February 4, 2020
FSU Executive Committee Meeting Minutes
February 4, 2020
Ex Com Members Present: Marlene Kim; Jessica Holden; Caroline Coscia; Jeff Melnick; Monique Fuguet; Joe Ramsey; Tracy Brown; Emilio Sauri; Tim Sieber; Meghan Kallman; Joe Brown
Others Present: Lorenzo Nencioli, FSU Membership Coordinator; Katie D’Urso, MTA Field Rep; Grievant
- ANNOUNCEMENTS/REPORTS
Duty of Fair Representation Charge Dismissal
Grievance Committee recommendations to bargaining team
Draft survey results to members
BUSINESS
1. Approval of the agenda: Motion to amend agenda. Motion to amend approved. Motion to adopt as amended. Motion seconded. Motion to adopt agenda as amended approved unanimously (11 in favor).
2. Approval of the minutes: Motion to approve Dec. 4 Ex Com minutes. Motion seconded. Motion approved unanimously (11 in favor)..
3. Arbitration vote: Motion to enter into executive session. Motion seconded. Motion approved (11 in favor)..
EXECUTIVE SESSION
EXECUTIVE SESSION ENDS
Motion to table arbitration request and to allow for possibility of reopening request at a later date and to have grievant and FSU focus on pending unfair labor practice charge for the same fact pattern. Motion seconded. Motion approved. (11 in favor).
4. "Just what does the Communications Director do? Discussion of Communications Director role, genesis of position, possible expansion of role, coordination with the President. Suggested that this will be put at beginning of agenda for next meeting. Marlene and Jeff will continue the discussion, perhaps with Katie and Caroline, and bring back to Ex Com.
5. Elections committee replacement: Motion to appoint Joe Brown to Elections Committee with term to end after Spring 20 election cycle, have the FSU/Elections Committee recruit new permanent member after elections. Motion seconded. Motion approved with 10 in favor, 1 abstention.
6. Coronavirus: Discussion of importance of addressing racial language issues in communications on these issues. Jeff M. will develop email to send to members.
7. Resolution concerning Bayside Development: Motion to approve amended resolution (see below). Motion seconded. Motion approved unanimously (10 in favor).
8. Motion to propose emergency Ex Com meeting for next Tuesday to further discuss issue (Monique to send email to Ex Com). Motion seconded. Motion approved unanimously (7 in favor).
9. Adjournment: Motion to adjourn meeting. Motion seconded. Motion approved unanimously (7 in favor).
MEETING ADJOURNED
Faculty- Council Staff Union Resolution on the Bayside Expo Planning Process
Whereas it is the responsibility of the UMass Boston Faculty Council to ensure the representation of faculty members in the governance of the UMass Boston Campus and the University of Massachusetts system weOn behalf of our faculty and librarian members, the Executive Committee of the Faculty-Staff Union feel obliged to express our views regarding how the University, and its chosen developer, the Accordia Partners LLC, plans to transform the UMass-owned Bayside Expo Site from an overflow parking area into a high-density, mixed-use innovation district.
Whereas the developer’s proposal promises to replace a surface parking facility with an attractive mixed-use live, learn, and work district featuring a variety of public, private, and non-profit uses while also generating needed funding to address UMass Boston’s capital improvement needs we support the Bayside Expo Site’s development.
Whereas the Accordia Partners’ preliminary Bayside development proposal features the construction of 3 to 3.5 million square feet of new building in an ecologically sensitive waterfront area located in the midst of three historic neighborhoods experiencing increasing gentrification and displacement pressures, we believe the developers and the UMass Board of Trustees, have an obligation to adopt a planning approach to this mega-project that achieves the following social justice objectives consistent with our institution’s urban serving mission.
- Insure an open and transparent planning process that actively engages those most directly affected by the project
- Reflect principles of good practice for resilient coastal and waterfront development
- Mitigate the project’s most serious environmental, economic and social externalities based upon a rigorous social benefit cost analysis
- Emphasize active and alternative modes of transportation, including water based options, given existing congestion problems
- Offer socially-integrated/family-cycle housing on site
- Maximize employment opportunities for Section 8 eligible residents throughout the project’s planning, design, development and operational phases
- Feature well designed public spaces and facilities that promote community-building and social capital formation
- Create subsidized spaces for community businesses and non-profits offering important neighborhood oriented retail and human services
- Offer strong connectivity to the site’s adjacent residential neighborhoods
- Devise an inspired urban design scheme that evokes a strong sense of place
Whereas the impact of Accordia’s Bayside development project will be profound for those living, working, and studying in the Harborpoint, Dorchester, and South Boston neighborhoods.
Now, therefore be it resolved by that the Faculty-Staff Union Executive Committee Council to strongly urges the Acting Chancellor and the UMass Board of Trustees to require the developer to negotiate a legally-enforceable Community Benefits Agreement that mitigates the project’s most likely externalities and provides local stakeholders an equitable share of the project’s benefits. We believe the Community Benefits Agreement should be negotiated with a representative group of community, business, labor, faith, homeowner, tenant, youth senior, and minority organizations before Accordia seeks a review of their project under the Boston Planning and Development Agency’s Article 80 Large Project Review process.
Furthermore, we urge the Acting Chancellor and the UMass Board of Trustees to require the developer, the BPDA, and local officials participating in the scoping sessions that establish the terms under which new developments are to be evaluated and the Project Impact Report that summarizes this evaluation to explicitly address the social justice objectives identified in this resolution.
Boston, December 6, 2019, by unanimous vote