REGION 8 STEWARDS MEETING
Minutes of November 17, 2009
Bill Wurster called the meeting to
order at 6:00 PM. Bill asked we change
the order of the agenda to allow our guest speaker to go first. A motion by M. Chiarello was made to accept
the agenda with the change. This was
seconded and carried. J. Carroll made a motion to accept the minutes of the October
8 28, 2009 meeting. The motion was seconded & carried.
Joint Committee on
Health Benefits-
L. Simpkins & T. Fryer- She has been working in this area for 20
years. She stressed when members have a
problem, they should first contact their agency health benefits administrator
for a resolution. If there is a
continued issue then she can be contacted for assistance. She took time to go over the 1/1/2010 health
benefits updates. We are now in the
transfer period and members should look over information to make an informed
decision on their coverage issues. Members will have 30 days from the date the
rates are posted to make any insurance changes. They expect the Empire Plan changes to be
minimal with no more than a 3.5% increase.
HMO’s costs will not be known until rates are posted. She touched briefly on the health care
spending account, and also on the pre-tax contribution program. Also the new Age 29 Law mandating that the
NYSHIP health program plans offer what’s called the young adult option. The dependent is responsible for 100% of the
contribution.
REGIONAL
COORDINATOR’S REMARK
*Bill said the Veterans committee is
now only meeting quarterly. They are
still having difficulty getting members to attend and participate. * The
Holiday Party is on 12/10 at the Colonie Elks.
A wish list for St. Margaret’s, Parolees, and Toys for Tots programs
that we participate in at our holiday party was on the table for people to pick
up. He is asking members who attend
this year’s party to bring a toy worth at least $10 or to make a contribution
of $10 at the door. * Bill was reviewing information about the stewards
training in Region 8 and found 67% of our 450 stewards have been trained. *This year’s membership conference at the
Gideon Putnam Hotel and
TREASURER’S
REPORT-
S. Ray- absent. Bill handed out a copy
of the regions detailed expenditure report that is given out at the executive
board. C. Garcia raised the issue that with the last two regional coordinators,
L. Matrazzo and T. Comanzo each month either he or others members have asked
for a treasurer’s report or budget report and we still have not received
it. We now have a new coordinator and he
was hoping to see a report. M. Chiarello raised the issue that S. Ray has not been
in attendance for many months and has not produced a report for members. This issue is causing much discontent and
they would like to see Scott produce a report.
It was suggested he be replaced if he is no longer interested or able to
attend and produce this report. Bill
said he would talk to Scott and try to resolve this issue. Bill stated that the original amount budgeted
to Region 8 was $89,125 and to date we have spent $61,539 with a balance of
$27,586 available.
A.
Fiscal Oversight-
A. Yasus- There were two requests. The American Labor Studies Center- Kate
Mullaney- asked us to purchase a ¼ page ad for $250 and this was recommended. The Capital District Union Label Council
requested a ¼ page ad be taken. No
additional information was given to us so this was not recommended. He said this was probably only his second
report in the last couple of years. When asked, he stated these were the first requests
the committee had received in the past year. Tom Comanzo stated there were
several others (Judy Scanlon Golf Tournament, a Vets group, maybe 1 other) that
went through without Committee review, due to time constraints. Al and Bill
were asked why the Stewards weren’t given the chance to hear and act on
requests, like in the past. Bob Harms, former chair of the Fiscal Oversight
Committee gave a brief history of how the process was developed and supposed to
work - The committee was formed to review requests and to advise the Regional Coordinator
on the wisdom of making any specific contribution. Since the Region 8 Stewards
are not a governing body, the ultimate decision on contributions rests totally
with the region coordinator. Past coordinators
routinely put proposed contributions up for discussion by the Stewards in
attendance at a meeting but even then, any vote by the Stewards was strictly
advisory. The committee cannot direct the regional coordinator to make
expenditures. It is ultimately the
regional coordinators decision to expend funds.
B. Civil Service – B. Wurster- nothing new to report
C. PAC- H.
Hennings- Herb stated several PEF endorsed candidates were elected- P. Slavic
in Guilderland, Mike O’Brien in Albany, and Sam Messina in Bethlehem.
Unfortunately some of our endorsed candidates were unsuccessful. Questions were raised at PAC about mailings
for some endorsed candidates and or lack of mailings for other endorsed
candidates. Herb
stated budget issues were and still are a consideration. They did not
want to spend a lot of funds on local races when 2010 is the year for governor,
senate, and other legislative races of grave importance to PEF. Much funding is
going to be needed for those races. They
tried to do as much as candidates asked us to do. COPE participation is still needed and he
urged all to participate. At the Black, Puerto
Rican, and Asian Caucus Ruth Thompson of Mt.Vernon, Inez Barron and Daryl
Townes of
D. IT- M. Chiarello-
hearings were held in the legislature on 11/17.
Marty O’Connor is the PEF staffer helping the IT committee. 11/10 was a governance hearing and 11/17 was
on the use of consultants in state government.
Marty has asked for examples of IT consultants being used to do state
work that state employees could be doing if they had the qualifications and the
experience. T. Cetrino and research put
together testimony for the hearing. J. Blake presented it and Mario testified
as an individual.
E. Women’s Program- M.
Shannon-Roberts- On March 27, 2010 they will be holding the Women’s Symposium
and Health Fair. PEF Region 8 Women’s Program, NYSUT, IAWP, and the Albany
District 2010 Census Project are honoring Women’s History Month with a theme of
“Spring into Health”.
It will be held at NYSUT Headquarters.
F. Military
Services- P.
New Business - None
A
motion to adjourn at 8:15 PM was made by M. Chiarello, seconded and carried.
NEXT
MEETING DATE:
January
19, 2010
Respectfully submitted,
Karen (Pellegrino) Danish
Region 8 Secretary