Williams College Office of Human Resources > Staff Advisory Council

Staff Council Meeting Minutes

May 20, 2009, 11 a.m.-12 p.m., Paresky 220

In attendance: Erwin Bernhart, Colleen Bethoney, David J. Boyer, Lisa Briggs, Gail Burda, Gisela Demant, Madeleine DeMarsico, Jenny Dewar, Maggie Driscoll, Danielle Gonzalez, ex officio, Mark Kimball, Kristan Renish, Lynn Taft, Martha Tetrault, ex officio, Teresa Waryjasz

Absent: Dawn Dellea

Agenda

1. Telecommuting policy - finalize before president staff
2. Solicitations
3. Meeting in the summer

Business

• Meeting in the summer: Staff issues do not stop in the summer time. Faculty and staff are here in the summer. It was decided Staff Council will continue to meet. Meetings will be scheduled for June, July, and August.

• Colleen and Gail end their terms in September 2009. The Council will need to review nominations in the fall.

• Retirement Plan and Governance Policy: There are annual meetings with TIAA CREF associates and members of HR, the Investment office and Steve Klass to review both the college's investment options through TIAA-CREF and the plan overall.

• Recognition Policy: There should be consistency in what departments do across the campus as far as recognizing retirements, departures, etc. IRS guidelines require expensive gifts to be recorded as taxable. There is a policy being developed and when it is approved, Martha will give a copy to the Staff Council to view. Policy to be submitted to President's staff in June.

• Telecommuting Policy: It is a benefit to the employee and not necessarily a benefit to the institution. The Council is still in support of submitting the draft of the Telecommuting Policy as written.

• Solicitation Policy: Girl Scout cookies, flowers, houses for sale? Where does the College stand on the issue of handouts and solicitation? For handouts of a personal nature, requestors are billed. Office Services has been doing this kind of printing for years. The currier is also paid extra for delivery of these items - however, departments are left to distribute them to the individuals in the department. The issue was discussed and members felt a non-solicitation policy should be reviewed and discussed further.

• End of Year Picnic: Members felt it was nice however the staff in Dining Services were not able to participate in event. They worked it.

• Dining Personnel update: More email accounts are being established. They are hoping that everyone in Dining Services will have their email accounts activated online soon.

• Flu precautions: Kudos to dining and facilities for their work in administering the precautions. It was noted that the College does have a pandemic plan in place.

• HR Newsletter: The newly designed e-newsletter is almost in place.

Next meeting

Date & Location:

• Wednesday, June 24, 2009, – Paresky, Room 220

Agenda:

• New items to be discussed should be sent to Martha.

Reported by L. Taft