Region 8 Retirees

PEF Region 8 Retirees Committee Meeting

Minutes

Monday, February 2, 2009

The February 2 2009 meeting began at 12:25 PM with the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Ken Hunter.

President Marje Devoe welcomed attendees. She said that we have much work ahead of us in order to protect our Health Insurance premiums and pension benefits, and that Tom Comanzo would explain all, in more detail.

Tom expressed appreciation to PEF Retirees for the fact that we have always “stepped up to the plate” when asked to, and expressed thanks to all the retirees who helped in all PEF political action efforts. He spoke of the Region 8 Holiday Party, and thanked the retirees who attended, saying that their contributions of money added to the $150 in the tip jar that was donated to the Regional Food bank. He added that he was thankful for the number of retirees who joined with PEF on January 7th, (the day of Governor Patterson’s “State of the State” address), as a show of strength He asked that we again join with PEF, and prepare to do more in 2009, because “the need is greater now than ever.”

He reminded us that Governor Patterson has asked that our unions, PEF and CSEA, agree to forego our contractual 3% annual raise, scheduled for April 1, 2009. Tom stated “he wants it gone”. The Governor also wants a five day salary lag in FY 2009-10 until the employee leaves State service. He also wants creation of a new Pension Tier: Tier V, which would require amendments to several sections of Retirement and Social Security Law, the Education Law, and the General Municipal Law.

Tom stated that Ken Brynien and Danny Donahue have suggested publicly that the Governor look to balancing the state budget by passing legislation for a Millionaires Tax and eliminating the costly hiring of private consultants to do the same work that our civil service workers should be doing. Our unions’ slogan is “Go public – we do it better, and we do it cheaper.”

Tom stated that if the Governor succeeds in legislating these changes, PEF and CSEA will mount a court challenge, and will likely win, but at great cost of time and resources.

Tom added that the Governor wants a sliding scale established for Retiree Health Insurance, and for retirees to contribute toward Medicare Part B premiums. He wants Cyber-Security farmed out to a commercial group, wants the Department of Economic Development closed down, and the work taken over by the downstate Empire Development Corporation. The Governor wants to close down or downsize OCFS youth facilities, and give the placements over to privately run facilities that aren’t equipped to handle them.

Tom reminded us to check the PEF website frequently in order to keep abreast of developments, to make use of the form letter to send to the Senate and Assembly, and to place phone calls to our individual Senate and Assembly members. “Common sense must prevail”

He praised the appointment of Kirsten Gillibrand to fill the US Senate seat of Hillary Clinton, and as members are aware, Jim Tedesco (not always a friend of labor) will be the Republican Party Candidate to fill her House of Representatives seat, and Scott Murphy of Glens Falls will be the Democratic Party Candidate. When the Governor officially declares her seat vacant, we’ll endorse our candidate.

Tom started that we need to know who our enemies are and who our friends are in State government, and who in the government appreciates the worth of State employees. Again, the PEF office is a valuable resource, and the help of PEF Retirees in our PACs is deeply appreciated.

Roy Bailey then introduced the guest speaker, Cheryl Lawyer, Coordinator of Outreach Services with the Northeast Association of the Blind. Cheryl gave a very interesting presentation focusing on the types and causes of vision loss, especially in the elderly population, and the training and resources available, through NABA, to those with vision loss, whether partial or complete.

The November 2008 (Our last 2008 official meeting) minutes were approved by the membership.

The Treasurer’s Report for November/December was approved by the membership.

Marje announced that there were 90 pounds of donations to the Regional Food Bank collected at the Holiday Party. She spoke of the annual Labor-Religion Meeting that will take place on March 12, 2009, at the Schuyler Inn in Menands, and thanked retiree June Price for, once again, sponsoring a table. Marje then announced that the March Meeting will be known as “March Madness, and will take place at the Holiday Inn on Wolf Rd. in the Grille Room.

The meeting was closed at 1:45 PM.

Respectfully submitted – Barbara Kearney, Secretary

Counting the days till Spring!