STAFF
SENATE
MONTHLY COMMITTEE and/or LIAISON REPORT
COMMITTEE OR LIAISON:
DATE & LOCATION
OF MEETING:
ATTENDANCE:
Joint Budget & Finance/Governmental Relations Committee
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
2:00 p.m.
310 Peabody Hall
Budget & Finance Committee Members: Senator Donna Torres
(Chair); Senator Chad Gothreaux (Co-Chair); Senator Denise
Chiasson-Breaux; Senator Donna Love; Senator Scott Moreau
Governmental Relations Committee Members: Senator Chad
Gothreaux (Chair); Senator; Donna Torres (Co-Chair); Senator
Denise Chiasson-Breaux; Senator Scott Moreau; Senator Blake
Winchell
Guest(s): Melonie Holden, Staff Senate Administrative
Coordinator
Absent Committee Member(s): Senator Patti Exner (B&F);
Senator Carolyn Landry (B&F); Senator Igor Matkovic
(B&F/GR); Senator Tammy Millican (GR); Senator Joseph
Thomas (B&F); Tommy Smith, Director, LSU Office of Budget
& Planning; Jason Droddy, Assistant Vice Chancellor,
Communications and External Relations
SUMMARY:
In light of the recent activity with regard to the proposed changes in the state retirement systems, the
committee recommended that the Executive Committee invite A.G. Monaco, Associate Vice Chancellor
and head of the Office of Human Resource Management to present at the March Staff Senate meeting to
brief senators on the proposed changes and potential impact on staff.
On a related note, the committee members wanted to encourage senators to attend the Faculty Senate cosponsored forum referenced in the university broadcast email issued on February 9, 2012, which is copied
below.
In an effort to continue and promote dialogue concerning the retirement plans available to LSU
employees and also to energize discussion of their reform, the LSU Faculty Senate will cosponsor, along with LSUnited, a workshop and question-and-answer session with officials from
“TRSL,” the Teachers’ Retirement System of Louisiana.
Featured speakers will be Dr. Lisa Honore and Mr. Ken Buras, administrators at TRSL, and
Katherine Whitney, Deputy General Counsel for that agency. The workshop, which will include
both a presentation and a question-and-answer session, will take place on Wednesday, February
15, from 4:00 until 5:45 p.m. in the International Room (Room 303) of the LSU Union. All
members of the LSU community are welcome to attend this informative session on a very
important topic.
The committee also discussed a recent workshop held on campus that addressed workplace civility. It was
recommended that the Professional and Classified committees explore the details of this recent workshop
and the potential benefits of making it available to the broader staff population.
A brief discussion was held on the release of the governor’s executive budget with respect to his proposed
funding of higher education. More information will be forthcoming as the state budget debate moves
forward through the legislative process.
As the committee has established standing committee meetings on the 2nd Tuesday of the month, the next
meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 13, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. in 221 Peabody Hall.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 2:30 p.m.
Submitted By: Chad Gothreaux