TRIUMF PSRC Meeting
September 21, 2006 13:00 – 14:30
Attending: Stu Austen (Chair), John Drozdoff, Brian Evans, Ann Fong, Mike Mouat, Klaus Reiniger, Roman Ruegg (Ex-officio)
The recent announcement that a new entity, `TRIUMF Incorporated,’ had been formed raised several questions and concerns. It was understood that the organization was formed to meet a legal requirement of the CNSC involving financial obligations should the laboratory be decommissioned but it was not clear if the change might affect pensions, employment status and benefit plans, either positively or negatively. Management should clarify the situation and either confirm that there will be no changes or list what those changes will be.
Almost every PSRC member had some involvement in the recent CNSC audit and it is clear that many of the QA TSOPs will need to be revised to reflect how TRIUMF intends to operate. If the mandate of the CNSC is simply to ensure that nuclear facilities maintain personnel safety, environmental safety and security standards then the scope of the TSOPs are far too broad since they are being applied to completely unrelated activities. TRIUMF does not have enough resources to do this and it does not appear necessary. The matter will have to be addressed when the results of the audit are received by management.
S. Austen reported that Human Resources had asked him to review material associated with a PPR appeal made by a P&S group member. The PSRC felt that this was acceptable and part of the normal process. It was only if a P&S group member was unhappy with the normal process that they would contact the PSRC themselves.
It was noted that the TRIUMF OPCOM does not provide operating advice like it used to but it still fills a role in facilitating communications between key individuals from the different universities. It is expected that the Chair of BAEs and the Chair of the PSRC will continue to sit on OPCOM as staff representatives in alternate years.
Any re-organization of TRIUMF seems to be have been put on hold as many key personnel have been busy with other activities such as the QA audit.
A memo had been circulated to all staff advising them that the three candidates for new Director would each be visiting TRIUMF and giving presentations that were open to all. A PSRC representative usually has some opportunity to meet with the candidates and it is expected that this tradition will be upheld. PSRC members will compose a list of questions to ask the candidates in anticipation of an opportunity to ask them.
There was a general discussion about how difficult it has been to fill some posted positions. Clearly some jobs do not progress because there is no one to do the work. The situation will only worsen if more experienced staff members make the decision to take early retirement.
A. Fong noted that Technology Transfer personnel have been forced to use Business Office space because no other space appears to be available. She also noted that some prime offices are occupied by `retired’ staff members and a few people actually seem to have more than one office. It was recommended that she ask her Division Head to take the matter to members of the (apparently) dismantled Space Committee, which should probably be reformed.
B. Evans wondered what the completion date was for the road work on Wesbrook Mall. It was suggested that he ask Human Resources to provide staff with regular updates.