Business Meeting
I. General
A. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order by Willie Minor at 2:15 p.m.
Members Present: Jeff Andelora, Freddie Anttila, Judy Boschult, Tom Butler, Laura Cannon, Joanna Chamberlain, Bob Galloway, Gay Garesche, Donna Gaudet, Rosemary Kesler, Willie Minor, John Nelson, Joe Ortiz, Jim Reed, Mark Richard, Dennis Shaw, Gail Shay, Denny Sheehan, Scott Silberman, Sandra Stuebner, Larry Williams, Cori Wright.
Minutes were taken by Carrie Taylor.
B. Approval of Agenda
The agenda was approved as written.
C. Approval of the October 22, 1999 Minutes
The minutes were approved as written.
D. Approval of the October 26, 1999 Minutes
Gay Garesche asked for changes in the Meet and Confer, EBAC and FAC Committee Reports sections. The minutes were approved as amended.
E. October 1999 and Year-To-Date Treasurer's Reports
Council received copies of the October 1999 and Year-To-Date Treasurer's reports. Mark Richard asked if there were any questions about the reports. Freddie Anttila asked for clarification of the Taxes category in the reports. Council was informed that the $200 reported was for the tax return preparation fee. Mark Richard stated that the category name would be changed to Tax Preparation Fees.
F. Committee Reports
1. EBAC
Rosemary Kesler reported that EBAC has looked at health benefits for next year. The big issue is that the District needs to come up with two million dollars for the health benefits. Rosemary Kesler stated that EBAC has asked the Governing Board to provide one third of the money. Then, one third of the two million dollars would have to come from the employees, and the remaining one third would be taken from the Cigna surplus fund.
Rosemary Kesler informed Council that EBAC had kept the benefits for OYOs, however, the benefits for families of OYOs were eliminated. OYOs can purchase benefits for their families if they want to do so. Rosemary Kesler asked for suggestions from Council on how to raise the two million dollars needed for the health benefits plan. She discussed what may happen in the future in health plans if costs continue to rise at the current pace.
Rosemary Kesler informed Council that EBAC had only one month to come up with the money and choose a health plan. She was asked why the time frame was so short. Rosemary Kesler explained that EBAC needed to send forward its recommendation in December so that the District could input the information into the computer and get the information ready for Open Enrollment which will occur next April. She stated that there were only two vendors remaining from which EBAC has to choose. Council discussed the possibility of joining with another group of employees outside of MCCCD to lower the cost. It was mentioned that in the State of Washington, all state employees are under one group health plan. A suggestion was made for Rosemary Kesler to ask EBAC to look at joining with other groups in the future.
2. Professional Growth
Reinhold Kiermayr stated that the Professional Growth Committee had a request for Council. He reminded Council that the Professional Growth Committee does not meet during the summer. This may cause a problem for a faculty member who learns of a summer project opportunity too late to get the usual preapproval from the Professional Growth Committee which is required by the Professional Growth Guidelines. Reinhold Kiermayr stated that there was an emergency provision in the Guidelines that would allow the Deans of Instruction to act and approve the project opportunity in lieu of the Professional Growth Committee. The Professional Growth Committee's request to Council is for Council to make this emergency provision in the Professional Growth Guidelines known to the Deans of Instruction. The provision is in Section B.4.4. of the Guidelines. Reinhold Kiermayr was asked how the Deans would know how much funding was available. Reinhold Kiermayr replied that how much funding was available does not matter, because the faculty member would receive horizontal movement on the salary schedule.
Also, Reinhold Kiermayr asked again for reassigned time for all of the Professional Growth Representatives. One Council member stated that when he asked for reassigned time for the Professional Growth representatives at his college, the College President refused his request. It was stated that Gateway, Phoenix and Estrella Mountain currently do not give reassigned time to their Professional Growth representatives.
II. Old Business
A. EBAC Action Item
Willie Minor informed Council that they had a copy of the fourth draft of the EBAC Action Item in their Council folders. Willie Minor stated that he had met with some of the EBAC representatives on Monday, November 8, 1999, to discuss the EBAC proposal. He said that all employee groups agree that the EBAC Action Item should not go forward. Willie Minor reminded Council of the A1 in which Dr. Waechter informed all of the format for the public hearing at 5:30 p.m. Willie Minor stated that he would address the Governing Board at the public hearing and tell them that faculty do not support the proposal. He said that he knew of two other faculty members who would be speaking as well.
Council discussed the A1 from Dr. Waechter. Willie Minor stated that anyone could speak at the public hearing regarding the EBAC Action Item. Council discussed the Council's position that the EBAC Action Item should disappear forever. Rosemary Kesler stated that the proposal may come back to EBAC because Dr. Waechter wants something in writing regarding the function and charge of EBAC. It was stated that if Dr. Waechter wants something similar to the EBAC Action Item that EBAC can refuse his request.
Council discussed the fourth draft of the EBAC Action Item. Rosemary Kesler was asked if there was a significant change from the third draft. Rosemary Kesler stated that the only change was that the CEC was taken out of the proposed policy-making procedure since they are an employee group. It was noted that the proposal was put in the passive voice unlike the first draft of the proposal. Rosemary Kesler says that the fourth draft of the EBAC Action Item still means the same thing as the first draft.
Willie Minor stated that, though EBAC did not support the proposal, Dr. Waechter informed EBAC that he would send the proposal to the Governing Board for action. Gay Garesche stated that in the by-laws of EBAC, EBAC is intended to make votes by consensus. If consensus is not reached, a decision can be made by agreement of two-thirds of the voting membership. Thus, EBAC can obstruct something that its membership does not want. Rosemary Kesler reminded Council that EBAC does not support the proposal to make EBAC a policy-making group.
Rosemary Kesler was asked if there was any change in the membership or attitude of EBAC since the EBAC Action Item issue arose. Rosemary Kesler said that the representatives are paying more attention since Willie Minor came to a meeting a few weeks ago.
III. Information
A. Meet and Confer Stipend
This item was referred by Willie Minor. There was no recommended action.
Discussion Points:
Council recommended that the Meet and Confer Team members receive three hours stipend.
B. Other
Common Pages
Willie Minor stated that he received an A1 about the next review of the Common Pages. He informed Council that the Common Pages Committee will review the "Y" grade issue again. Willie Minor stated that he had informed Mike Rooney that Council was concerned about the process used last Spring to make changes in the Common Pages. Willie Minor said that Council needs to write a justification to change the "Y" grade policy back so it is included in the GPA. Joe Ortiz stated that Council should not have to defend changing the "Y" grade back so it will be included again in the GPA, and instead, the Common Pages Committee should have submitted a recommendation to Council for changing the "Y" grade policy in the first place. It was stated that even the Deans of Instruction did not vote to change the "Y" grade and thus the proper procedures were not followed. Joanna Chamberlain stated that there were other changes in the Common Pages that concern faculty such as the absence policies. Joanna Chamberlain asked that faculty be given more time to review the Common Pages and to make recommendations for any changes to the Common Pages. Willie Minor stated that he would send Council's comments and the request for more time for faculty to make recommendations to the Common Pages Committee.
Cori Wright suggested that Council form a subcommittee to work with Marie Fenske, Council's representative on the Common Pages Committee. Willie Minor asked Council for volunteers. Joanna Chamberlain and Sandra Stuebner volunteered for the subcommittee. Willie Minor was asked to sit on the Common Pages Committee with Marie Fenske, and he agreed to serve as Council's representative.
IV. Meet and Confer Workstudy Session
Janice Comer introduced the Meet and Confer Team to Council. She informed Council that they had packets of this year's new proposals and last year's unsuccessful proposals in their Council folders. Council divided into small discussion groups to discuss the proposals. Each group then summarized their thoughts on the proposals for the entire Council.
Council held the discussion of unnamed faculty who were grieving their placement on the salary scale, and that they had requested legal advice from the association attorney. However, Council had concluded that their grievance was not likely to be resolved to their favor since they had not filed within a year's date of hire.
V. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 5:10 p.m.
* * Next meeting, November 23, 1999, will be a Business Meeting * *