ADVISORY COUNCIL OF CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES

Minutes of Meeting

November 15, 2001

Fairmont State College

Fairmont, West Virginia

The Advisory Council of Classified Employees met at 11:45 pm, Thursday, November 15, 2001 in Conference Room 303 at the Education Building, Fairmont State College, Fairmont, WV.

MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE:

MEMBERS ABSENT

GUESTS:

Margaret Buttrick, WV HEPC Chancellors Liaison; Anna Mary Walsh, Shepherd College; Sharon Glasscock, Karen Grubb, Stephen Leach, Ann Lester, Joyce Rose, and Patti Vingle, Fairmont State College.

The Chair, Ms. Pitzer, called the meeting to order.

Welcome - President Bradley: Ms. Shriver introduced the President of Fairmont State College, Daniel J. Bradley. President Bradley welcomed everyone to Fairmont and gave brief remarks concerning the campus.

Special Recognition: Ms. Pitzer noted that Ms. Vingle had recently retired from Fairmont State College and that prior to her retirement, she had served as the ACCE representative for 12 years. A special plaque expressing the ACCEs gratitude for her work and dedication to classified employee issues was presented.

ACCE Representation - Shepherd College: Anna Mary Walsh announced that an election had recently been held at Shepherd College for the ACCE representative and that Racquel Yerbury was elected to this position. Ms. Yerbury was welcomed as a new ACCE member.

Approval of Minutes: The minutes of the August 19  21, 2001 meeting were reviewed. A motion was made by Mr. Grimm and seconded by Mr. Wycherley that the minutes be accepted as presented. The motion was approved.

The minutes of the September 20, 2001 meeting were reviewed. A motion was made by Ms. Fertig and seconded by Ms. Crouch that the minutes be accepted as presented. The motion was approved.

The minutes of the October 18, 2001 meeting were reviewed. A motion was made by Mr. Grimm and seconded by Mr. Wycherley that the minutes be accepted as presented. The motion was approved.

Legislative Agenda: The Legislative Affairs Committee met prior to the beginning of the ACCE meeting for the purpose of developing a legislative agenda for ACCE approval for the 2002 Legislative session. Those items included:

1. Personnel Rule: A joint personnel rule is being formulated by the HEPC, which will include Series 62, 31, 35, 26, 21, and 56. All of these rules were formally legislative rules but with the passage of SB 703, that is no longer so. It was the consensus of the ACCE that because the issues covered in these rules have state-wide impact, that they should continue to be legislative rules rather than having each campus IBOG interpreting the joint personnel rule.
2. Compensation: To include issues concerning the salary schedule, benefits and a possible merit policy. Ms. Buttrick indicated that the HEPC is to prepare a report for LOCEA by December 1, 2001 concerning progress made by each institution toward funding of the salary schedule. Ms. Pitzer requested that Ms. Buttrick supply the ACCE with a copy of the report along with the following information:
   1. % and # of classified employees below equity on July 1, 2001
   2. % and # of classified employees below equity after October 1, 2001
   3. Average salary of faculty, non-classified and classified employees after October 1, 2001 increases
   4. % and # of employees and classified employees in state teachers retirement plan
   5. % and # of employees and classified employees in TIAA/CREF and other plans
   6. % and dollar amount of PEIA increases over last 5-10 years for employees and employers
3. PEIA: Premiums, deductibles and co-pays continue to rise for employees. Ms. Pitzer announced that the PEIA Finance Board will be holding public hearings as listed below for the purpose of presenting the financial plan for fiscal year 2003 and to take comments on the plan. She encouraged ACCE members to attend the public hearings in their local areas if possible.

   Date	Location
   November 26	Shepherdstown
   November 27	Morgantown
   November 28	Wheeling
   November 29	Charleston
   December 3	Parkersburg
   December 4	Huntington
   December 6	Beckley

4. Retirement Equity
5. 37-1/2 hour Work Week: Ms. Buttrick reported that a legislative sub-committee is reviewing the definition of the work week. She will email the name of the sub-committee to ACCE members. Also, she indicated that management has the right to define the work week.
6. Grievance Procedures: Ms. Pitzer, Mr. Wycherley and Mr. Grimm will finalize strategies for ACCE approval via email.

A motion was made by Ms. Pitzer and seconded by Ms. Neuman that Mr. Grimm present these legislative items to the Higher Education Awareness Committee requesting their support of the items and that Mr. Grimm send a report via email for full ACCE approval. The motion was approved. The legislative agenda needs to be finalized as soon as possible so work can begin on the preparation of a brochure for distribution at the beginning of the legislative session.

By-Laws Committee: Ms. Neal reported the By-Laws Committee met via conference call for the purpose of discussing the election procedures for ACCE representatives. It was the recommendation of the committee that additional research should be conducted concerning election procedures at each campus and rather than continue to hold-up the approval of the By-Laws because of this one matter, that the By-Laws be approved as submitted while the committee continues to work on the election procedures. The recommendation was accepted and a motion was made by Mr. Nebel and seconded by Ms. Barfield indicating the same. The motion was approved.

Liaison Report: The Chancellors Liaison, Margaret Buttrick, distributed an updated ACCE membership list. She reported that 1) Segal Advisors will be making a presentation to the HEPC at its November 16, 2001 meeting, 2) a report concerning the Sick and Annual Leave Study being conducted by the Legislatures Finance Sub-Committee A has not yet come forth, 3) a report concerning classified employees salaries will be presented to LOCEA during December 2001 interims, 4) proposed revisions to Series 8 are still being developed by the HEPC staff (a date has not yet been determined for the committee to meet for the purpose of beginning discussion on the proposed revisions, and 5) a meeting of the HEPC has been scheduled for December 12, 2001 in Charleston, WV with the time and location to be determined.

In response to Ms. Buttricks report concerning the status of the Sick and Annual Leave Study, Ms. Yerbury indicated that classified employees at Shepherd College have expressed concern in that non-classified employees immediately receive more sick leave annually than classified employees. Ms. Buttrick indicated that each institution uses its own discretion in determining the amount of sick leave for non-classified employees. Ms. Buttrick indicated that the legislature does view this as a liability.

Annual Meeting with the HEPC: SB703 stipulates the HEPC shall meet annually, between the months of October and December, with the ACCE to discuss matters of higher education in which the classified employees or the commission may have an interest. Ms. Pitzer reported that although a date for the annual presentation has been requested, one has not been established. She encouraged use of the ACCE list-serve in order to start developing ideas for the presentation. A special meeting will be set to assemble the presentation.

Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at approximately 4:00 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

STEPHANIE A. NEAL
SECRETARY

AMY PITZER
CHAIR