discussed that since the next Staff Council Meeting falls during Fall Break that it would need to be changed or cancelled. It was decided by the Council that we would move the Staff Council meeting up a week until October 17, 2006. This meeting will take place in the Teleconference Room in the Student Services Building at 10:00 a.m.

Chair Burrus also brought up about the Meet and Greets. She asked for recommendations about who would be advantageous for the staff to hear speak, and who would be able to offer information that would be helpful to all staff. Ms. Cotton recommended Chief Mark Welker, EKU’s Police Chief, to come and discuss the changes in the Police around Campus, the transportation changes, etc., and the new programs offered to the EKU community. It was also recommended by Ms. Cross that possibly Mr. James Zabawa, Assistant Director of Purchases and Stores could come and speak on the Pro-Card issues/changes, and Ms. Conner suggested that possibly Mr. James Street, Director of Facilities Services would be able to come and speak on issues and changes with facilities around campus.

Chair Burrus also reported that the Executive Committee had met and discussed the possibility of increasing the members of the Staff Council. After lengthy discussion, it was decided that we did not need additional members of the Council; we needed more “actively involved” members. Chair Burrus encouraged the members to become more involved with the activities supported by the Staff Council. It was also discussed that if in the future we still feel the need to increase the membership of the Staff Council in numbers, we could ask the Executive Committee to readdress the issue.

Chair Burrus also discussed events that might help the Staff Council to become more visible among the staff. One event that Chair Burrus discussed was serving ice-cream at the Homecoming Parade or other events as a co-sponsor with QEP. Chair Burrus will check into this possibility and let the Council know before the next meeting so times for workers during the parade can be assigned.

Reports from Standing Committees

Communications – Ms. King, Chairperson of Communications Committee reported that the Communications Committee had not met since last reported due to vacations, etc. She did announce though that the website is continually being updated. Ms. King stated that there was a meeting scheduled for September 25th at 1:30 p.m.

Elections and Credentials – Ms. Cotton, Chairperson for the Elections and Credentials meeting stated that the Elections and Credentials Committee had met to discuss the upcoming Staff Council member elections in November. We will have four representation areas that will be up for election. Employee data is being looked at and updated in hopes that the election procedure will be accurate and inclusive of all staff to where it will cut down on the amount of paper ballets being used. Staff Council Chair Burrus informed all Staff Council members that they would be getting a Representation Report that will need to be checked for accuracy. She expressed the importance of this check being correct and complete.

Issues & Benefits - Mr. Vaez, Chairperson of Issues and Benefits Committee reported that the Committee had met and discussed various issues. The Committee discussed the fact that employees received multiple mailings with insurance cards enclosed from Anthem Blue Cross with instructions to throw away the previously received cards. This will be looked into further for an explanation. Additionally, the Committee discussed the Sick Bank and the how an employee receives sick bank time. There seemed to be confusion about how the sick bank actually awarded their time to employees. Mr. Fulkerson also stated that the President is in the near future going to look at the complete comprehensive benefit package for EKU employees. Mr. Fulkerson will keep us informed of the progress. Parking ticket information was also discussed by this Committee. There will be certain changes that will be put in place in January 2007. The appeal process with Parking and Transportation will be changed to where fellow employees on this committee, instead of students, will hear all appeals. Mr. Vaez reported that certain proposals had also been submitted and wondered what proposals were still being looked at and which had been turned down possibly requested a different avenue of process. Chair Burrus will check further about these issues.

Staff Recognition and Professional Development – Ms. Burrus, Chairperson of Staff Recognition and Professional Development Committee reported that the Committee had not met since last reported due to vacations, etc.

OLD BUSINESS – There was no old business brought up for discussion.

NEW BUSINESS – Ms. Cross voiced concern about not having a clear definition of “professional staff”. How is professional staff defined at Eastern Kentucky University? The Staff Council will try to find the definition of “professional staff”.

Next Meeting

The next meeting of the Staff Council will be October 17, 2006 at 10:00 a.m. in the Teleconference Room, Student Services Building.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 11:20 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Ann Cotton

Secretary/Treasurer