PITTSBURG STATE UNIVERSITY
CLASSIFIED SENATE

Next Meeting…
May 9, 2007
1:30 p.m.
Sunflower Room/Student Center

**J.T. Knoll will be the guest speaker**

AGENDA

1. Review of Meeting Minutes
2. Treasurer’s Report
3. Committee Reports
   1. Position Paper
   2. Election
   3. Legislative
   4. Public Relations
   5. Advocacy
   6. SB 74
   7. Other University Committees
4. Senate President’s Report from Meetings with Dr. Bryant
5. Legislative Update by Dr. Howard Smith
6. Old Business
   1. Banquet planning committee
   2. Position paper – vote needed on what to submit
7. New Business
   1. Election of Senators
8. Good of the Order
9. Adjournment

Please send your agenda items to your Senator! A list of senators can be found on the Classified Senate website at http://www.pittstate.edu/csen/senators.html.

All Classified Senate meetings are open to any interested PSU employee. You do NOT have to be a Senator to attend.

Kansas Representative Julie Menghini addressed the senate prior to the meeting. She outlined the House and Senate’s state employee pay proposals, what bill passed and that it’s awaiting the governor’s signature.

SB21 expands what we put on as an amendment last year to allow groups within the university to go unclassified with a majority voting to do so. The bill is not moving forward at this time. No universities have submitted their leave requests and Rep. Menghini said that they had asked for clarification from the Kansas Board of Regents. A letter from the Kansas Joint Council of Classified Senates to Governor Sebelius requesting the creation of the state employee pay philosophy task force and the state employee compensation oversight commission was distributed. Appointments to these committees should be made in May.

On the topic of deferred maintenance, since the gaming legislation passed there is a trailer bill coming that is intended to include 25% of the gaming proceeds to go to the Regents deferred maintenance with another 25% going to KPERS and another 25% to property tax reduction.
When asked about PSU’s positioning, Rep. Menghini stated that Regent classified employees are looking more unified by working together in a joint effort then we would separately.

Rep. Menghini spoke about the recent gaming legislation. Camptown will get a minimum of 600 slots. A destination casino/lottery gaming facility will be placed in Cherokee or Crawford counties. The voters of both counties will have to vote on the issue and then other factors (such as developer investments) will play a hand in the decision.

President Kathi Lunday called the April 11, 2007 meeting of the Pittsburg State University Classified Senate to order in the Governors Room of the Overman Student Center.

Senators Present: Sue Ann Barnes, John Bartels, Kathy Benard, Dee Buffalo, David Hartman, Pam Henderson, Dave Hornback, Tim James, Kathi Lunday, Leigh Ann Martin, Tracey Mussa, Wendy Peterson, Joyce Row, Treva Sherman, Marty White, Heather Winzer, Mary Wolfe, Stacy Wolownik, Sondra Wood

Senators Excused: Kathy Neely, Trish Peak

Senators Absent: None

Non-Senators Present: Barbara Barto, Kelly Borden, David Castagno, Jon Clarkson, Phillip Deierling, Jerry Duvall, Gary Fox, Marvin Krantz, Max Phipps, Robert Scott, Joe Sullivan, Don Tarter, Junior Turner

Minutes: Under the legislative committee report, the first part of the proposed pay plan should have been 2% base pay increase instead of 1%. Under the advocacy committee report, it should have read Student Government is talking about instead of taking about. Motion was made, seconded and passed to accept the minutes as corrected for the March meeting.

Treasurer’s report: March budget account had a beginning balance of $1311.46, with expenses of $290.18 for Day on the Hill for an ending balance of $1021.28. Donation account had a beginning and ending balance of $30.

Position Paper: Mary Wolfe reported the committee met last week and came up with five topics to consider for next year’s paper. The topics were: 1) fund a general increase for all employees on an annual basis, 2) COLA – equal amount given to all employees. 1.5% times the average state salary, 3) pay 50% of the insurance premium for employees retiring at 60 years or older, until the retiree is eligible for Medicare, 4) increase for the retirement multiplier from 1.75 to 2 times the years of service, and 5) allow holiday and leave time to be deemed as hours worked when figuring hours for overtime. These topics will be discussed for inclusion into the paper at the May meeting.

Election Committee: Election of officers for the upcoming year will take place at the May meeting. Pam Henderson contacted all the senators whose term was expiring at the end of June and were eligible for re-election to see if they would be willing to serve another term. A notice will be sent out to the areas that have vacancies to seek interested volunteers before next month.

Legislative Committee: Treva Sherman thanked Representative Julie Menghini for a good legislative update. She stated Senator Jim Barone was unable to attend today’s meeting but would be interested in speaking on the legislative session at the May meeting. It was agreed to have him attend. A handout was distributed reviewing the FY 2008 state employee pay plan as it stands now (not a final deal). The proposed pay plan includes the following for classified employees: 1) 2% base increase, 2) 5% targeted base increase, 3) one-time bonus payment of $860, 4) increase longevity bonus payment $10 a year (from $40 a year to $50 a year of service), 5) creation of a state employee pay philosophy task force and 6) creation of a state employee compensation oversight commission. A letter from the Kansas Joint Council of Classified Senates to Governor Sebelius requesting the creation of the state employee pay philosophy task force and the state employee compensation oversight commission was distributed. The KPERS vesting bill is still in committee.

Public Relations: No report.

Advocacy Committee: No report.

Welcoming Committee: No report.

Senate Bill 74 Research Committee: No report.

Other University Committees:
1) Recycling – Stacy Wolownik reported for Trish Peak that the committee met on March 30th. Notes from the meeting were distributed. If you have questions or concerns on the recycling program, contact Trish Peak or Steve Erwin.
2) Student Recreational Center Director – Heather Winzer reported that the director search committee is reviewing candidates and will be interviewing later in April. The center is set to open in August 2008.
3) Equal Opportunity Director – Kathi Lunday is serving as our representative on the search committee, and they are accepting applications for the position.
4) Service Recognition Ceremony – Treva Sherman is chairing the committee this year. The ceremony will be on May 8th at 3:00 p.m.

Senate President’s Report from Meetings with Dr. Bryant: No report.

Legislative Update: Dr. Smith said the legislative session is not over yet. There are items that still need to be passed, and we need to watch for trailer bills that could be added.

Old Business: The Kansas Joint Council of Classified Senates will meet on June 18th at Kansas State University to discuss next year’s position paper. Those volunteering to attend as PSU representatives are: John Bartels, David Hartman and Kathi Lunday. It was suggested that maybe a group could do an IP hookup and listen in from campus. Kathi will check into the possibility.

New Business: President Lunday asked for volunteers to form a committee to plan the annual banquet. The committee will consist of the following: Tracey Mussa, Stacy Wolownik and John Bartels.

Good of the Order: Kathi Lunday congratulated Pam Henderson on her recent election to the Pittsburg City Commission and Treva Sherman on being a star and making the newspaper.

Kathi Lunday will contact J.T. Knoll to see if he can speak at the banquet in June.

Motion to adjourn was made, seconded and passed.

Respectfully submitted,

Pam Henderson
Recording Secretary