MINUTES OF THE WORKERS’ COMPENSATION EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING OF April 2004:
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Hepburn called the meeting to order at 12:12 p.m. at the Oregon State Office Building in the offices of the Hearings Division of the Workers’ Compensation Board.
The following members were present in-person: Chair Rodger Hepburn, Chair-Elect Abigail Herman, Secretary Martin Alvey, Meg Carman, Keith Kekauoha, Linh Vu, Holly Somers and Mark Thesing. Also present was Suzanne Cushing of the Oregon State Bar.
Presiding ALJ McCullough and Board Chair Bock attended as special guests.
No members were on the phone, although Matthew Roy, Phil Garrow (and perhaps others?) tried mightily to get through. A conference call link could not be made at the Hearings Division. Not present were Debra Ehrman Shelley Edling, Matthew Roy, Dean Lederer, Sandra Haynes, and Art Stevens.
II. MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING
The minutes of the March 12, 2004 meeting were approved.
III. CHAIR REPORT
A. Nomination Committee.
ALJ Jill Reichers, and defense counsel Julie Masters will be at Salishan nominated for the vacancies on the Executive Committee. Matthew Roy will be nominated as Treasurer. A defense lawyer will be needed to become the Secretary.
B. Casemaker.
Nothing new to report.
C. Board Members.
Chair Bock and Presiding ALJ McCullough attended as special guests.
Chair Bock announced that the Board web address will change soon to wcb.oregon.gov. On the budget front, much will depend on what occurs with the Board’s Own Motion jurisdiction and proposed legislation effecting the same. Chair Bock also discussed recommendations from the Office of Regulatory Streamlining. The recommendation was that almost all WC litigation would fall to the Hearings Division. This was a very preliminary recommendation.
ALJ McCullough spoke about the closed satellite hearing offices and spoke about the current docketing situation.
IV. TREASURER’S REPORT
There was no treasurer’s report.
V. COMMITTEE REPORTS
A. Salishan.
There was little to report as all is on track and on budget. A vote was taken to allocate money ($500.00) for the purchase of recognition gifts for John Klor, and for the Salishan Committee members.
The results of the Salishan location survey were discussed. It was agreed to delay the vote on a permanent location until the next meeting at Salishan.
B. Communications.
No report.
C. Daughtry Award.
There is one nominee. By the time this item of business was addressed, there was no longer a quorum. An e-mail vote will be taken.
D. Legislative.
It was recommended that the committee try to have draft language for the two proposed legislative changes by the time of Salishan.
E. Bench/Bar.
No report.
F. Race/Ethnic.
An article by Mark Thesing regarding medical access for Hispanic workers will posted to the website soon.
G. Rules.
New rules have been proposed re: cancelled depositions and a proposed fee schedule. The Rules Sub-Committee will address the same.
VII. OLD BUSINESS
VIII. NEW BUSINESS
Next meeting will occur at Salishan.
Meeting adjourned at 1:20 p.m.