November 16, 2001 UNT Inhouse publication: Staff approves Staff Council constitution

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Staff approves Staff Council constitution

UNT staff members approved the Staff Council constitution last month by a margin of almost 20 to 1, as reported at the Staff Council's regular meeting Nov. 7.

Staff Council President Dee Wilson told council members that 397 staff members cast their ballots and, of those, 20 voted against the constitution. The council represents more than 1,900 retirement-eligible UNT staff members.

Council members also heard a presentation made by Jim Webb, accountant for payroll, regarding state codes regulating compensation to state employees. Webb's presentation was in response to a staff member's comments and questions regarding the fact that UNT employees did not receive September paychecks until Sept. 4 this year. The state code that addresses the state employee payday can be viewed at www.capitol.state.tx.us/statutes/go/go065900.html#go038.659.083.

Webb explained that salaries may not be paid prior to the first working day of the month following a payroll period. He also said employees who are paid twice a month are to be paid on the first working day of the month following the payroll period that covers the last half of the preceding month and on the 15th day of the month or the first working day after the 15th for the period that covers the first half of the month. Webb explained that, according to the state code, "working day" means a day other than Saturday, Sunday or a national holiday. He said a day does not cease to be a national holiday because a state agency maintains a minimum working staff on the holiday. So, even though Labor Day, Sept. 3, was a national holiday and most UNT staff members were working that day, the state prohibited state employees from being paid that day.

In other business, the council heard reports from Rick Merrill, who co-chairs a committee examining a proposal to create designated smoking areas outside UNT buildings, and Bob Killam, the Staff Council representative on UNT's new grounds beautification committee.

Merrill said the committee completed a report regarding the issue that had been presented to the UNT administration for consideration. He said the report included feedback from building representatives of 37 buildings where the need for designated smoking areas appeared to be an issue. The report also included recommendations regarding some possible costs involved in creating visually appealing smoking areas — complete with outdoor furniture, signage and ash urns — and suggestions for a policy regarding smoking areas.

Killam reported that the beautification committee, made up of seven student representatives, one faculty representative and himself as the staff representative, chose a name for the group — the Keep UNT Beautiful committee — and a motto, "UNT – clean and green." He said the committee has organized an Adopt a Spot program, which will allow student, staff and faculty organizations to adopt areas on campus that include two or three buildings and then be responsible for keeping those areas litter free. He said that at the committee's next meeting, representatives plan to finalize the locations for the spots and determine how to promote the program and how groups can apply to adopt the spots. He also reported that at one of the committee's first meetings, UNT Police Chief Richard Deter pledged 25 cents of every fine collected for a UNT violation would go into a fund to provide supplies for the Adopt a Spot program. He said the program is slated to kick off in January.

The Staff Council will meet again from 2 to 4 p.m. Jan. 9 in the University Union.