February 5, 2004
Mr.
Jack Dempsey, Executive Director
Facilities & Services
1504 S. Oak
Street
Dear Jack:
This
is to provide a formal response of the Facilities & Services Advisory
Committee to
the proposal presented
by Helen Coleman on January 20, 2004 describing the possible changes
in the
manner in which construction services are handled at UIUC. The
committee applauds your efforts in seeking procedural changes that could
result
in a more effective use of the limited maintenance funding provided
to the
campus. The extensive data shared with the committee was convincing
in informing us of the issues you face. Although supporting an increase
in the overhead rate for any service is not very popular, we have
examined the financial data and the proposed rate structure of the Construction
Services plan presented to the committee. In consideration of the
proposal
presented by Helen Coleman, the Facilities & Services Advisory
Committee strongly endorses the Facilities & Services plan to move
to a model
of
Full Costing of Construction Services (does not include all recharge
services).
We understand the exact details of such a model will need to be developed by an implementation team, which should include members of the F&S Advisory Committee. Additionally, other levels of administrative review and approval will need to be sought. We are willing to assist in any of these activities as appropriate. Following the presentation by Helen Coleman to the committee, a number of comments were forwarded to me for your consideration. The following is a condensed listing of the views expressed by the committee:
1. The committee supported the need to reorganize of the current management structure of construction and maintenance projects.
2. Guidelines for distinguishing between “construction” jobs and “maintenance” jobs must be very clear.
3. Concern for the assignment of staff between the two organizations-is the segmentation of distinct groupings necessary/desirable?
4. Presentations to other campus groups (COD, Senate) need to stress the inefficiencies of the current system, the benefits to campus maintenance budgets by eliminating the subsidy to construction projects, and the potential for these savings to be directed to classroom projects.
5. If, as mentioned in the meeting, new building projects must now provide for their own maintenance funding, a formal announcement should be issued by the Campus Administration to avoid the impression this is an internal F&S decision.
6. The relationship to project planning, facility commissioning, and new construction operations will need to be clarified before the campus will endorse this plan.
The F&S Advisory Committee sincerely appreciates the extensive efforts of your staff in preparing the data reviewed at our recent meeting. We wish you well in advancing this major change to the funding of construction services.
Sincerely,
William Goodman,
Chair
Facilities & Services
Advisory
Committee
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