OPERATING STAFF COUNCIL MEETING

MINUTES 12/9/04

8:30AM – Holmes Student Center 406

 

Present:    Elizabeth Buck, Gay Campbell, Sara Clayton, Michele Crase, Marcia Dick, Margie Foshe,

Linda Jennings, Glenda Jones, Theresa Kinniry, Nancy Schuneman, Andy Small, Donna Smith and LaRonda Thuestad, Rachel Turner.  

 

Absent:     Jay Monteiro

 

Guests:     Tim Griffin, Jodi Tyrrell

 

I.                    Call to Order

 

The regular meeting of the Operating Staff Council was called to order at 8:35 a.m. on Thursday, December 9, 2004, by President Donna Smith.

 

II.         Approval of Agenda

 

A motion was made to accept the agenda as presented.  The motion was seconded and passed.   

 

III.        Approval of Minutes of November 11, 2004, Meeting

 

A motion was made to accept the minutes with minor changes. The motion was seconded and passed.

 

IV.        Treasurer’s Report

 

The treasurer’s report was presented for discussion. A motion was made to accept the Treasurer’s report. The motion was seconded and passed.

 

V.         Announcements/Correspondence

 

A.         Michele Crase pointed out that there is currently a class action lawsuit against the state because the state health insurance system does not cover the cost of contraception for women. 

 

B.         Vice President Rachel Turner passed around copies of the OSC photo for each Council member.

 

C.         Linda Jennings reported that there are significant changes because of reorganization in the Student Affairs Division.  There are now five assistant vice-presidents, and several offices have been combined and renamed.  Additional changes in personnel and jurisdictional issues also took place.  [Smith had to leave to attend the BOT meeting so VP Turner took over the meeting.]

 

D.         Theresa Kinniry asked the Council if we should update the bylaws to indicate that retirees can serve on the Outstanding Service Award Selection Committee.  The issue was brought up because there is currently a retired employee serving on the committee and Kinniry wasn’t sure if questions might arise about why he is serving as opposed to a current full-time employee.  Thuestad also pointed out that our SURS representative will soon be retiring and the same question might need to be answered.  After brief discussion it was decided we should table the issue until the next meeting.

 

E.         Turner passed around a copy of an e-mail sent to Smith from a constituent. The e-mail expressed concern about a ticket the person received for not having her permit properly displayed.  Smith forwarded the e-mail to LaRonda Thuestad because she is on the Campus Parking Committee.  Thuestad reported that she informed the person that if she provided proof of the permit and paid the fine within 24 hours, the cost is only $1.  

 

F.         Turner presented the Council with a letter from the Secretarial Advisory Council (SAC) regarding the price of parking permits.  The SAC would like to recommend that the parking permit prices be determined based on salary.  According to the letter, similar programs are already in place at other state universities.  The SAC is seeking the OSC feedback on the issue.  The Council decided to table the discussion until the next meeting.

 

VI.        Committee Reports

           

A.         Personnel/Staff Developments/Benefits. – Did not meet.

 

B.         Elections and Appointments.

 

1.         Turner said there are still openings on both the Presidential Commission on the Status of Women and the Presidential Commission on the Status of Minorities.  She asked the Council to continue to encourage constituents to serve.

 

C.         Public Relations.

 

1.         Nancy Schuneman reported that the letters for nominations for the Outstanding Service Award would go out in January.  The deadline for nominations is February 28, 2005.  Schuneman also reported that the deadline for the Operating Staff Dependent Award is January 14.  An article will appear in the next newsletter.  Work is also continuing on the Council Member Handbook.

           

            D.         Visiting Committees/Guests. – None.

 

E.         EAC – Did not meet.

 

            F.         UAC  - No report.

 

            G.         University Council.

 

1.         Sara Clayton reported that the Board of Trustees officially approved the 1% salary increment for January 2005.  She said there is no capital budget for 2006 yet, but it appears budget concerns may be turning around.  Clayton pointed out that T-shirts have been made for the Bowl game that the Huskies will play in and a charter has been set up that will leave DeKalb on December 29 and return December 31 for those who wish to see the game.  The game will be shown on ESPN 2 at 10 p.m.  Clayton also reported that there is one vacancy on the Board of Trustees and three additional terms will end in January so that there will be four vacancies on a board of seven.  Clayton also provided Council members with an academic calendar through 2015.

 

H.         Special Events – Thuestad reported that Staffest has been changed from August 4 to August 11 because of a request from the Conference Office who needs the room for a conference. 

 

VII.       Old Business – None.

           

VIII.      New Business

 

A.         Clayton said that the University Affairs Committee of the University Council would like the OSC to take a look at the Office of the Ombudsman.  Tim Griffin pointed out that the NIU bylaws require that the office be assessed every four years.  The Council voted to table the discussion until the next meeting.

 

IX.        Adjournment – The meeting adjourned at 9:15 a.m.

 

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

                                   

Theresa Kinniry

OSC Secretary