Employee Forum Minutes

February 13, 2004

2^nd floor Training Room

Town Hall

 

Members Present: Than Austin, Felix Bloch, Ann Brown, Charles Bynum, Norman Clark, Lisa Edwards, Dorice Johnson, Chelsea Laws, Mona Nazir, Iris Schwintzer, Kelly Stokes, Deborah Squires, Jackie Thompson, Travel Watkins, Susie Whaley, Maryjean Williams

 

Members Absent: Jon Bell, Chris Blue, Maggie Burnett, Willie Quick, Wes Tilghman

 

Ex-offico Members Present: Carol Abernethy

 

• The minutes from the 1-8-04 meeting were approved.

•Item for today’s discussion were approved.

•Election for 2004 were conducted. The following people were voted into office:

Chair – Lisa Edwards

Vice Chair – Mary Jean Williams

Secretary/Treasure – Deborah Squires

•Than Austin wanted to revisit the Inclement Weather Policy again.  Other options other than using vacation during this time were discussed.  The issue was forwarded to the Policy Work Group to define what they would like to see as far as modifications.  It was also discussed to have someone from HR to clarify this for all the Forum members.  Clarification of exempt and non-exempt employees was also requested. 

•The Manager attended the end of the meeting to go over issues that were discussed in the Jan. 13 meeting with him

            *Extended Leave/Health Insurance –

Research has been started on this issue and other communities are being polled as to how they handle such situations.

*Forum Rep for Fire Dept.

The Manager is working with the Fire Dept. to assure that a Forum Representative attend the monthly meetings.

            *Insurance Consultant

The Consultant will be attending the March meeting of the Forum Committee to go over a variety of issues.

*Spanish Classes

Departments are being encouraged to include Spanish speaking classes in their Training Budget.  HR will help support smaller departments with instructional materials. An employee can attend a Spanish Class outside of their department.

 

*Lunch and Learn

A list is being submitted to Anissa with a request of what the Forum would like to see as Lunch and Learn issues. The Manager will also add to this list as well.

*Health Fair

A Health Fair is in the works to take place within the next couple of months.

 

 

•Work Group Summaries:

Benefits –

The Group approved a final draft of Employee Wellness Program Policy. The Policy will be forwarded to the Forum for vote at the next meeting.

The Group is drafting a computer loan program policy to encourage employees to become more technologically educated.

The Group is drafting an employee discount program policy, similar to programs existing in the school district and Duke.

The Group would like the Forum to look at parking space configurations and shortage of parking at Town Hall.

Policy –

Will solicit information from neighboring municipalities regarding their adverse weather policy. Specifically looking at reporting procedures, pay, and closing recommendations.

Iris will be inquiring how each department handles their policies and collectively will report back to the Forum.

Education/Training –

Discussed the tuition reimbursement policy and looked over information from some of the surrounding area municipalities.  We need to get some more information and will go from there. 

A list for the Lunch and Learn series was developed and submitted to HR

Communication –

Senior Employee Service Certificates

Suggest Communication Group meet with HR to discuss the present procedures for the employee service certificates.

Maryjean will contact Anissa about meeting with the group.

Employee Appreciation Day/PR Table 11:00 am 2:00 pm

Communication Group will man the PR table and will request other volunteers

Maryjean and Susie (30 min.) agreed to man the table.

Suggested Maryjean and Felix contact Diversity speakers again for dates to attend EF meeting for diversity information.

Need updates to EF WebPages for:

Add new EF Members and their working group assignments

New Officers

Updates will be made by Mona to Webpage

Request change to schedule for host departments for the EF meetings in 2004

Mona and Chelsea both need to change their months because of family reasons