REGION 8 STEWARDS MEETING

Minutes of June 24, 2009

 

Tom Comanzo called the meeting to order at 6:05 PM.  Motion to add parking to the agenda by S.Kent, seconded, and carried.  A. Yasus made a motion to accept the change to the agenda.  This was seconded and carried.  T. Forbes made a motion to accept the minutes of the May 6, 2009 meeting. The motion was seconded & carried.  Tom gave us some highlights on the agreement reached with the governor and the unions on the budget shortfall. We have avoided a lag and layoffs (except in those facilities in DOCS slated for closure).  If the legislature comes together Tier 5 is part of that.  It will still be a defined benefit. New hires will have to pay 3% for their entire career.  Sick leave was left at a maximum of 200 days.  Age 62 will be the retirement age with out penalty.  The good thing is that they were not allowed to break our contract or layoff 8900 people

 

REGIONAL COORDINATOR’S REMARKS

Upcoming Events/Activities:

At the next stewards meeting, the Region 8 winners of the Joseph. Scacalossi Scholarship will be in attendance.  They are:  A.Castellani, A.Rappazzo, and M. Rossi.t

Update on C. Michael Darcy Scholarship- Once again the Community Foundation has announced the 2009 scholarship program.  Mike Darcy was a well-known and respected member of PEF Region 8.  Applications for this scholarship are available now and are due back by August 15, 2009.

Convention 2009 & Elections- It is being held in Niagara Falls. From 9/13-16/2009.  The delegate mailing is being prepared and will be mailed out shortly.  Tom had a chance to tour the new site and says there are many new restaurants and an improvement s in the general area itself. Of course for after convention activity, the casino is available too. 

Delegate Dinner- this year it is being held on Wednesday, 9/2 at the Italian Community Center on Washington Avenue Extension.

 

 

GUESTS

Consumer Credit Counseling Services of Central NY- were unable to attend and will be rescheduled for another meeting in the future.

 

TREASURER’S REPORT- S. Ray –absent- Tom stated that Region 8 was over budget, but it is due to the fact that OGS did not bill for Tom’s EOL and just did so in one big lump sum inflating our spending.

 

BASEBALL / SOCIAL ACTIVITIES- Tom said the baseball trips have been sold out.  They are planning a trip back to Broadway 1/13/2010 to see the musical Billy Elliott

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS-

A.    Civil ServiceB. Wurster- They will meet on 6/25. Weird things were happening this month.  *Now all titles are online and can be viewed as well as exam lists with scores. CS has a new newsletter available.  * It is taking 6 months to a year for test results to be received* We still have issues with contractors moving in to state positions in OC titles up to grade 23.  Executive Order #6 is out regarding Cost Benefit Analysis *The Career Mobility Offices was pushing to go around and train on RIF and layoff, but it is on a back burner now that layoffs have been avoided.

 

 

B.    PAC- H. Hennings-PAC PALS have been asked to go to see their legislators on bills PEF wants passed. * Permit Parking is rearing its head again. * The big issue with PAC is endorsements. Offices up for re-election this year i.e.: municipalities, and in the city of Albany Mayor, County Clerk, Sheriff, and Common Council President are all up.  They want to interview the candidates on 7/16 so the PAC can vote and make recommendations to SWPAC. PEF can also endorse candidates (no money or support) just the endorsement.

 

C.    IT- M. Blue / M. Chiarello- Absent no report.  They did have a meeting and it did go well.

 

D.    Women’s Program- M. Shannon-Roberts- absent but left a report-They are accepting nominations for Women of Merit again this year.  They want to choose three women to share this honor.  Nominations are due in by COB 7/31. Email Mshannon-Roberts@pef.org or Ladymdr@aol.com.

 

 

E.     Military Services- absent- Tom said they need to get people motivated and encouraged to participate. We need them to bring in ideas and get them acted on.

 

Division Go-Around nothing.

 

New Business- Parking- Tom said a meeting with OER has been requested.  The summer parking permit plan is tentatively scheduled to start on 7/2.  There is concern it is not being done properly and using seniority.  Tom said a new person is in charge of parking- Rich Olive and they are trying to deal with him.  Parking Permit Bill they are urging members to contact senators about this bill land put it to rest once again. PEF will also contacting them to discuss t his.

 

A motion to adjourn at 7:50 PM was made by K. Wilke, seconded and carried.

 

 

 

                                                                         NEXT MEETING DATE

 

                                                                                NOTE:

 

                                                                         JULY28, 2009

                                                                           6:00 PM    PEF HQ’s  

 

 

 

Respectfully submitted,                         

                                                                     

Karen

                                                 

Karen (Pellegrino) Danish

Region 8 Secretary