PEF Region 8 Information Technology Minutes

PEF Region 8 Information Technology Committee Meeting

Minutes

July 23, 2007

Action Items carried over from previous meetings:

Finalizing Subcommittees- Identified as:
Audit of promotions and new hires
Website maintenance
Training
Contracting Out

Get a synopsis of each NYS Forum committee to present to the Region 8 IT committee members ( NYSFIRM.ORG) Wide-spread promotion of the IT Committee- Web site, Communicator, Committee membership, Distribution of flyers at other Region 8 meetings Continue to explore was to improve communication with PEF members (Communicator, Survey Monkey) Speak with the Nurses' committee to see about modeling their mobilization.

Action Points from July 23, 2007 meeting :

Investigate 'boiler plate' standard contract language for the transfer of knowledge Not a stated %. Check with Tom Certrino- get a copy of a consulting contract; see if he can come to a future meeting Mike is going to check and see how many delegates to the convention are in IT titles See if the new speaker (Melody Mayberry Steward??) can attend a meeting in the fall $$$ for training Check out the dead line for reserving a 'vendor' table at convention.

The next meeting will be - Monday, August 27, 2007.

Go-Round- Introductions

Minutes - (minutes were accepted)

Mario Chiarello asked the new members what they would like from the IT Committee:

Carol Shortsleeve stated she disliked contracting out.

Rick Selke stated he had seen the IT flyer and heard the buzz at his work site and wanted to see what the committee was about

Shawn Perry stated he was new to state employment and wanted to check the IT Committee out.

Jim Nail also stated he saw a flyer and wanted to check out what was going on.

Goals : Mario gave us an update- and felt that we are making progress. He told the new members that the committee would like to have a say at the IT table, setting direction and making decisions. He mentioned it was a unique stance for a union in the labor/ management arena. Al Yasus mentioned the new CIO chair who had been with OFT and wondered about inviting her to speak at a Region 8 meeting IT or wider range.

Rich Bojman thought we should start with one agency; asking their IT director to attend a meeting and explain that agency's need for consultants. Mike blue thought that this approach would be very limiting

Mario mentioned the Government Technology Conference (GTC) being held on Friday, September 23 rd and that we can reach out individually and as a committee through this venue. We need to work with the PEF officers (Arlea Igoe, Lou Matrazzo ), the statewide IT committee (Jim Blake, Mario) and regional rep (Tom Comanzo) to present a unified message when speaking of the IT direction. It was asked how many delegates to the PEF Convention are in IT titles and Mike stated he would find out. Rich mentioned we should have flyers prepared to hand out to announce the September 24 th meeting.

Mario mentioned that that the Matrix committee was going to be handing out flyers at the GTC (Greg Benson) and wondered if the Region 8 IT committee wanted to hand out flyers also..

Jim Blake: the data center move- The senate bill was specific about the $$ and the site (Utica ) while in the assembly neither were spelled out (specified)

Another goal is to have training be more productive, timelier and more useful. Jim Nail spoke about the upgrading of antiquated IT systems (client server vs. main frame) and training in using the actual upgrade. This brought up the question if current jobs were becoming obsolete.

Rich asked what we think should be happening within the IT community. It was noted that with just a handful on the region 8 committee, we do not represent the state's IT personnel. Mario mentioned that at the recent NYS Forum there were 100 attendees of which 50 volunteered to serve on committees. It was noted that they do not need to communicate with the IT committee and they are representing PS&T and not PEF. As Bill Wurster mentioned, some of the PS&T IT titles are the 'management' side, not the 'labor' side, which could be giving a mixed message.

Denis Mault- Website- bogged down so mike will look into it. Tom Comanzo will try to get us some help. [ www.PEF.org] Setting up a blog was mentioned (www.blogspot.com). However, there was concern about feedback and possible misuse. Also, anything that goes out in PEF's name must be formalized. Jim lyons mentioned setting up 2 sites à Yahoo. [ www.PEF8.org] is inhouse- MIS could assist. George Matas asked what stage the website was at and Rich replied that the subcommittee (Mike Tom and himself) were planning to meet in two weeks time. Mike stated that he thought with a Blogspot the information is so accessible that it could be used for disciplinary purposes within the job. Rich mentioned that in regards to communications anything put out in PEF's name has to go through PEf via a moderated site. The question was asked- why are we losing people. We have had scores of individuals attend the meeting in the past few months but there is only a handful of regulars. One of the answers is that each meeting we spend the first hour rehashing the same territory.

Mike commented that this isn't unique to the IT committee- that it happens with any new committee. Bob Burns mentioned that there needs to be consistency in the meeting time and place. It was acknowledged that as we were getting set up we had to schedule the meeting in existing openings but we are now on a schedule of meeting at PEF headquarters on the fourth Monday of the month.

Contract Out was discussed. Al mentioned there were job opportunities at Law. The transfer of knowledge was mentioned training inhouse via consultants vs. outside. 'Proprietary'. Inspector General (AG Cuomo) Operation Sunlight.

Convention- we should make ourselves visible even if we don't have a room. The question was raised about securing a vendor table (deadline?). Would it be manned or would information just be placed for the taking? Jim volunteered to create a flyer to be included in the Intro packet that is handed at to each attendee. Maybe they could be distributed at the Region 8 delegates' dinner, as well.

Division Go around:

Jim Nail: HESC- not enough people are involved, out feet are not firmly on the ground.

Rich Bojman OMR (OD Heck) opening windows

Mariruth Brown OMH- would like to see more sharing of opportunities- such as Al mentioned at Law at the beginning of the meeting.

George Mata TAX Section 20 exclusion- not able to use so having to come back as a consultant.

Jim Lyons DOCS- telecommunications- 'distance' working- Correctional facilities- Clinton, Newburg, Kingston- seen as a matter of job responsibilities secure connections. Would like to see this as part of the Statewide contract negotiations. Draft (OSC) to Jim.

Carol Shortsleeves OCFS mentioned she would like to see a transfer of skills to state employees. Rich mentioned it was in the contract so it is a matter of enforcement.

Al Yasus LAW mentioned a Times Union article in the Business section about a Democrat proposal similar to manufacturing workers outsourcing. He also stated that since we have been organized for several months we should consider having a single chairperson, rather than co-chairs.

Meeting adjourned until August 27th.

REGION 8 IT COMMITTEE 7-23-07 ATTENDANCE

Al Yasus, Bob Burns, Carol Shortsleeve, David Kirmayer, George Mata, Jim Lyons, Jim Nail, Ken Ferro, Mario Chiarello, Mariruth Brown, Michael Blue, Rich Bojman, Rich Selke, Shawn Perry, Tim Shannon, Tom Comanzo, William Wurster