MINUTES
Regular Meeting - Board of Trustees
January 4, 1999
In accordance with the terms and provisions of the Texas Open Meetings Act, Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code, the Board of Trustees of the Austin Community College District convened in public session on Monday, January 4, 1999, at 6:06 p.m. in the Board Room (201) of the Highland Business Center of Austin Community College located at 5930 Middle Fiskville Road, Austin, Texas, with the following members present: Beverly Watts Davis, Chair/Presiding Officer; Allen Kaplan, Vice Chair; Hunter Ellinger, Secretary; Lillian Davis; Della May Moore; Carol Nasworthy [arrived at 6:25 p.m.]; Rafael Quintanilla; Beverly Silas; and John Worley.
It is further found and determined that in accordance with the policies and orders of this Board, the notice of this meeting has been posted and return thereof made pursuant to the terms and provisions of the Texas Open Meetings Act, Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code, and there has been full compliance with the terms and provisions of said act, including the timely posting of the subjects of this meeting.
Recognitions
Ms. Davis and fellow Board members recognized the birthday of Vice Chair Allen Kaplan.
Work Session on Agenda Item 7039
Proposed New Board Policy on Employee Compensation
(6:13 p.m.-7:25 p.m.)
Ms. Davis welcomed the following participants to the work session: Richard Fonte, College President; Cha Guzman, Executive Vice President; Lee Hisle, Interim Executive Vice President; Milton Gatewood, President of Professional-Technical Employees Association; Tyra Duncan-Hall, Provost of ACC Central Austin Campuses; John Herndon, President of the Adjunct Faculty Association; Steve Kinslow, Executive Vice President; Joe Lostracco, President-Elect of the Faculty Senate Association; Dolores Segura, President of the Faculty Senate Association; Gerry Tucker, Associate Vice President of Human Resources; Janet Valenza, Vice President of the Adjunct Faculty Association; Tomi Welch, President of Classified Association; Gloria Walker, President-Elect of the Classified Employees Association; and ACC Trustees.
Ms. Davis stated the work session was the second in a series of work sessions to be held to develop the Board policy on compensation principles. Dr. Fonte called attention to additional information included with the agenda item including a survey of faculty salaries for Texas public community junior colleges for 1997-98, compensation and utilization of part-time instructors; adjunct faculty level/step placement summary; academic programs - 3 lecture hour course - Fall/Spring; community college adjunct faculty benefit comparison; article "25 Colleges Provide Additional Benefits"; ACC benefits report; ACC report on benefits of colleges/universities/schools organizations; State holiday list; State vacation; The University of Texas salary and benefits survey as of 9/1/98. Discussion began with question number 5 of the agenda item.
Participants provided comments regarding Question 5 and a portion of Question 7 regarding compensation and cited the need to:
- Determine relevance of experience/process/tenure--is an individual more effective as they become more experienced;
- Identify whether there is/should be salary ranges/steps for faculty and staff and rewards for continued job enhancement and employee development;
- Review and possibly develop fair and uniform criteria for an evaluation process/merit pay;
- Look at increasing salaries to the average metro range;
- Determine how to recognize excellence within each of the categories; in what way could a program be instituted at the College to recognize and possibly reward excellence and maybe not as a part of the regular allocation process;
- Look at possibility of inflation adjustments and market corrections versus across-the-board pay increases or a flat amount instead of a percentage increase;
- Possibly look at recognizing outstanding teachers and staff with money; team awards;
Ms. Davis stated that there would be additional work sessions to discuss the ACC policy on compensation principles--Questions 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and, lastly, Question 4.
Ms. Davis expressed appreciation to participants and stated that the Board of Trustees looks forward to continued input and comments regarding the policy compensation principles. Comments should be forwarded to Pat Stubbs, Board Assistant.
Citizen’s Communication
Dr. Kamil A. Jbeily, ACC Adjunct Chemistry Professor, distributed information and addressed the Board regarding reduction of teaching assignments.
Mr. John N. Arendt, citizen and former student of Dr. Jbeily, spoke regarding reduction of Dr. Jbeily's teaching assignments.
Reports from Employee Associations
Full-Time Faculty Senate - Dolores Segura, President, expressed appreciation for the Work Session and spoke regarding a meeting with Drs. Fonte, Friedman, Hisle, and Guzman regarding salaries, computers, task force chairs/staffing faculty.
Adjunct Faculty Association - John Herndon, President, expressed appreciation for Work Session and spoke regarding the reduction of classes and relevance of the Work Sessions to adjunct faculty.
Professional/Technical Employees Association - Milton Gatewood, President, expressed appreciation for the Work Session and spoke regarding the possibility of ACC contributing to employee retirement as a part of the pay issue.
Classified Employees Association - Tomi Welch, President, expressed appreciation for the Work Session, stated that the Classified Employees Association gave over $100 to the Giving Tree to buy presents for the children of ACC students in need, and introduced Gloria Walker, newly elected President-Elect of the Classified Employees Association. Ms. Walker spoke regarding an upcoming professional development day on Friday, February 19, and expressed appreciation to Drs. Fonte, Guzman, and Tucker for supporting this event.
Student Leadership Association - No report was presented.
Reports to the Board
Eastview Campus - Dilip Anketell, Associate Vice President for Facilities and Operations, advised that the Eastview Campus will be ready for classes on Monday, January 11. He and Dr. Guzman will meet with City of Austin officials on Wednesday or Thursday of the current week to discuss the Certificate of Occupancy. Dr. Tyra Duncan-Hall, Provost, Central Austin Campuses, stated the move to the Eastview Campus began during the Winter Holidays. Computer tables, office furniture and general classroom furniture is in and staff from the Eastridge Campus has begun to relocate. Dr. Guzman stated that Hensel-Phelps, contractor for the Eastview Campus, is currently paying $1,500 per day in liquidated damages since the completion date for the Campus was not met.
Status Report on External Audit - Jerry Miller, Vice President for Business Services, stated that, for the second year, the External Audit was completed on time and will be presented to the Board at the January 19 Board meeting.
CONSENT AGENDA
Ms. Davis introduced the following Consent agenda items:
Agenda Item 7040
Minutes of Board of Trustees Meetings: December 7 and December 14, 1998
Recommendation: That the Board of Trustees approve the minutes as presented.
Allen Kaplan moved and Della May Moore seconded that:
MOTION: The Board of Trustees approve the minutes.
Allen Kaplan stated that Dr. Nasworthy requested the following addition to the minutes of the December 14, 1998, Special Meeting of the Board of Trustees, following the Motion on Agenda Item 7038, Consideration of College President's evaluation and Employment Contract: "as proposed by our attorney."
VOTE: The motion passed on a unanimous vote to approve the minutes as revised.
The Chair did not vote.
Agenda Item 7041
Custodial Contract
Recommendation: That the Board of Trustees approve the purchase of custodial services for the following four campuses from the listed vendors and for the listed contract amounts:
Campus Vendor Amount
Northridge ABM Janitorial Services $114,127.26
Rio Grande ABM Janitorial Services $103,774.59
Riverside Sunray Building Services $106,945.97
Eastview Spotless Cleaning, Inc. $ 52,557.12
Trustee John Worley requested that the item be pulled from the Consent Agenda for discussion.
Dr. Nasworthy moved and Allen Kaplan seconded that:
Motion: The Board of Trustees approve the item as presented.
Board members discussed the rate of pay to employees by the vendors; termination of ACC employees currently performing these responsibilities and the possibility of employment with the vendors; and the possibility of awarding custodial services at all campuses to one vendor.
VOTE: The motion passed on a vote of 6-2.
For: Allen Kaplan, Hunter Ellinger, Della May Moore, Carol Nasworthy, Rafael Quintanilla, and Beverly Silas.
Against: Lillian Davis and John Worley.
The Chair did not vote.
ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION/POSSIBLE ACTION
Agenda Item 7042
Charge and Process of a Citizen's Advisory Committee
Ms. Davis introduced the item and Dr. Guzman distributed a draft of the Austin Community College Citizen Advisory Committee Plan. Board members discussed the charge and process.
Della May Moore moved and Allen seconded that:
MOTION: The Board of Trustees adopt the following Charge of the Citizen's Advisory Committee:
"To review the capacity of Austin Community College in meeting the education and workforce needs of the central Texas region for the 21st Century, and to recommend to the Austin Community College Board of Trustees strategies for meeting those needs, and that there be a process to include, among others, the review of the draft ACC Strategic Plan, the assessment of whether ACC will require additional funding, and, if ACC will require additional funding, to recommend the amount of additional funds required to meet the community needs."
VOTE: The motion passed on a unanimous vote.
The Chair did not vote.
Board members were asked to review the draft plan and provide comments to Dr. Guzman by 10 a.m. on Friday, January 8, 1999.
Agenda Item 7043
Salary and Stipends Relating to the Executive Vice Presidents
Ms. Davis introduced the item.
Allen Kaplan moved and Beverly Silas seconded that:
MOTION: The Board of Trustees table this item.
VOTE: The motion passed on a vote of 6-2.
For: Allen Kaplan, Hunter Ellinger, Lillian Davis, Rafael Quintanilla, Beverly Silas, and John Worley.
Against: Della May Moore and Carol Nasworthy.
The Chair did not vote.
Agenda Item 7044
Professional Agreements
Ms. Davis introduced the item. Dr. Fonte provided information, and Board members discussed areas in which the College has professional agreements.
Dr. Nasworthy moved and Lillian Davis seconded that:
MOTION: The Board of Trustees develop a policy, with input from the Administration, that provides information regarding the current situation on all contracts. The policy can address the length of the terms and how often, or whether, a previous bidder can re-bid.
VOTE: The motion passed on a unanimous vote.
The Chair did not vote.
Dr. Fonte stated that it is his intention to proceed with Requests for Proposals in all of these areas and all people will be allowed to bid on them.
Agenda Item 7045
Board Self-Evaluation
Ms. Davis introduced the item.
Dr. Nasworthy moved and Lillian Davis seconded that:
MOTION: The Board of Trustees table this item and that one hour be set aside at the next Board Retreat for Board discussion.
VOTE: The motion passed on a unanimous vote.
The Chair did not vote.
Information Items
Ms. Davis called attention to the Personnel Actions, December 1998, and Board members discussed new hires.
Mrs. Moore asked that Agenda Item 7043, Salary and Stipends for Executive Vice Presidents, be included on the Agenda for the January 19, 1999, Committee of the Whole Meeting.
President's Report
Dr. Fonte stated he will be visiting the sister city of Austin beginning this Wednesday and through January 18, 1999. He said Dr. Guzman will serve as the chief officer of the College during his absence.
Executive Session
The Board of Trustees recessed into Executive Session at 8:57 p.m. to consult with Legal Counsel regarding pending or contemplated litigation or a settlement offer pursuant to Government Code §551.071.
Reconvene
The Board of Trustees of the Austin Community College reconvened in public session at 9:35 p.m. pursuant to Texas Government Code §551.071.
Adjournment
Having no motion before the Board, the January 4, 1999, Regular Meeting of the Austin Community College Board of Trustees was adjourned at 9:36 p.m
Approved By
Hunter Ellinger, Secretary