PUBLIC SESSION
MEETING CONVENED
Committee Chair David A. Mills called the meeting to order at 12:02 p.m. Committee members Commission Chair Maria Krokidas and Executive Director David A. Wilson were also present.
DISCUSSION
Mr. Wilson stated that the Audit Finance and Human Resources Committee has oversight over the Commission’s budget, expenditures, and employee compensation. He invited Government Affairs Officer Robert Milt to discuss the Fiscal Year 2019 and Fiscal Year 2020 budgets.
Mr. Milt reported that the Commission has asked for an increase in its maintenance budget for Fiscal Year 2020, and that Mr. Wilson will make a presentation on the budget request to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means.
Mr. Milt said the Fiscal Year 2020 request includes sufficient funding for Commission staff members who are compensated according to the National Association of Government Employees Unit 6 collective bargaining agreement, and similar compensation for staff members who are not compensated according to the CBA. Mr. Wilson stated that some Commission staff members are paid according to the NAGE Unit 6 CBA, and other staff members are paid at a level determined by the Executive Director, with the Commission’s approval. Mr. Wilson said that he has previously expressed his desire as Executive Director to make sure one group of Commission employees does not outpace the other and that there is fair compensation for all staff. He said that the NAGE Unit 6 CBA approved in 2018 included a 1% increase in pay retroactive to July 2017; an additional 1% increase retroactive to July 2017 provided that the state met specified revenue benchmarks; a 2% across-the-board increase effective July 1, 2018; and a 2% across-the-board increase effective July 1, 2019. Last year, the Commission, at Mr. Wilson’s recommendation, approved a 2.1% increase for staff who are not paid according to the CBA, except for the Executive Director. Mr. Wilson said that increase has since been eclipsed by the second 2 percent increase in the Unit 6 CBA. Mr. Wilson said that in February, he intends to request that the Commission approve a 2% increase for staff who are not paid according to the CBA, except for the Executive Director. Mr. Wilson said that, in the spring, he intends to request performance-based merit increases for a certain number of employees who are not paid according to the Unit 6 CBA.
In response to a question from Commission Chair Krokidas, Chief Financial Officer Alice Wu said that of the 22 Commission employees, 10 are paid according to the NAGE Unit 6 CBA.
Commission Chair Krokidas asked how compensation for Commission attorneys compares to that of attorneys at other state agencies. Mr. Wilson said the compensation is comparable.
Mr. Milt discussed the Fiscal Year 2020 expansion request. He said the Commission’s expansion budget request includes funding for a new administrative assistant position that would support the Public Education and Communications Division, allowing the division to broaden its programming.
Mr. Milt reported on the Fiscal Year 2019 budget. He said that that at various points in Fiscal Year 2019, there have been five unfilled positions, resulting in unspent funds that are available for other projects. Mr. Wilson said that among the things he anticipates funding with the unspent funds are carpeting for the entire office space and painting of most of the offices of Commission staff. Commission Chair Krokidas expressed support for improvements to the Commission office space that will foster staff contentment.
Committee Chair Mills remarked on the substantial amount of paper records in the Commission’s office space. Mr. Milt noted that the Commission staff has discussed with the Executive Office of Technology Services and Security the possibility of digitizing the Commission’s paper records; if the digitizing were done, the Commission could choose not to retain many paper records, freeing up space in the office that is now used to store paper records.
ADJOURN MEETING
At 12:54 p.m., on the motion of Committee Chair Mills, seconded by Committee Member Krokidas, the Committee voted 3-0 to adjourn.
| Committee Chair Mills | Yes |
| Committee Member Krokidas | Yes |
| Committee Member Wilson | Yes |
Respectfully submitted,
Gerry Tuoti
Public Information Officer