Employee Forum Minutes

April 8, 2004

Public Works Break Room

Public Works

Members Present: Than Austin, Jonathan Bell, Maggie Burnett, Lisa Edwards, Amy Harvey, Dorice Johnson, Mona Nazir, Willie Quick, Norman Clark, Deborah Squires, Jackie Thompson, Maryjean Williams

 

Members Absent: Felix Bloch, Chris Blue, Ann Brown, Charles Bynum, Iris Schwintzer, Kelly Stokes, Wes Tilghman, Traval Watkins, Susie Whaley,

 

Ex-Offico Member Present: Danny Lloyd, Thomas Cummings

 

•The minutes from the March 11, 2004 meeting were approved.

•Items for today’s meeting were approved.

•The group discussed the presentation for supplemental insurance that was done at the March 11 meeting. We decided to come up with a list of options to provide to Rufus Langley. It was suggested that the employees be presented with a survey to help in coming up with items for the list.  It was also suggested that Anissa Graham-Davis from the HR department attend the next meeting to go over the current benefits offered to employees. Some suggestions for supplemental insurance were Cancer Insurance, Life Insurance – increase the amount that can be individually purchased, lower premiums or greater coverage on Dental Insurance and other carriers for Health Insurance.

•Than handed out a Proposal for Employee Wellness, to be further discussed in the Benefit Work group.

•A computer workstation has been set up in HR for Forum members that do not have computer access.

•Maryjean Williams has invited Ben Ruffin to attend the June 10 meeting to do some diversity discussions with the Forum.

•It was decided that Catherine Lazorko will be invited to the next Forum meeting to talk about the Employee Newsletter.

 

•Work Groups

Benefits:  The benefit workgroup discussed further details of the proposal of the Employee Wellness Program; including looking into a Town workout facility where Town Employees could exercise during lunch or on their own time.

The workgroup discussed a draft of an Employee Discount program to be brought to the Forum.

The workgroup discussed ideas for a computer loan/discount program.

 

A program that the UNC/University Employee Forum operates was reviewed. The group discussed the need to communicate more with the UNC Employee Forum and learn from their experience.

 

Policies:

The workgroup caught new members up to date on current issues, including the adverse weather policy.

 

The topic of a cell phone policy came up, does the Town have a policy on when the phones are to be used and the issue of answering calls when on duty.   It was brought up that HR might have some information on this, and Lisa will be checking on it.  Members were asked if each department has a policy bring it in for the next meeting.

 

Education/Training:

The group caught new members up on current issues. 

Amy drafted a chart to compare educational contributions from neighboring municipalities.  The range was $300 to $1200 with the average being $662.50; the Town offers $500 per fiscal year. The question from the Forum was how often Employees actually use the assistance program.  Amy will review this and present at the next meeting.

 

Communications:

Each representative has been asked to report back to this work group on the frequency of your departmental staff meetings for the next meeting.

 

The group will draft up a survey to inquire about benefit options for Employees.   Requested addition of current benefit summaries/information to be included in the Lunch and Learn series.

 

Service awards will not be presented at the Employee Appreciation Lunch in June.  There will be too many to give out and it is also too costly.  Mona will represent Communication work group at the  EAD committee wrap up session to help make plans for next year.

 

A diversity speaker will attend the June meeting.  Ben Ruffin has agreed to come and assist the group begin our diversity issues discussion. If the group has questions for Mr. Ruffin please bring them with you to the next meeting so that they may be submitted to him before he is schedule to meet with the Forum as a whole.

 

The work group would like to invite Catherine Lazorka to the next meeting to discuss the Employee newsletter. The group would like to know how the Forum can work with Catherine to communicate to the Town Employees.