Congratulations to our new FULL Executive Board of the MAA after today’s special election . Thanks to all those who took and interest and I look forward to working with all of you going forward.
President: Dan Colleluori
Vice President: Lou Casolo
Treasurer: Ed Obrien
Secretary: Eric Newman
Executive Board: Beverly Aveni, Lee Berta, Pam Scott
Trustee: Ann Marie Mones, Thomas Turk, David Villalv
The MAA is accepting nominations for the Secretary position. If interested, please send an email to Dan Colleluori (DColleuori@stamfordct.gov) on or before Wednesday October 12, 2016.
A Special Election will be held on Wednesday October 19, 2016 for the Vice President and Secretary positions.
DATE: 10/19/2016 (Wednesday)
TIME: 9:00AM-2:00PM
LOCATION: BOR Republican Caucus Room – 4th Floor – Government Center
Vice President
I have served as a union officer for the past 9 years.
Like many of you, I’m dissatisfied with our AFSCME Business Representative‘s efforts, including:
-Not responding to our requests for information about comparable union contracts and arbitration awards;
-Not taking an aggressive positions to fight for increases in our salaries and benefits
Our Executive Board should forcefully request AFSCME to assign a new Business Representative to our bargaining unit. I also believe that AFSCME should provide us with an experienced labor lawyer to negotiate our contract, to put us on a level playing field with the City, which is represented by an outside attorney. Lastly, it is important that we preserve the integrity of our bargaining unit. As you know, we lost several positions at Smith House. The City has a history of eliminating positions and of simply reclassifying positions to take them out of the union. This has to stop, or our numbers will be decimated. I have worked hard over the past nine years to fight for your rights and ask you to give me the opportunity to continue to serve you as an aggressive union advocate.
I have served the MAA members as a Trustee and bargaining team member during the last two contract negotiations. I have made it a priority to represent all members, not just specific groups or my own self interests. With the current board of our union, I brought my ideas to the table on how we needed to be more transparent and listen to the membership, representing all. I felt it was critical to ask the members what their priorities were, going into the most recent negotiations, which resulted in the survey made available to all members. Beverly, Dan, John and I listened to what you had to say, and we fought hard for over two years to protect and improve the items in our contract that were important to you. To represent members, one has to be present and available, and my record shows this, as it was rare for me not to be present and involved in meetings and other times to work with Dan and other members to represent employees in our union. Being Vice President means more than just a title. It is being present and involved, working with the President and other members of the Board to represent you, the members. I am committed to doing so, and my record of involvement speaks volumes.
One of the priorities for the Vice President after this election is to work with a committee of members to explore improved representation for all of us. This will involve looking into what unions other management employees in municipalities are affiliated with, the possibility of self representation by utilizing an attorney we would hire, and reviewing what AFSCME has and can offer us for the amount of dues we have been paying them. Results will be reviewed by the full Board and then presented to the members.
I was raised in a family of union members, and moved to Stamford in 1964. I also spent quite a bit of time as a union organizer for 1199 in the early 1980's. Along with the employees in the hospital I tried to unionize we were able to make great improvements in employee safety, salary, and benefits. I am still thanked by long term employees there when we cross paths. All this started with weekly meetings in my home in Stamford. I have been employed by the City of Stamford since 2003, and I am currently the Risk Manager. I have experience as a Board member on the State level for a non profit organization, I am currently a Board member for a non profit in Stamford, and I have years of experience as a Conservation Commissioner, and a Chairperson of that Commission in Trumbull.
In the last election I received more votes than anyone else on the ballot. I am hoping I still have your confidence and will vote for me as Vice President of this union so I can continue to work closely for the members and with the Executive Board to represent our membership.
Thank you,
Ann Marie Mones
Secretary
Board Governance Experience:
- -Secretary and Member – City of Stamford Investment Advisory Committee
- -Vice Chairman – Town of Fairfield RTM Finance Committee (Legislative Body)
- -Board of Director – JFS, Inc., an Adoption & Family Service Agency
- -Board Member – Fairfield PTA Council
- -Manage State Election Enforcement Commission compliance and regulatory filings for state and municipal campaign committees
Goals as Secretary:
- -Provide board governance, by-law and charter compliance
- -Ensure transparency by publishing the agendas and minutes on the website
- -Adhere to state and federal laws, and confidentiality
- -Create a By-Law Review Committee including independent (non-elected) members
- -Establish an electronic information supply channel outside of the City’s servers & email
- Elizabeth Rodriguez (x4389)
Hello MAA members I want to take the opportunity to introduce myself and my candidacy for MAA Secretary. I have been an employee with the city of Stamford department of health for the past 5 years. I currently have experience as a board member for several other organizations, I am the President Elect of an association and I am looking forward to putting my board experience toward the MAA board.
I possess a great attention to detail that is needed for this role as secretary. My job as the public health emergency response coordinator entails having documentation and plans in place to ensure public health is meeting its goals, objectives, contract deliverables, and regulatory compliance. As you know the secretary plays a vital role for the board, the attention to details, maintaining accurate documentations of our meetings minutes ensuring they are completed, accurate and available to the members is an integral part of this role.
My knowledge and expertise make me viable candidate for the position of MAA secretary.
Elizabeth Rodriguez
Election Results
Vice President - Tie. Re-vote will be announced
Treasurer - Ed O’Brien
Executive Board (3 Open Spots) - Beverly Aveni, Lee Berta, Pam Scott
Trustees - David Villalva
Vice President
I have served as a union officer for the past 9 years.
Like many of you, I’m dissatisfied with our AFSCME Business Representative‘s efforts, including:
-Not responding to our requests for information about comparable union contracts and arbitration awards;
-Not taking an aggressive positions to fight for increases in our salaries and benefits
Our Executive Board should forcefully request AFSCME to assign a new Business Representative to our bargaining unit. I also believe that AFSCME should provide us with an experienced labor lawyer to negotiate our contract, to put us on a level playing field with the City, which is represented by an outside attorney. Lastly, it is important that we preserve the integrity of our bargaining unit. As you know, we lost several positions at Smith House. The City has a history of eliminating positions and of simply reclassifying positions to take them out of the union. This has to stop, or our numbers will be decimated. I have worked hard over the past nine years to fight for your rights and ask you to give me the opportunity to continue to serve you as an aggressive union advocate.
I have served the MAA members as a Trustee and bargaining team member during the last two contract negotiations. I have made it a priority to represent all members, not just specific groups or my own self interests. With the current board of our union, I brought my ideas to the table on how we needed to be more transparent and listen to the membership, representing all. I felt it was critical to ask the members what their priorities were, going into the most recent negotiations, which resulted in the survey made available to all members. Beverly, Dan, John and I listened to what you had to say, and we fought hard for over two years to protect and improve the items in our contract that were important to you. To represent members, one has to be present and available, and my record shows this, as it was rare for me not to be present and involved in meetings and other times to work with Dan and other members to represent employees in our union. Being Vice President means more than just a title. It is being present and involved, working with the President and other members of the Board to represent you, the members. I am committed to doing so, and my record of involvement speaks volumes.
One of the priorities for the Vice President after this election is to work with a committee of members to explore improved representation for all of us. This will involve looking into what unions other management employees in municipalities are affiliated with, the possibility of self representation by utilizing an attorney we would hire, and reviewing what AFSCME has and can offer us for the amount of dues we have been paying them. Results will be reviewed by the full Board and then presented to the members.
I was raised in a family of union members, and moved to Stamford in 1964. I also spent quite a bit of time as a union organizer for 1199 in the early 1980's. Along with the employees in the hospital I tried to unionize we were able to make great improvements in employee safety, salary, and benefits. I am still thanked by long term employees there when we cross paths. All this started with weekly meetings in my home in Stamford. I have been employed by the City of Stamford since 2003, and I am currently the Risk Manager. I have experience as a Board member on the State level for a non profit organization, I am currently a Board member for a non profit in Stamford, and I have years of experience as a Conservation Commissioner, and a Chairperson of that Commission in Trumbull.
In the last election I received more votes than anyone else on the ballot. I am hoping I still have your confidence and will vote for me as Vice President of this union so I can continue to work closely for the members and with the Executive Board to represent our membership.
Thank you,
Ann Marie Mones
Treasurer
Eric Newman is an experienced Treasurer, CPA and Community Leader.
Eric has been serving the Controller’s Office for five years performing:
Cash and investment management
Funding obligations and payments
Pension and OPEB Plan accounting
Serves on the City’s Investment Advisory Committee
Eric is an active community leader:
Vice Chairman - Town of Fairfield RTM Finance Committee (Legislative Body)
Board of Director and Past Treasurer - JFS, Inc., an Adoption & Family Service Agency
BOE Budget Representative - Fairfield PTA Council
Served as Treasurer for fourteen state and municipal election campaign committees
Eric’s goals as Treasurer are:
Present financial statements and analysis at the general meetings and on the website
Create an operating budget to be voted on at the annual meeting
Build a five year financial plan to ensure the Union has the financial resources for legal representation during future negotiations
Provide the negotiating team with financial modeling and cost analysis that values potential contract terms and concessions both sides are seeking
Current Position: Payroll Supervisor - City of Stamford and Board of Education
Things I currently do to help the MAA and its members:
Prepare Annual and Monthly Financial reports for Monthly MAA Board meetings.
Represent MAA employees at Discipline Hearings (Loudermill Hearings)
Attend Monthly Classified Pension Board Meeting as a MAA Board member representative.
Meet with new MAA Employees as a MAA Representative at New Employee Orientation to discuss the MAA and the Union contract.
Represent MAA employees at Contract Grievance Hearings.
Represent MAA employees at Arbitration Hearings at the State Department of Labor in Wethersfield, CT.
Research Civil Service Rules, AFSCME International bylaws, and Union Contracts for the MAA Board for matters such as Grievances, Elections, Employee Placement, and Hearings.
For MAA employees planning to retire, at the employees request I attend meeting with the employee and Human Resources to discuss Benefits and the Retirement process.
Things I would like accomplish within the next 2 years:
I would like to be on the negotiating committee, the negotiating committee will be appointed in 15 months. My experience in the Payroll Department and representing the MAA at various hearings will help at the negotiating table. In the Payroll Department I work with 16 City and BOE contracts, including wages, employee costs for 457 plans, Pension, and Health Insurance. All critical pieces of information needed at the negotiating table. In the Payroll Department I also work with Crystal Reports and Excel to do any financial reporting or modeling the negotiating team may need.
I would like to be on the committee evaluating our current AFSCME representation. I think it is important that the union knows what alternatives are available for our union affiliation.
Thank you for your consideration.
Executive Board (3 Open Spots)
I have been an employee of the City of Stamford for over 20 years, having previously served as Executive Aide to former Mayor Dan Malloy. I am currently the Purchasing Agent for the City. A lifelong resident of the City of Stamford, I am the 3rd generation of my family to serve as an employee of the City. I am a graduate of the Stamford public school system and the University of Connecticut.
I have served on the MAA Executive Board for the last two years, where I have assisted the President with many of the day to day functions concerning contractual, grievance and other employee issues. My knowledge and background provide me with the expertise to continue to represent the members of the MAA on our Executive Board.
Thank you for considering me to continue my position as Executive Board member of the MAA union. If elected this will be my 4th term on the board. I also previously served as President of Board of Directors for a condominium complex for approximately 10 years. I have an education background in Finance, Accounting, and Information Technology Management. I have served the City of Stamford for 11 years as Management Analyst, Interim Director of OPM, and now Assistant Director of OPM. I am well versed in City matters that could have an impact on the union members. With that, I can use my experience and first-hand knowledge to guide on financial concerns, policy matter, and even union negotiations. My goal is to find a way to ensure that each union member group (pension beneficiaries, non-pension beneficiaries, and now employees promoted within MAA that have a tiered promotion option), are all heard and all have a chance to express their concerns and needs. I promote an open door policy and the freedom of speech. I want to encourage old and new board members to become educated on the rules and polices our union is required to follow, in order to best serve the union members. Thank you for listening and don’t forget to vote.
Rhudean Bull, MPA-HRM, PHR, SHRM-CP, IPMA-SCP
Not working and being at the Government Center day-in and day-out present a problem in this endeavor, as I am housed in a satellite City Department. The majority of the members do not get to see me and have no idea who I am and therefore, do what is familiar and vote for those in which they are acquainted.
You may not know who I am but I have worked for the City of Stamford for almost twenty (20) years; first, as an Human Resources Generalist and now, as the Administration Manager for the Stamford WPCA. Working in all facets of HR and Management positions throughout my entire career and dealing with Unions, which has always been a large part of my duties, has provided me years of union knowledge, involvement, skill and know-how.
Interacting with the City in a Union capacity is totally different than interacting and working day-to-day with the City performing the duties for which a nominee was hired. The member is no longer the “manager” but the “Union Representative”. This one issue, the ability to differentiate, has impeded MAA progress time and time again and has reduced the content of our contract enormously. And although it may be extremely hard to regain what has been lost over the years, we must give it our every effort—even if it’s just a small portion of what has been bargained away. The hope is that whoever wins will work to do just that OR maybe work towards something better for the collective whole, and not just the few. This challenge requires fight and much effort on the part of those for whom you vote. I want to take on the challenge.
A person with experience—advanced education in Public Administration and Human Resources Management with coursework specific to Labor Relations and twenty-six years working with Unions, negotiating terms and conditions of employment contracts, involved in the procedures for the settlement of employee disputes and /or grievances—who is fully willing and able to represent and defend the interests of ALL MAA members.
Thank you for your time, and I encourage you to exercise your right to vote today and in the upcoming presidential election.
I have worked for the City of Stamford for 26 years and have served on the MAA Executive Board for six years, and bring several years of experience as a Board member for the former MEA Union. I currently work for the Department of Health. My goal as an Executive Board member is to bring transparency and enlighten members of their rights as Union members. As lifelong Stamford resident, I graduated from the Stamford public school system and the University of Bridgeport.
My knowledge and background provide me with the expertise to represent the members of the MAA on our Executive Board.
I’d like to thank you all for the opportunity to run for one of the three open Executive Board seats. Representing the interests of fellow union members is an incredibly important responsibility.
I’m qualified to serve in this capacity because of my education (Bachelor of Landscape Architecture, Iowa State University 2002), my professional experience as a consultant (worked as a Landscape Architect and Planner for over 10 years), and my 5+ years with the City in both the Land Use Bureau and currently as Regulatory Compliance and Administrative officer in the Stormwater Management Department. I currently act as the City’s liaison to US EPA and CT DEEP for all stormwater related compliance issues. In my time with the City, I have been represented by UAW and now currently MAA, and my staff are part of the IUOE membership. I am familiar with the differences and stipulations of these various contracts, and as a manager, am responsible for assuring adherence to the applicable terms. I want to ensure that we, as MAA members, are getting terms that are fair for us.
I enjoy challenges. I look forward to solving problems in a logical and strategic way. I anticipate outcomes, provide for contingencies and am always prepared. I find great satisfaction in solving problems that were too difficult for others attempt. I pledge to represent the interests of the membership in a thoughtful and consistent fashion. Therefore, please consider me a qualified candidate for this position.
Trustees
Hello to all , I would like to have the opportunity to again represent all of you. I have been working for the City of Stamford for 29 years. I have worked on grievances for members inside and outside of the government center. I believe the union needs more stability we have a lot of things that need to be worked on as a group, I would like to be part of the team that makes us strong again, We all have important jobs in the city and a lot of responsibilities that go with it. If elected I plan on meeting with members to talk about ways to better our union and showing the city that we stand strong. This show of unity would help us in upcoming contracts. Lastly I have been in a supervisory role for 21 years so I have been through a lot of different union situations the last 2 years on the negotiating committee was very valuable experience for me. I would like to represent you again, please vote for me, if not it was a pleasure serving you.
I am humbly asking for your vote for the position of Trustee. One of my goals as a Trustee is to ensure equal say in Union matters and I believe in the importance of diversity in the makeup of the Union leadership by including a non-pension Union member. Additionally I'd like to put my analytical skills to good use and aid in future contract negotiations. As an analyst in OPM I get to see a unique point-of-view from the City's perspective in matters of Wage Increases, Pensions, Medical Benefits and OPEB and I think it is important for someone to be financially well-versed in these key benefit matters. By electing me, we will take another positive step towards attaining a more diverse representation on the Board with the goal of looking out for everyone's best interest.