ADVISORY COUNCIL OF CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES

Minutes of Meeting

November 14, 2002

Marshall University Graduate College

S. Charleston, West Virginia

The Advisory Council of Classified Employees met beginning at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, November 14, 2002 on the campus of the Marshall University Graduate College, South Charleston, WV.

MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE:

MEMBERS ABSENT

GUESTS:

Margaret Buttrick, HEPC Liaison, and Bruce Walker, HEPC General Counsel.

With a quorum being present, the Chair, Ms. Pitzer, called the meeting to order.

Approval of Minutes: A motion was made by Mr. Martinelli and seconded by Ms. Crouch that the minutes of the October 17, 2002 meeting be accepted as presented. Mr. Hardee noted that the ACCE did not meet on November 13, 2002 as indicated they would in the minutes. While that was noted as being correct because materials were not available to work on the ACCE’s annual presentation to the HEPC, the change could not be made to the minutes due to the fact that the November 13 meeting date was not cancelled until well after the October 17 meeting. Considering this, the motion to approve the October 17, 2002 minutes was approved.

Election of Committee Chairs:Committee Chairs for 2002-2003 were approved as follows:

Benefits Committee	John C. (Chris) Gray
Governmental Liaison Committee	Committee Chair not necessary
Legislative Committee	Paul R. Martinelli
Policy Committee	Evie McPherson
Web Committee	Debi Cruse
Ad Hoc By-Laws Committee	Stephanie A. Neal
Higher Education Awareness Committee	Joseph R. Taylor

Concerning the Web Committee, Verne Britton was added to the membership and discussion occurred concerning the role of the committee. A motion was made by Ms. Fertig and seconded by Ms. Neuman that an amendment be made to the By-Laws stating, “The Web Committee shall be re-named and additional duties added. The name shall be the Communications Committee and the duties shall include the maintenance of the ACCE web-page, creation of ACCE promotional materials and other communication materials as deemed necessary.” The motion was approved. In compliance with the By-Laws, notice was given that the proposed change will be voted on the at next regularly scheduled ACCE meeting.

Liaison Report:HEPC Liaison, Margaret Buttrick, distributed a number of handouts providing comments on each and allowing opportunities for discussion:

1. PEIA Public Hearings: PEIA will be holding public hearings at various dates and locations throughout West Virginia during November and December 2002. The agenda for the hearings includes informal discussion of plan changes, the availability of Customer Service Representatives to answer claim questions, and the public hearing. Written comments will be accepted. Ms. Pitzer encouraged ACCE members to attend the hearings in their local areas and to report on the hearings via the ACCE list-serve.
2. Presidential Compensation:A handout was distributed on “Presidential Compensation Change Requests.” Mr. Martinelli noted that WVU’s President declined a salary increase FY 2002-2003 but asked for a five-year contract, which was approved by the IBOG.
3. William M. Mercer, Inc.:Financial information was provided on the contract with William M. Mercer, Inc. from July 10, 1991 – January 31, 2000 in the development and maintenance of the Higher Education Classification/Pay System.
4. WV Regional Cost and Wage Differentials: William M. Mercer, Inc. conducted a study using “a variety of data sources” to “provide information on regional differences in costs of living and occupational wage scales.” As noted in the study, according to a Mercer representative, “based on the data from the surveys (the 22 salary surveys used to construct the current classified staff salary schedule), it is impossible to assess differentials within the state.”
5. Analysis of Sick and Annual Leave Liabilities:CCRC Actuaries, LLC created an analysis of the current liability of the Sick and Annual Leave programmed offered to public employees of the State of West Virginia. The purpose of the analysis was to project the current liability to the State for active employees for this benefit.

1. Ms. Fertig asked for an explanation concerning how William M. Mercer, Inc. determined the 16% benefits allowance in the classified employee salary schedule. Per Ms. Buttrick, taken into consideration were retirement, sick and annual leave, PEIA, etc. The actual amount of hours worked was not a consideration.
2. Information was requested by Ms. Pitzer prior to this meeting, but not received, for use in preparing the ACCE’s annual presentation to the HEPC. Ms. Buttrick explained that the information was not available and might not be so until January 2003 as new programs need to be developed for reporting the data.
3. Ms. Pitzer requested a fiscal note for removing the annual increment cap for classified employees. Ms. Buttrick indicated there was an error in last year’s note to the Legislature. She will send to all ACCE members early next week, the 2002 data.

HEPC General Counsel:Bruce Walker, HEPC General Counsel, spoke to the ACCE concerning legislative rules pertaining to classified employees and distributed copies of Sections 18B-7-1 and 29-6A-2 of state code. While Series 37 – Classified Employee Layoffs and Reassignments can be used as a guideline, it was never approved by the Legislature.

ACCE Chair:Ms. Pitzer reminded ACCE members that state code currently provides that the ACCE Chair can only serve two consecutive one-year terms so in July 2003, she will not be eligible for re-election as the Chair.

November 2002 Statewide Election Results:ACCE members reported on statewide election results for Senate and House of Delegate seats in their respective districts.

JEC Vacancy:Ms. Pitzer noted that there has been a classified employee vacancy on the JEC for some time and asked Ms. Buttrick when we might expect the position to be filled. Ms. Buttrick commented, “the position will not be filled.” Ms. Buttrick also noted that the JEC would be meeting the following week to complete the review of the Physical Plant job family. Upon completion of the review, it will be forwarded to Chancellor Mullen.

Video-Conferencing Capabilities at the Capitol:Mr. Britton noted that WVNET’s only video-conferencing capabilities at the capitol are in the Governor’s office. Additional opportunities are available on the 9th Floor of the HEPC Office Building, the Governor’s Technology Building, and the Marshall University Graduate College.

Announcements:The next ACCE meeting will be held on the campus of WV State College, Thursday, December 12, 2002 beginning at 10:00 a.m. WV State College representative, Jenny Fertig, will coordinate the logistics for the meeting. The ACCE’s annual Christmas dinner will be held the evening of the 12th, with Ms. Crouch coordinating the event.

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

Respectfully submitted,

STEPHANIE A. NEAL
SECRETARY

AMY PITZER
CHAIR

(Approved 5/8/03)