Date/Time: Friday, April 17, 2026 9:00am – 12:00pm
Location: Zoom
Present
APA Statewide
- Rosa Di Virgilio Taormina, President
- Rebecca (Becca) Ramirez-McKinley, Vice President
- Mark R. Powers, Secretary
- Sharon Francis, Treasurer (Non-voting)
- Aaron Childs, Membership Coordinator (Non-voting)
- Julie Dunlap LePoer, Web Manager (Non-voting)
- Sherry Horeanopoulos, Health & Welfare Trust (Non-voting)
APA Chapter Presidents
- Brian Cahillane, Westfield State University
- Kelly DeMello, Massachusetts Maritime Academy
- Michael Merriam, Framingham State University
- Susan McNeil, Massachusetts College of Art & Design
- Rebecca Shersnow, Fitchburg State University
- Rosa Taormina, Salem State University
Guests
- Matt Bach, Candidate for MTA President
Absent
APA Statewide
- Sean Barrett, MTA Field Representative (Non-voting)
APA Chapter Presidents
- Seth Bean, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
- Eric Feibel, Bridgewater State University
- Peter Fenuccio, Worcester State University
Call to Order
- April 17, 2026 Time: 9:22am
Approval of Minutes
- Approval of March 20, 2026 Executive Board Meeting Minutes
- Amendments: None
- Motion 2026.04.17-00
- Motion to approved the minutes of the March 20, 2026 Executive Board Meeting as presented/amended made:
- by: R. Tamirez-McKinley 2nd by: S. McNeil
- Vote: Unanimous Action: Motion Carries
Public Comments
- Matt Bach & Deb Gesualdo – Candidate for MTA President & Vice President
President’s Report –
Rosa Di Virgilio Taormina
- Update on Signed CBA – nothing from DHE or R&R.
- APA Bylaws amended – approved by Statewide Membership Vote completed on April 1, 2026.
- Information Request & Demand to Bargain regarding Title II APA Accessibility Requirements.
- Vincent Padone is collecting information from the Council of State University Presidents and the Universities.
- Members Unsubscribing from APA email list – about 11 people have unsubscribed from the list of 1340 (or so). Each of the 11 have been contacted to inquire why have they unsubscribed.
- Matt Bach & Deb Gesualdo, Candidates for the upcoming MTA elections.
- Sean Barrett – MTA Report – None at this time.
Treasurer’s Report – Sharon Francis
- Payroll due on Thursday, March 23, 2026 by 5:00pm
- Approval of March 2026 Treasurer’s Report
- Amendments: None
- Motion 2026.04.17-01
- Motion to approve Treasurer’s report as presented/amended made:
- by: R. Tamirez-McKinley 2nd by: R. Shersnow
- Vote: Unanimous Action: Motion Carries
- CD is expiring soon and APA needs to reconsider investment options. To be discussed at the May 15th E-Board Meeting.
Higher Education (HELC) Updates – Rebecca (Becca) Ramirez-McKinley
- HELC Bargaining Council – Next Meeting Friday, April 24, 2026 8:30a-10:00a [Zoom]. Anyone who is available to attend is encouraged to do so.
- CHEQA Updates – bringing up way to talk about issues that are financial that would potentially be part of future bargaining.
- Legislative Bargaining updates – Bargaining bill may have died in committee.
- Workload Survey Data Analysis
Membership and Data – Aaron Childs
- 1566 Overall Membership since March 2026. An Increase/Decrease of 0.
- 320 Non-Dues Paying Member. An Increase of 3 since March 2026.
Website – Julie Dunlap LePoer
- Regular updates made to website.
Health and Welfare Fund Report –
Sherry Horeanopoulos
- On April 23, 2026, the HWT meets in Worcester to hear presentations about new options for Dental and vision. HWT has contracted with Jack’s firm to do the research. I will provide you with a written report to distribute right after that meeting.
Committee Reports
- Budget Committee – Bean, Cahillane, Francis, Ramirez-McKinley
- Committee on Professional Development – Vacant
- Special Committees:
- Committee on Legislative Action – Vacant
- Committee on Health & Safety – Vacant
- APA/Management Working Group – Vacant
- Employee Relations Committee (ERC) as per the APA CBA – Powers/Ramirez-McKinley/Taormina.
- Meet in March to start talking about topics to bring to ERC.
Old/New Business
- There is a need to move the May 15, 2026, APA Executive Board meeting due to the APA President needing to be away for a conference.
- Motion 2026.04.17-03
- Move the May 15th meeting to occur on May 18th at 9:00am to 12:00pm via Zoom.
- by: R. Taormina 2nd by: R. Tamirez-McKinley
- Vote: 5-0-3 Action: Motion Carries
- There is a need to move the June 19, 2026, APA Executive Board meeting to June 12, 2026 due to the federal & state Juneteenth Holiday.
Motion 2026.04.17-04 Moved to New Business for the May Exec-Board meetingMoved to New Business for the May Exec-Board meeting- Move the June 19th meeting to occur on June 12th at 10:00am to 1:00pm at Mass Maritime Academy.
- Develop a policy for public transportation costs for Non-Executive Board Members attending the MTA Annual Meeting in May.
- Create/Submit an NBI to require MTA to stop mailing shit and therefore save money and lower the dues.
Institutional Issues
Information has been redacted.
Announcements
- None.
Adjournment
- Motion to Adjourn made at 11:16am
- by: R. Taormina 2nd by: R. Tamirez-McKinley
- Vote: Unanimous Action: Motion Carries
APA Meeting Schedule 2025-2026:
| Event | Time | Date | Format | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| APA Executive Board | 10:00am | Friday, September 19, 2025 | Hybrid | Zoom/Worcester |
| APA Executive Board | 9:00am | Friday, October 17, 2025 | Remote | Zoom |
| APA Executive Board | 10:00am | Friday, November 21, 2025 | Hybrid | Zoom/Worcester State University |
| Annual State-wide Membership | 12:00pm | Friday, November 21, 2025 | Hybrid | Zoom/Worcester State University |
| APA Executive Board | 10:00am | Friday, December 19, 2025 | Hybrid | Zoom/Worcester |
| APA Executive Board | 9:00am | Friday, January 16, 2026 | Remote | Zoom |
| APA Executive Board | 9:00am | Friday, February 20, 2026 | Remote | Zoom |
| APA Executive Board | 9:00am | Friday, March 20, 2026 | Remote | Zoom |
| APA Executive Board | 9:00am | Friday, April 17, 2026 | Remote | Zoom |
| APA Executive Board | 9:00am | Friday, May 15, 2026 | Remote | Zoom |
| APA Executive Board | 10:00am | Friday, June 19, 2026 | Hybrid | Zoom/Worcester |
