Advisory Council of Classified Employees

Meeting Minutes

March 21, 2001

Charleston, WV

MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE

MEMBERS ABSENT WITH PROXY

MEMBERS ABSENT

GUESTS

Margaret Buttrick, Chancellor's Liaison

Valeria Barfield, Staff Council Chair and Institutional Board of Advisors Representative, WVSOM

MEETING WITH GOVERNOR WISE

Most members of the ACCE were present at a thirty minute meeting with Governor Wise on the afternoon of March 20, 2001. Those present reviewed their impressions and agreed that we appreciate his honesty. We will establish a contact committee to his office. Mr. Martinelli and Ms. Fertig will send a follow-up letter to the governor and to Dave Satterfield, his Chief of Staff.

MEETING WITH SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE LEADERSHIP

On March 20, 2001, ACCE members met for ninety minutes with Senators Lloyd Jackson and Bob Plymale. They were very positive and aware of many of our issues. Ms. Pitzer and Ms. Broudy will send a letter of thanks to the Senators.

HEALTH PLANS

Ms. Vingle announced that there will be three health insurance plan options for 2001-2002. They are PEIA-PPB, Care Link Option B, and Health Plan. If employees do not make a specific change, and are currently in a plan which will no longer be available, they will automatically be switched to PEIA-PPB.

APRIL CAMPUS ELECTIONS

Ms. Buttrick recommended that campuses delay holding elections for ACCE representatives until after the legislative session ends on April 14, 2001. At that time it will be known if each campus will elect separate reps to the ACCE and their Institutional Boards of Governors or one person to both positions.

Ms. Buttrick will seek clarification on these two questions:

• If there is one position, who serves on the Board of Governors for institutions with regional campuses without their own Boards?

• If there are two positions, can the same person be elected to both? Ms. Buttrick says probably not according to the enhancement legislation.

COMPACTS

Ms. Buttrick announced that the Higher Education Policy Commission (HEPC) will review campus compacts and master plans on March 27 and April 6, 2001. Compacts will be scored into three groups. Presidents will speak to the HEPC about their compacts at a later date.

GRIEVANCE POLICY CHANGES

Ms. Buttrick described the differences between the Higher Ed and State Employees grievance policies. Legislation is expected to change Higher Ed to the State Employees policy. Differences relate to limits on attorney's fees, and institutional boards not hearing Level 3 grievances. The process and response times are the same and there would be no defaults.

There was general discussion on the topic. The idea has been considered of having examiners from other campuses deal with Level 2 hearings, but due to the logistics and training considerations, this is not yet happening.

CHANCELLOR'S LIAISON REPORT

Ms. Buttrick distributed the following handouts: In the Interim, Commission Communiqué, Chancellor's Interpretive Memorandum #12, and information on costs of adjusting the Classified Staff Salary Schedule. The last of these documents reviews the numbers of employees affected and the funds needed to bring employees to the entry step on the proposed new salary schedule.

It is not yet clear how Higher Ed may use the $756/yr increase if it dose not have to be given across the board.

Ms. Buttrick spoke about the issue of Sick Leave conversion language in the enhancement legislation. In higher education, if an employee moves from one institution to another it is a new hire, not a transfer. She believes that there is probably a misunderstanding of intent and the language needs to be changed.

MEETING SCHEDULE

April 12, 2001 (Thursday) 9:00 AM, Capitol Cafeteria

May 29, 2001 (Tuesday) 3:00 PM, Shepherd College. Ms. Walsh will send lodging information.

New representatives elected in April will be included in the May meeting.

The HEPC will meet at Shepherd College on May 30, 2001.

June and/or July, 2001 will be scheduled later.

NEW COMMITTEE

It was moved, seconded and passed to form the Governor's Liaison Committee composed of the Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary and the Legislative Committee Chair.

After additional consideration, it was moved, seconded and passed to amend the previous action to name the committee the Legislative Liaison Committee and to include the Chair of the Benefits Committee in the membership.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

It was moved, seconded and passed to move into executive session.

It was moved, seconded and passed to return from executive session

MINUTES

There was some discussion about an item in the January 23, 2001 minutes. On page 2, in item #12 under "Governance" the statement about term limits was thought to be unclear and possibly could be misinterpreted by readers. Does that statement include the Chair? However, the minutes accurately reflected what was said at the meeting, and discussion after the fact could not alter that. It was moved, seconded and passed to approve the January 23, 2001 minutes with two amendments.

It was moved, seconded and passed to approve the February 22, 2001 minutes as written.

LOBBYIST

There was continued discussion about the idea of hiring a lobbyist. One campus representative reported that their Staff Council had some independently generated funds that might go toward a lobbyist salary if other institutions could also contribute. Legal issues were considered. It was agreed that the ACCE seems to be gaining respect among the Legislators.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved, seconded and passed to adjourn the meeting.

AMY PITZER
PRESIDENT

ELLEN BROUDY
RECORDER