Association of Professional Administrators

Minutes 2024-2

Date/Time: Friday, February 16, 2024, 10:00am
Location: ZOOM Room

Present

APA Statewide

  • Seth Bean, President
  • Susan McNeil, Vice President
  • Mark Powers, Secretary
  • Aaron Childs, Membership Coordinator (Non-voting)
  • Julie Dunlap LePoer, Web Manager (Non-voting)
  • Catherine Santiago, MTA Field Representative (Non-voting)

APA Chapter Presidents

  • Seth Bean, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
  • Brian Cahillane, Westfield State University
  • Jane Decatur, Framingham State University
  • Susan McNeil, Massachusetts College of Art & Design
  • Jenna Shales, Bridgewater State University
  • Rebecca Shersnow, Fitchburg State President
  • Rosa Taormina, Salem State University
  • Edward Vacha, Massachusetts Maritime Academy

Guests

  • N/A

Absent

APA Statewide

  • Roberta James, MTA Field Representative (Non-voting)
  • Maria Brunelle, Treasurer (Non-Voting)

APA Chapter Presidents

  • Peter Fenuccio, Worcester State University

Call to Order

  • Time: 10:08am

Approval of Minutes

  1. Approval of January 19, 2024 Executive Board Meeting Minutes
    • Amendments: None
    • Motion to minutes of the January 19, 2024 Executive Board Meeting as presented/amended made: by: E. Vacha 2nd by: J. Decatur
    • Vote: Unanimous Action: Motion Carries

Public Comments

  1. None

President’s Report – Seth Bean

  1. Catherine Santiago – HELC Meeting, delegates were informed that NAGE has agreed to parameters:
    • Jan 25-3%
    • July 25-2%
    • Jan 26-2%
    • July 26 -2%
    • Jan 27 – 2%
      What options do the Higher Education Unions have to negotiate a Jul 24 increase? Can we suggest:
    • Jul 24-2%
    • Jan 25-2%
    • July 25-2%
    • Jan 26-2%
    • July 26 -2%
    • Jan 27 – 2%
  2. Regarding Longevity – possibly look at how MCCC has their GRID for Interval Increase and APA’s pervious proposal from the most contract negotiations…
    Possible proposal as follows:
    Service Achievements
    • Effective the first payroll period in July 202, any professional staff member upon achieving certain benchmark years of service within the State University system based on date of hire, will be advanced an interval as follows:
      • 10 years of Service-One a 2% base salary increase.
      • 15 years of Service-One a 2% base salary increase.
      • 20 years of service-One a 2% base salary increase.
      • 25 years of service-One a 2% base salary increase.
      • 30 years of service-One a 2% base salary increase.
        Professional staff eligible for service achievement as indicated above shall receive the associated salary adjustment on July 1 following the attainment of the service achievement.
    • Initial implementation- Unit members who have already achieved and surpassed the benchmark years of service shall be awarded all prior service achievement intervals on the following schedule:
    • 10 years of service- All unit members with at least 15 years of service will receive a 2% base salary increase effective and retroactive to 7/1/2024.
    • 15 years of service- All unit members with at least 15 years of service will receive a 2% base salary increase effective and retroactive to 7/1/2024.
    • 20 years of service- All unit members with at least 20 years of service will receive a 2% base salary increase effective and retroactive to 7/1/2024. This is in addition to prior service achievement already awarded.
    • 25 years of service- All unit members with at least 25 years of service will receive a 2% base salary increase effective 7/1/2024. This is in addition to prior service achievement already awarded.
    • 30 years of service- All unit members with at least 30 years of service will receive a 2% base salary increase effective 7/1/2024. This is in addition to prior service achievement already awarded.
  3. Catherine Santiago –
    • Request for Negotiations to go out in March. Can we meet over the coming weeks to discuss items?
    • Cherish Acts Events went well on the various campuses.
    • Higher Education for All (HEfA) Newsletter – Feb 2, 2024

Treasurer’s Report – Maria Brunelle

  1. Payroll due on Tuesday, February 20, 2024 by 12:00pm.
  2. Approval of January 2024 Treasurer’s Report
    • Amendments: None
    • Motion to approve membership report as presented/amended made:
    • by: S. McNeil 2nd by: E. Vacha
    • Vote: Unanimous Action: Motion Carries

Membership and Data – Aaron Childs

  1. 1424 Overall Membership since January 2024. A(n) Increase/Decrease of 1 .
  2. 231 Non-Dues Paying Member. A(n) Increase/Decrease of 1 since January 2024.
  3. Audit on departures comparing our database with the SFED report I get from Boston. New Hire/missing members audit coming soon.
  4. Quote for the new server is in: $3,910. Are we tax exempt? Do we have a current Certificate of change of Directors of Non-Profit Corporations?

Website – Julie Dunlap LePoer

  1. Normal Housekeeping update.
  2. Posted Minutes
  3. Added Cherish Act information.
  4. Analytics.
  5. Annual License auto-renewed.

Health and Welfare Fund Report – Susan McNeil

  1. MTA Higher Education Health & Welfare Fund February 2024 Report.
  2. Feb 7, 2024 Health and Welfare Trustee meeting
    • Katie D’urso of MTA attended the meeting as a guest.
    • Nancy George after 8 years of service has submitted her resignation as the MSCA Trustee to the MSCA President. There is a MSCA member who is interested in serving as the MSCA trustee. Nancy reported that this person has a wealth of experience in union activities, including bargaining and leadership experience. Nancy originally submitted her resignation as treasurer to the H&W Trust officers on February 21, 2023, with an effective date of July 1, 2023, but she graciously stayed on for seven months longer, Katie Reil of MassArt and MSCA has joined the Board and has volunteered to take over the job of Treasurer for the time being. She will meet with the Bank Reps at Salem five and alternate signatories to go over any outstanding invoices or to do list and work with Nancy George to transition into the role.
  3. What has been paid – all of the MetLife invoices, including the February invoice (as soon as Kelly approves it). All other invoices that I have received I have approved for payment.
  4. What needs to be done:
    • * Elect a new treasurer – do this at the meeting on Wednesday;
    • * Change the bank accounts to the new treasurer.
    • * Audit needs to continue;
    • * Have a vote to close the Iron Mountain account and have the old documents shredded.
    • * Close the Rockland Trust account after all institutions paying into the account have been notified of the SalemFive account and the Iron Mountain account is closed (as the payments for Iron Mountain are coming out of this account).
    • * Documents need to be put on a drive for all to have available – google would be good. I realize that Jack has these on his drive, but it would be better to have them on a drive that is separate from his drive.
    • * the October snapshot – where is it??
    • * examine the upcoming deposits for non-payments for NSF payments. Past NSF non-payments I believe were an issue as well.
    • Nancy will share the print copies of the audit to the new treasurer. Not much stuff to hold onto – no need for a whole Iron Mountain account.
  5. Mathew Cole is the new representative for DHE, replacing Mike Murray, on the Board. He has a lot to catch up on but seemed to be a good listener. I informed him about outstanding money owed to the trust due to a mistake in the rate being paid and that this discrepancy has not been adjusted and continues to build the debt they owe. He seemed interested in this and surprised.
  6. Lisa DiValentino is stepping down as the Union Chairperson on the Board and Marc Liberatore will be taking her place on the Trust. Marc is the Co-President of MSP Amherst and will start as trustee immediately.
  7. I brought up at the meeting that I felt we needed to amend our rules or bylaws to be able to pay a treasurer as it is a very important role, and we should not continue to rely on and burden union reps who have already volunteered their time to sit as trustees.
  8. It was discussed some and Jack Nicolas wanted me to make a motion, but union reps wanted to meet to discuss a motion and how it would be worded etc. We will meet separately to discuss before the next meeting.
  9. I brought up that while I understand that we have had some upheaval and delays due to not having a replacement for Mike we should still be inquiring about bids from other carriers and Jack is saying it is too late to do this now, I said we are not fulfilling our fiduciary responsibilities if we do not put out for bids.
  10. Also Katie D’urso is still working along with others in MTA towards a possible merger with MPS they have been meeting with BHE leadership and they seem on board although I do not think this will happen this year, steps are being taken in that direction.
  11. I mentioned I was concerned that if we make any big changes that it must be a smooth transition for all.

Committee Reports

  1. Budget Committee – Rosa Taormina & Seth Bean
  2. Employee Relations Working Group –
  3. Professional Development – Edward Vacha
  4. Special Committees:
    • Committee on Legislative Action – Susan McNeil, Seth Bean, &
    • Committee on Health & Safety – Susan McNeil
    • Negotiations – Contract Committee
    • Employee Relations Committee (ERC) – Brian Cahillane, Jane Decatur, & Rosa Taormina

Old/New Business

  1. FAQ of the Month for the Website for March – University Closures & who decides who is Designated Essential Personnel?
  2. Suggested APA Statewide Bylaw change (McNeil)
    ARTICLE VI – Executive Board
    SECTION 1.B. Executive Board Emeritus/Emerita
    The APA shall, at their discretion, appoint up to three full participating, non-voting, Executive Board Emeritus/Emerita positions.
    (1) The Statewide President will present all candidates for Executive Board Emeritus/Emerita positions to the full APA Executive Board for consideration with two-thirds majority vote of the full Executive Board required for approval.
    (2) Executive Board Emeritus/Emerita positions shall serve for one academic year with opportunity for annual renewal consideration.
    (3) Executive Board members may be considered for Executive Board Emeritus/Emerita appointment no earlier than one month after completion of their Executive Board positions’ appointed or elected term(s), and must have served at least one three-year term on the Executive Board.
    (4) Executive Board Emeritus/Emerita may also be appointed to Board of Trustees sub-committees as non-voting participants.
    Motion 2024.02.16-01
    Motion to amend the APA Statewide Bylaws to include Executive Board Emeritus/Emerita status.
    by: S. McNeil 2nd by:
    Vote: Action: Motion
  3. Discuss the possibility of making a motion at MTA annual meeting of Delegates regarding a request for the MTA legislation action team to work on an action to reverse the wage theft that is happening to members who are having their vacation time removed completely.
    Motion 2024.02.16-02
    Motion to submit request to the MTA legislation action team to work on an action to reverse the wage theft that is happening to members who are having their vacation time removed completely due to being over the accrual limit.
    by: S. McNeil 2nd by:
    Vote: Action: Motion

Institutional Issues

Information has been redacted.

Announcements

  • None

Adjournment

  1. Motion to Adjourn made at 1pm
    • by: 2nd by:
    • Vote: Unanimous Action: Motion Carries

Next APA Meetings

EventTimeDateFormatLocation
APA Executive Board10:00amFriday, March 15, 2024HybridWorcester/Zoom
APA Executive Board10:00amFriday, April 19, 2024HybridWorcester/Zoom
APA Executive Board10:00amFriday, June 21, 2024In-PersonTBD
APA Meeting Schedule 2023-2024

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