September 21, 2001 UNT Inhouse publication: Staff Council elects officers

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Staff Council elects officers

The UNT Staff Council elected its new officers during the council's first meeting of the academic year Sept. 5.

Dee Wilson, associate director of the Career Opportunities Center/Student Employment Services, was elected council chair. The new vice chair is Lt. Jim Coffey, UNT Police Department officer. Tammy Coffey, Human Resources representative, was elected secretary and treasurer, and Kathy Fischer, administrative assistant in the University Union, was elected parliamentarian. Key Selby, academic publications director in the University Communications and Marketing office, was elected historian.

Ballot Five other staff members were chosen to sit on the executive committee, including Caro Keffer, Facilities Planning administrative services officer, who will represent staff members in the professional work group; Terry Tehan, administrative assistant in the accounting department of the College of Business Administration, who will represent the office support work group; Ronnie Salsman, assistant grounds supervisor, who will represent those in the skilled crafts group; Terri Miller, accountant in Student Accounting and University Cashiering Services, who will represent staff members in the paraprofessional, technology and police work group; and Parn Bell, food service supervisor in Dining Services, who will represent the service work group.

The council decided to present the completed constitution to UNT staff members before its next meeting. UNT staff members should receive copies of the constitution by the end of September. Copies will include a ballot with which staff members may vote to approve or reject the constitution.

In other business, the council discussed and approved a proposal to become involved in university tailgating activities. The council is planning to have a tent and host tailgating activities prior to the Homecoming football game Oct. 13 and will invite UNT staff members to visit the tent and meet council members and officers.

The council also discussed complaints regarding mandatory use of vacation time for university closings. The UNT Board of Regents approved 13 holidays during the 2001-02 academic year and approved a recommendation to close the university for one additional day on New Year's Eve and two additional days during Spring Break. These closings require faculty and staff members to use accrued vacation days or compensatory leave for those closure days. The Staff Council plans to poll the staff to gain insight into the staff's feelings on the issue.

The council also discussed whether it is possible to change the date on which state employees are paid. The question arose from the fact that most UNT staff members did not receive their September pay check until Sept. 4 because Sept. 1 fell on a Saturday and, though the university was not closed on Labor Day, state law mandates that employees cannot be paid on a state holiday. Council members learned that the requirement to pay employees on the first of the month is also a state mandate and the only way the pay date could be changed would be to bring the issue directly to the state Legislature.

The Staff Council will meet again from 2 to 4 p.m. Nov. 7 in the University Union.