Legislature(2003 - 2004)
02/20/2003 12:03 PM House LEC
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
February 20, 2003
1. ROLL CALL
The Legislative Council meeting was called to order at 12:03 p.m. by Senator Taylor,
Chairman, Legislative Council, in the Senate Finance Room at the Alaska State Capitol.
The roll was taken. In attendance were Council members: Taylor, Cowdery, Dyson,
Ogan, Therriault, Lincoln, Coghill, Kott, Masek, Rokeberg, Stoltze, and Weyhrauch.
Absent member was: Berkowitz. Staff present were: Varni, Clothier, Collins, Cook,
Huber, Lobaugh, Price and Schofield.
2. APPROVAL OF THE JANUARY 28, 2003 MEETING MINUTES
Senator Cowdery moved the minutes of the January 28, 2003 meeting be approved.
With no objection the motion was approved.
3. APPROVAL OF OFFICE LEASE SPACE - BETHEL AND FAIRBANKS
Senator Cowdery moved that Legislative Council approve the one-year lease options for
existing lease space in Bethel and Fairbanks as reflected in the memo from Pam Varni
dated February 14, 2003 be approved.
Discussion followed.
With no objection the motion was approved.
4. PRESENTATION OF FY 02 LEGISLATURE AUDIT AND APPROVAL
OF LEGISLATURE FY 03 AUDIT WITH KPMG
The Council was presented with the Legislature's FY 02 Audit with no audit exceptions.
It was recommended that Council approve the one-year renewal with KPMG for next
year's audit.
Senator Cowdery moved that Legislative Council approval the one-year renewal with
KPMG for the Legislature's FY 03 Audit.
With no objection the motion was approved.
5. DISCUSSION/ADOPTION OF LONGEVITY POLICY
Pam Varni, Executive Director, Legislative Affairs Agency, explained that the
Senate/House Employment Policy, in effect since 1988 has worked well with the
exception of the longevity steps of J-M. Ms. Varni summarized the problems over the
years with the Longevity Policy in regards to retaining professional long-term staff
without penalizing them when they switch ranges because of budget constraints or when
the individual Legislator does not have the higher range available to them.
Senator Cowdery moved that Legislative Council not adopt AS 39.27.022 - Pay
increments for longevity for state service but instead adopt their own plan which better
applies to legislative service. This new policy is before the members and would be
effective January 16, 2003.
Discussion followed.
With no objection the motion was approved.
6. DON MITCHELL CONTRACT AMENDMENT PROPOSAL
Ted Popely, Project Director, Legislative Council discussed the contract between
Legislative Council and Donald Mitchell, explaining the contract would be extended by
one-year, terminating on December 31, 2003 with an additional $50,000.00 added. Mr.
Popely, also discussed Mr. Mitchell's credentials and experience with Native and federal
law.
Discussion followed.
Representative Stoltze moved that Legislative Council approve the contract amendment
for $50,000.00 with Don Mitchell.
YEAS: Taylor, Cowdery, Dyson, Ogan, Therriault, Coghill, Kott, Masek,
Rokeberg and Stoltze
NAYS: Lincoln and Weyhrauch
ABSENT: Berkowitz
Motion passed 10 to 2.
7. OLD BUSINESS - IT SUBCOMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP AND
ANCHORAGE OFFICE SPACE MEMBERSHIP
Senator Robin Taylor, Chairman, Legislative Council appointed the following to the two
Subcommittees:
ANCHORAGE OFFICE SUBCOMMITTEE
Senator John Cowdery
Senator Robin Taylor
Senator Scott Ogan
Representative Bill Stoltze, Chairman
Representative Norman Rokeberg
Representative Ethan Berkowitz
IT SUBCOMMITTEE LEGISLATIVE MEMBERS
Senator Robin Taylor, Chairman
Senator Gretchen Guess
Senator John Cowdery
Senator Georgianna Lincoln
Representative Beverly Masek
Representative Pete Kott
IT SUBCOMMITTEE STAFF MEMBERS
Schawna Thoma, Senator Ellis' Office
Linda Hay, Senator Ogan's Office
Kelly Huber, Senator Taylor's Office
Annette Skibinski, Senator Cowdery's Office
Sara Boario, Senator Lincoln's Office
Judy Ohmer, Representative Kott's Office
Juli Lucky, Representative Kerttula's Office
Sharon O'Dell, Representative Kohring's Office
Ken Erickson, Majority Webmaster
Peter Stein, Minority Webmaster
8. OTHER BUSINESS
Representative Stoltze discussed a matter regarding a display he had placed on his outer
office door in regard to a very modest State approved logo supporting agriculture, a
major industry in his district.
Discussion followed.
Senator Taylor, Chairman, Legislative Council, stated that the policy was set through
Legislative Council, that items and things not be placed on outer office doors or posted in
the building.
Discussion followed.
Senator Taylor, Chairman, Legislative Council, recommended that if any one has
questions regarding placement of items or things please contact their Rules Chairman.
The meeting was adjourned 12:30 pm.
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