Present: Connie Charlton, Karen Killmaster, Valencia Garrett,
Rita Nuxoll, Kenny Wiscombe, Bryan Chesbro, Tracey Arnold, Julie Clarkson,
Linda Roper, Bonnie Killian, Lisa
Clements, Reida Bow, Rex Hadley, Connie Charlton, Guen Johnson, Nancy Rountree,
Carol Carroll, Mike Dome.
Guests: Jane Buser, BSU HR director; Holly Borden,
Affirmative Action Director; Jeff Olson, Service Employees International Union
(SEIU).
1. WELCOME NEW MEMBERS, GUESTS
President Charlton welcomed
everyone back and introduced the new members and guests.
2. NEW AFFIRMATIVE ACTION DIRECTOR
Jane Buser introduced Holly
Borden, the new Affirmative Action Director.
Borden stated her three main focus areas for now are: 1) affirmative action plan for diversifying
the workforce; 2) prevention training in the areas of harassment and
discrimination; and 3) complaints.
3. PROPOSED CLASSIFIED RULE CHANGES
Buser stated that Debi Alvord and Viola Boman
had been attending DHR meetings concerning rule changes affecting classified
staff. Dr. Kustra was very interested in the rule changes, and was going to
review them with Ann Heilman (director of State HR) soon. There may be more
opportunity for input. Buser will keep Charlton informed of any developments.
Some items that are being scrutinized by DHR due to our comments: the Shared Leave Rule and the Holiday Pay
Rule. Ms. Buser mentioned that Salary Surveys
are supposed to be performed per Idaho Code in the summer with reports to the
Governor by October 1. This is not happening, and we cannot see how far behind
we at BSU are in salaries compared to other employers. Buser stated the PERC
(Public Employees Retirement Committee) meets in the summer to discuss issues
pertaining to retirees (e.g., the Rule of 85;
retiree health insurance). It was stated that some jobs on campus (e.g.,
grounds) are skilled positions outside of BSU, paying a good wage, but on
campus, such jobs start at $7.00 per hour, making turnover inevitable. Buser
stated that there were 84 employees on campus making less than $8.00 per hour.
Legislators should hear from their constituents about such issues, or nothing
will change.
4. STATE EMPLOYEES ISSUES AND UPDATES
Jeff Olson thanked everyone
who helped get the health insurance bid process open. He also stated that DHR
was reticent to let classified employees know about the proposed changes. A
second draft is coming out, and SEIU will formulate a response. A forum for
public comment will take place sometime late September or early October. Olson
stated there are panels that DHR creates to look at issues that we can be a
part of. A member asked him where our
longevity money went, and Olson stated it went into the permanent $100 million
tax cut, which has to be found each and every year. The tax cut is being paid
for in part also by cutting health benefits, pensions, and through layoffs.
5. REGULAR MEETING TIMES
ACE board meetings will be
held the 2nd Thursday of every month at 10:00 a.m. in room B117. All classified
staff are welcome to attend.
6. COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS
The following ACE board
members volunteered for these committees:
ACE committee assignments for 2003-2004.
Affirmative
Action: Rex Hadley
Bicycle
Committee: Connie Charlton
Bookstore
Advisory: Ann Winslow
Emeritus: Mike Dome, Ann
Winslow
Executive
Committee: Kenny Wiscombe
Food
Service Committee: Gary Myers
General Meeting & Lunch: Valencia Garrett, Mike Dome, Karen Killmaster
Homecoming Advisory: Rita Nuxoll
Human Resources Advisory: Reida Bow
Legislative Issues: Senate
Newsletter: Tabled
Nominations: Rita Nuxoll, Mike Dome,
Lisa Clements
Open
House: Tabled
Outstanding
Employee: Nancy Rountree, Carol
Carroll
Paint the Town: Kenny
Wiscombe, Bonnie Killian
Parking: Reida Bow
Rake Up Boise: Rex Hadley, Karen
Killmaster, Bonnie Killian
Risk
Management: Guen Johnson
Web
Page: Rita
Nuxoll
Wellness
Center: Lisa Clements
Women’s Ctr. Advisory: Mary Hepworth-Carter
7. OLD BUSINESS
Emeritus Vote: Three emeritus applications for retired classified staff were circulated. It was MSC by Wiscombe/Clements to approve all applications.
8. NEW BUSINESS
Dr. Kustra will be invited to
a future meeting. Date will be September 9, 2003.
9. OTHER
Discussion about a chat room
or ‘list serve’ for classified staff to air concerns took place. Tabled for a
future meeting.