Minutes of the Staff Association Meeting

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Present:Jessica Abbott,Lisa Belanger, Tina Berrien,Samantha Cahill,Nancy Clubb, Jen Conley,Carol Courtney, Barbara Dessureau, Carla Fuller, Donna Galin, Lynn Galvin, DonnaHaghighat, Kathleen Hayden, Cheryl MacMath, Maria Marques,Louise Melanson, Jim Mello, Cindy Oppenheimer, Lisa Parker, Allison Rusczyk, Jennifer Sanborn,Karen Schermerhorn, Dianne Sillman, Kathe Snow, Connie Yoczik

ChairJim Mellocalled to order the March 10, 2010, meeting of the Staff Association at 1:00p.m.

  1. Acceptance of Minutes
  2. Jim Mello made a motion to accept the January 13, 2010 minutes. Motion seconded. MOTION PASSED.
  3. Introductions Jim Mello
  4. Jim introduced Samantha Cahill as the new Recording Secretary of the Staff Association’s Executive Board.
  5. Jim introduced Cheryl MacMath as the new Treasurerof the Staff Association’s Executive Board.
  6. Jim introduced new Staff Association Community Representatives Jessica Abbott and Cynthia Marks.
  1. Collaboration with HRD OfficeLisa Belanger
  • Introduction of HRD Staff
  • Lisa Belanger, Executive Director
  • Tina Berrien, Human Resources Specialist
  • Jen Conley, Manager
  • Jamie Harlow, Assistant Director
  • Kathe Snow, Senior Human Resources Specialist
  • HRD is in the midst of restructuring staff and their roles. They currently have a Human Resources Specialist position vacancy posted.
  • Staff members may not have the same HRD staff as was previously their designated staff member.
  • Check online to make sure who your designated HRD staff member is.
  • Staff members need to let HRD know if they are unable to find items they are looking for on the website.
  • HRD recognizes that there is a lack of development/training and are trying to do more to address this issue.
  • There is some training that is currently being arranged from TIAA-CREF and the Lexington Group. Lisa Belanger distributed a brief survey to help guide the topics covered in these sessions.
  • How to Fill Out Performance Reviews
  • There are no merit-based raises this year.
  • There is currently no supervisory training series planned for this spring because of staffing.
  • A performance appraisal guide is available online for supervisors.
  • The performance review is supposed to facilitate dialogue between the supervisors and their staff.
  • Staff members should make both positive and negative comments on their reviews.
  • Supervisors are supposed to use the merit pool to recognize good performance amongst their staff.
  • Staff members should look over their health care/insurance benefits during each open enrollment period.
  • Staff members suggested that there be a class on how to understand health insurance benefits.
  • Internal Hiring Practices
  • Staff members suggested that HRD let prospective employees know when a position has been filled.
  • Managers/Supervisors have hiring guides that dictate the University’s practices for hiring employees.
  • HRD gives all applications that meet the minimum education requirements to hiring managers.
  • Hiring managers are responsible for calling HRD to set up interviews with prospective employees.
  1. Committee Reports
  2. Benefits Task Force Lynn Galvin
  3. An employee benefits survey is being developed.
  4. Tier structure is being revisited next summer.
  5. Same sex partner benefits will be revisited as the law has changed.
  6. Reviewing the structure and effectiveness of the Benefits Task Force.
  1. Old/New Business Jim Mello
  • Lynn Galvin thanked all those who participated in the Daffodil Days that benefited the American Cancer Society.

The meeting was adjourned at 2:15 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

Samantha A. Cahill

Recording Secretary

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