The Programs Finance Committee is still another member short for nearly a week, but members say the lack of members is not affecting the ASUO as badly as it seems.
PFC had already lacked a member for most of fall term after Rachel Koppes, elected to a PFC at-large position, resigned in October for unknown reasons. No one has been appointed or confirmed to hold this seat since Koppes’ resignation.
Erin Altman, former ASUO senator and PFC member, officially resigned last Tuesday, Jan. 11, in the half hour prior to that evening’s round of ASUO-recognized program budget hearings.
Altman’s resignation came at an inopportune time, as that evening would see a nearly 10-hour meeting that stretched from 5:30 p.m. Tuesday until 2:30 a.m. Wednesday.
The extended meeting was caused by back-and-forth discussions between committee members and ASUO Executive staff about the Executive’s budget for the 2011-12 fiscal year. This budget included increases to some executive staff stipends and changing the Sustainability Coordinator, a position created last May, from part-time pay to full-time.
Sen. Laura Hinman was also absent from the hearings Tuesday, citing sickness as her reason for absence.
PFC met quorum (the number of members that must be present to hold a meeting under Robert’s Rules of Order, which is a minimum of four members), but the four members there, Sen. James Dos Santos, executive appointee
Melissa Cohen, Programs Recognition Review Committee representative Paul Trakarn and PFC Chair Noah Wolf-Prusan, noticed the absences at one of the least-attended set of hearings of the budget season so far.
In her resignation letter, addressed to Senate, PFC and the media, Altman said she was resigning because she was unable to devote enough time to the position.
“My commitment to the ASUO has grown since I was elected last Spring, but it would be unfair for me to maintain my Senate Seat when I know that I cannot give more of my time to the position,” Altman said in her letter.
Cohen said she doesn’t want to put any blame on Altman for resigning, although she said there has been more work in the absence of more PFC members.
“To be honest, I don’t think that it’s fair for anybody to judge Erin Altman for quitting,” Cohen said.
Cohen also said she doesn’t see having fewer members as being harmful to the committee.
“We have a very diverse finance committee compared to other committees at the moment,” she said.
Altman added suggestions for PFC later in the letter.
“I feel that Executive Recommendations could be the initially allocated amount, which would create necessity for Budget Hearings only when the PFC recalls a group, or when the group would like to appeal the Executive Recommendation,” Altman said. “This would eliminate Budget Hearings that are unnecessary (inefficient).”
The Emerald was unable to contact Wolf-Prusan by press deadline.

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