ATTENDANCE
Members in attendance:
Members excused:
Guests:
PREVIOUS MINUTES
The minutes of the April 22, 2004 meeting were approved as submitted by Amy Pitzer.
LIAISON REPORT
There was no liaison report.
CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEE SALARY ISSUE
Mrs. Neal reported on the proposal presented by Chancellor Mullin at the April HEPC meeting to extend the deadline for all institutions to bring all classified employees to at least the zero equity step on the salary schedule from July 1, 2005 to July 1, 2006. Mrs. Neal reported that she had expressed to the HEPC the ACCE’s opposition to extending the deadline. After considerable discussion , the HEPC tabled the issue until their June meeting.
The council discussed the issue at length and debated the pros and cons of "biting the bullet" and addressing the issue now verses the potential cost to senior employees if the available resources were to be used to bring the youngest employees to the zero equity step.
Mr. Martinelli relayed that the WVU Classified Staff Council had addressed this issue and preferred to address the salary issue by funding a uniform percentage of the difference between each employee’s current salary and where they should be on the salary schedule. He reported that WVU was considering a 3% increase for classified employees.
Mr. Neal took an informal survey of those present and it was reported that WV Northern, Eastern WVC&TC, WVNET, and the HEPC already have all classified employees at or above the equity step and West Liberty, Marshall, and Fairmont have plans to bring everyone to the equity step by July 1, 2004. Representatives of the WVU regional campuses indicated that they would be following WVU’s salary procedures.
Motion by Mrs. Pitzer, seconded by Mrs Neuman:
The ACCE opposes any extension
of the deadline for funding of the zero equity step beyond July 1, 2005.
The motion
passed with 12 yeas and 2 nays.
Motion by Mrs. Pitzer, seconded by Mr. Hardee:
Any presentation to the HEPC
relating to funding the salary schedule and the zero equity step should be accompanied by
an explanation of the ACCE’s position with historical background. It can be written or
verbal at the discretion of the Chair.
The motion passed with 14 yeas. And 0 nays.
JOINT LEGISLATIVE PERSONNEL RULE
Mrs. Neal reported that SB448 required the HEPC and the C&TCC to submit a joint personnel rule to LOCEA. A meeting had been set with the ACCE executive committee, Chancellors Mullin, Chancellor Skidmore, Bruce Walker and others at the HEPC office on June 1, 2004 to discuss the development of the rule.
LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE
Mr. Martinelli distributed a chart detailing the change in the cost to fund the salary schedule from Fall 2002 to Fall 2003 and questioned the source and accuracy of the data give to the HEPC at their April meeting.
Mr. Martinelli reiterated that the WVU staff council preferred to use any available resources for salary increases be used to fund a percentage off the schedule rater than a 3% across the board and did not support using available funds to bring those under the equity step at the expense of more senior employees.
He also expressed a concern that it is dangerous to rely increasingly on lottery funds to fund higher education as opposed to using general revenue funds, especially in light of recent lottery initiatives in bordering states. Mr. Harbaugh noted that tax revenues were up by 12%.
Mr. Martinelli reported that several gubernatorial candidates had visited WVU and all expressed a willingness to keep open communications with classified employees.
C&TC COMMITTEE
Ms. Neal and Mr. Wycherley reported that they had been in contact with the Chancellor of the C&TC Council. Chancellor Skidmore has requested a bullet sheet summary of staff issues. He has indicated a willingness to work with the ACCE and to schedule a presentation to the C&TC Council.
The council also discussed possible training and development opportunities for staff through the Community and Technical Colleges.
POLICY COMMITTEE
The ACCE proceeded at length through Series 8, the Personnel Rule, article by article, in preparation of the scheduled meetings to develop the newly mandated joint legislative rule.
ANNUAL PLANNING MEETING
Ms. Neal reported that she was in the process of making arrangements for the annual planning meeting:
| Location: | Heritage Farms, Huntington, WV |
| Dates: | Sunday July 25 through Tuesday, July 27 |
| Times: | to be announced |
| Cost: | estimated at $130-$150 per person including lodging, facilities, and meals |
NEXT MEETING
Date: Thursday, June 17, 2004
Time: 2:00 to follow the C&TC Council meeting
Location: Charleston, specific location to be determined.
ADJOURNED
The meeting adjourned at 7:45 pm.
Respectfully submitted by:
Robert A. "Zac" Wycherley
Secretary
APPROVED: 17 June 2004