Flexible Compensation Benefits Committee

Thursday, Jan. 23, 2003

Conference Room, Wellness Center

Minutes

Members Present:  Blackburn, Cooper, Fox, Hare, Harrison, Henderson, Lehenbauer, Payne, Poole, Reed, and Stromberg, and Wilguess

Members Absent: Morris

Ad Hoc, Ex Officio members and Guests Present:  Barfield, Dalton, and Purdie

Motion to approve the agenda was made by Henderson and seconded by Reed. Passed.

The motion to approve the minutes of the Dec. 16 meeting was made by Henderson and seconded by.  Passed.

Barfield reported that the retirement taskforce’s presentation had been presented to the executive board of SAC, executive group of Faculty Council, Faculty Council, Emeriti Council, Vice Presidents for Research and Business and External Relations, the Administrative Officers Group and the faculty of a few departments.  Faculty Council referred the proposal to the Retirement & Fringe Benefits Committee for a response.  There was not significant comment in the meeting requesting changes in the proposal. Henderson saw no real impediment to a recommendation of support. 

The committee has had no further word from OU about the proposed OTR changes or about the possibility of leaving OTR.

The cafeteria taskforce is presently trying to deal with paid time off.  The committee is leaning toward personal time off but employees will not be able to carry over their current accumulation of sick leave.  They are looking at short-term disability insurance policies to pay salaries until the long-term disability policies kicks in.

            RFP for Health insurance.  Purdie pointed out that although the health insurance premiums paid by OSU for the employees were lower than most, the cost of health care in a geographical area tends to be fairly standard.  Lower premiums for employees probably mean higher co-pays, higher dependent premiums, or less coverage, or a combination of all three.  OSU and OU are the only ones with no subsidized dependent premiums.

            A RFI would require considerable time and effort and claims data.  Barfield stated that information on claims versus payments versus co-pays and deductions as well as the percentage of local doctors on the plan versus those who were.

            Payne moved and Reed seconded to request that Human Resources produce a draft of information to consider for a RFI or RFP based on the last bid process.

            Additional items.  The FC Retirement & Fringe Benefit Committee carried forward one proposal with four components dealing with retirement that Faculty Council tabled.  The council had concerns about the budgetary impact of the proposal and wanted more information about how the funding would be achieved to support such changes.

            Future meeting dates were set:  Thursday, Feb. 27, 3:00 - 5:00

                                                                Thursday, Mar. 27, 3:00 - 5:00

                                                                Thursday, Apr. 24, 3:00 – 5:00

Motion to adjourn was made by Henderson and seconded by Cooper. Passed