MSU-Bozeman Classified Employees Personnel Advisory Committee Minutes

October 14, 1998

• Present:   Diane Allen, Jill Allison, Susan Alt, Carol Bittinger, Donna Gollehon, Kathy Griffith, Darcy Halpin, Lloyd Hansen, Connie Hupka, Roberta Kerr, Jenny Knickerbocker, Cecelia Mann, Helen McFaul,and Bluette Phillips.
  

• Absent:   Pete Boharski, Patty Gunderson, Dianne Kramarich, Sharon McIlhatan, Joe Miller, Larry Miller, Nancy Topel, Sharon Townsend
  

I.  Old Business

• We began with a short discussion on medical insurance. New consultants, Buck Consultants, are presently looking at our current plan. The question asked was who is the true-true spokesperson for what we need to know in relation to possibly going under the state plan. Buck says it would cost 7 million to go under the state plan and would cost approximately 8% more for each employee. Lloyd's point was well taken in that we need to be able to find out the right answers to all our questions. As things are now we keep hearing different stories from different people and we do not know what the REAL answers are. Carol B. said she would talk with Jerry Coffey (Benefits Committe Chair) about having someone come and meet with us.
  

• Cecilia Vaniman and Jerry Bancroft attended to give us an update on the University Facilities Planning Board. There is a preliminary report of the MSU Campus Design Guidelines available through Sheron in the Controllers Office. She only has one copy. The Board is very interested in feedback from as many people as possible. If you can look at the report and then make pencil comments on the report itself or email crv@facilities.montana.edu with comments by Thanksgiving. There is also a website under facilities; planning for guidelines. The physical aspect of a university is the number one reason a university is chosen. This has been proven through marketing research. The design guidelines call for open space to be preserved, view corridors kept, and the possibility of a circular bike route around campus.
  

• To view our minutes you go to the University Governance web page: www.montana.edu/msuinfo/gov/ugc/
  Scroll down to the bottom of the page for CEPAC information.
  

II.  Standing Committe Reports

• Affirmative Action - Darcy Halpin: No report.
  
• Benefits Committee - Pete Boharski, Patty Gunderson, Joe Miller: No report.
  
• Employee Wellness - Diane Allen: Wellness Fair next week.
  
• Long Range Planning Committee - Cec Mann: John Rath is the new Chair. Kathy Griffith will take over from Cec Mann.
  
• President's Committee on Strategic Planning - Roz Wortman: The first meeting of the SPBC was held on Oct 7. Joe Chapman is chairman of this committee and as such explain to us just what we are all about and what we will do which is assess all aspects of the University budget. We are charged by the President to look at all aspects of university funding and see how equitably we are distributing funds. We have just began to look at the academic and instuctional portion of the budget and the long term goals. This first meeting was only one hour so not much was done other than go over the goals of the committe and to begin looking at each college budget. I will keep you informed of that progress. In the meatime I need to have imput from CEPAC as to what you expect, things that you think are of importance and the long range goals of CEPAC and also of each of the members. I want questions, suggestions and ideas from each CEPAC member. I do not want any whining and complaining about work loads, pay or anything of the like. I want good solid ideas about how to solve the problems of classified empoyees at MSU. I need to have ideas and solutions to present to the committee when our turn comes up. This is going to be a long process and I am sure quite frustrating at times. I will keep you informed as to our progress. We meet every other Monday from 2:00 to 4:00 PM. and I will give you a report for each of your monthly meetings.
  
• Provost's Calendar Committee - Dianne Allen: No report. Helen McFaul will take over from Diane Allen.
  
• Traffic Appeals - Jill Allison: Committee meets every Tues. at 10 a.m. in Sub. There are usually 2 students and 304 faculty/staff present. Bluette Phillips will take over half-time with Jill Allison as her duties are heavier and she is having trouble attending each meeting.
  
• University Planning Board - Sheron McIlhattan: Presented opening by Cecelia & Jerry. Someone has also donated the money to pay for an addition to the Tennis Bubble. It will be a brick building that will house offices for for coaches, showers and a lockeroom including bathrooms! There is also a sub-committee for naming buildings. The weather station was approved to be named the Caprio Building. Guidelines for making these decisions are in the process of further development.
  

III.  New Business

• It was suggested that in the future if large amount of parking spaces are going to be blocked off for a special event that employees be notified at least a day in advance so they can rearrange their parking. This is especially important with the disruption of parking with construction.
  

• Cathy Conover is our Legislative Liaison and will be at our November meeting.
  

• Next CEPAC meeting is November 18 in the President's Conference Room in Montana Hall.
  

Submitted by Bluette Phillips, Secretary.