P&S Annual General Meeting for 2011
July 14, 2011, 11:10 in the Auditorium
Stu Austen welcomed everyone and indicated that the P&S constitution dictates that an AGM be held once a year. The PSRC members’ term ends and members are re-elected or new members join the PSRC. Stu noted that we could change our constitution to reflect that we do not have to meet once a year, but then reneged the proposal. He stated that the current committee would be dissolved and the election of the representatives would take place in the next month (this includes one chair and six members). Stu noted that last year the committee had two more members and so two long-standing members stepped down from their committee positions and acted as ex-officio for the committee. One new member has been nominated (and has accepted nomination), Roxana Ralea, by John Drozdoff. Stu stated that the election would be held in the next six weeks. Moving onto committee business over the past year everyone has been busy, but no major issues have come up. There was a reminder that P&S employees are encouraged to approach any of the committee members if they have an issue that they can’t bring to their supervisor, and then the committee can speak to management about it.
Stu Austen introduced Jim Hanlon for an update from Human Resources and Administration. Jim reminded the group that TRIUMF is run by a consortium of 17 member universities now. He stated that the Board of Management (BOM) meets twice a year now (March to go over the budget and November). The Finance Committee meets on a regular basis. Reducing the number of BOM meetings from four to two is saving approximately $40,000 per meeting. Salary increases and bonuses have been allocated and the bonus ranges were indicated. Jim showed the recruitment and hiring activity. He stated that the target staff reduction of 40 people was reached. There is a lot of hiring activity, including hiring back some employees on contract. He mentioned that the salary budget is tight. Management decided to move one million dollars from the commercial budget to the salary budget and even then TRIUMF is $200,000-$300,000 in the hole for salaries. He also noted that management has to keep in mind that project funded employees will be brought back to the NRC fund after 2015. Jim reported that Nigel Lockyer met with Industry Canada, NRCan, and the Privy Council Office last week in an attempt to search for funding opportunities. Jim reported on the Succession Planning Committee and that it is in phase II, which is the mechanical pool proposal. This proposal has been met with resistance and the Division Heads are reviewing the proposal. The Space Committee is receiving a lot of input from people and Niki Martin and Jim Hanlon are writing a proposal for the Division Heads in regards to office space allocation and moves due to the ARIEL construction. The University of Victoria Internal Management Committee visited TRIUMF on July 12th and were very impressed. Jim reported on the parking fees and stated that monthly parking for TRIUMF employees is $48 per month and is being subsidized by TRIUMF. This is believed to be the market price given that the TRIUMF parking lot is a single-surface lot, not in a prime location, and the parking pass is not reciprocal with the other UBC lots. The parking fees are not a taxable income. The NRC parking lot is available to TRIUMF for overflow (50 spots), Jill Seeley has parking passes for the NRC lot (if the TRIUMF lot is full). Jim reported on UBC and stated that UBC is a major stakeholder of TRIUMF, they are not only our landlord but also heavily involved in the BOM. Jim was asked to join the UBC South Campus Advisory Committee. It is noted that UBC added the land for the new Stores Building for no additional cost. It is reported that there will be regular bus service down Wesbrook Mall to the South Campus (the #41 bus). Jim stated that UBC has only developed 30% of what they will develop so far.
Jim Hanlon opened the floor to questions. There was a question about Wesbrook Mall being closed off at 16th Avenue. Jim stated that the University Neighbourhood Association has the right to close off Wesbrook to the south campus, but they are not interested in doing this. The UNA is on the South Campus Advisory Committee and support having the road open. It was stated that the signage in the TRIUMF parking lot gives the wrong impression that TRIUMF is in cahoots with UBC. The funds collected from the TRIUMF parking lot go towards maintaining the parking lot (ie. snow plows, blowers, lighting, and eventually paving the lot).
Stu Austen took the floor and stated that the previous AGM minutes need to be approved. He thanked the outgoing representatives. By the end of August the new committee should be formed. The committee members that would like to return are Stu Austen, Jennifer Gagne, Niki Martin, Brenda Morrey, Colin Morton, Mike Mouat, and Doug Preddy. The nominated new members are Roxana Ralea and Curtis Ballard (instead of ex-officio).
Yuri Bylinski noted that TRIUMF’s core values are being drafted and input from the group to management would be useful.
Franco Mammarella noted that there was an email circulated to the supervisors in regards to changing the P&S salary grid system. This was distributed in HR’s “Tips of the Month” for supervisors. Stu Austen will speak with HR regarding this change and get more information for the committee.
The meeting adjourned at 11:55.