MINUTES

Regular Meeting - Board of Trustees

 March 5, 2001

 

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, March 5, 2001, at 6:01 p.m. in the Board Room (201) of the Highland Business Center of the Austin Community College located at 5930 Middle Fiskville Road, Austin, Texas, with the following members present: Lillian Davis, Chair/Presiding Officer; Beverly Silas, Vice Chair; John Worley, Secretary; Beverly Watts Davis; Allen Kaplan; Barbara Mink, Della May Moore, Carol Nasworthy, and Rafael Quintanilla.

 

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

Dr. Gerry Tucker, Associate Vice President for Human Resources, introduced Bonnie Spanogle, Marketing Specialist at Highland Business Center.

 

Citizens Communication

§       Lee Reece, ACC student, re ADA services at Riverside Campus.

§       Allison Mosshart, ACC/AFT, spoke regarding health insurance for adjuncts; hiring of people early in their careers; and out-sourcing of ACC custodial services.

 

Public Hearing on Riverside Golf Course Property

The following persons commented regarding the Riverside Golf Course property:

§      Dick Kemp

§      Barb Fox

§      Ruth Meaders

§      Linda Watkins

§      Terri Seiler

§      John Hamilton

§      Merg Arnold

§      Benny Moskowitz

§      Ben Crenshaw

§      Scott Sayers

§      Ron DeFord

§      Ray McDermett

§      Delano Womack

§      Jennifer Maccurrach

§      Jeb Boyt

§      Tim Fulton

§      Wayne Gronquist

 

Reports from Employee Associations

·       Adjunct Faculty Association - Kamil Jbeily, President, spoke regarding work of committees, invited Trustees to visit the Adjunt Faculty Association web site, and asked for investment in the three-year compensation for the adjunct faculty.

·       Classified Employees Association - Barbara Dickey, President, spoke regarding upcoming events and out-sourcing of custodial services.

·       Full-Time Faculty Senate - Paula Robertson-Rose, President, spoke regarding payroll; commitment to addressing areas of academic organization; action taken on February 20 following November vote regarding request to State Comptroller.

·       Professional/Technical Employees Association - No report was presented.

·      Student Government Association - No report was presented.

 

Reports to the Board

·       Report of Achievements and Recognitions - Dr. Elva Allie, Executive Vice President, recognized: 

1.     $500,000 Grant from the Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund;

2.     Library Services/Biotech/Biolink Grant;

3.     Certification of Automotive Technology Program from the National Institute for Automotive Excellence;

4.     Continuing Education Computer Education classes for clients of the Workforce Center of Texas in Round Rock;

5.     National recognition of the Localization Program; and

6.     New partnership between Continuing Education and Community Options, Inc. on "Go For It".

 

TRUSTEE REPORTS TO THE BOARD

 

Beverly Silas reported to the Board on the Downtown Austin Alliance.  She stated Downtown Austin Alliance works closely with the Downtown Education Center , and the March 19 Work Session of the Board of Trustees will be held at the Downtown Education Center.  Ms. Silas said the Downtown Austin Alliance has approximately 400 members and serves the area bordered by IH35, Martin Luther King Boulevard, San Antonio Street, and the Colorado River.  The budget is approximately $1.3 million, one-half of which is spent on security and maintenance programs.  The Downtown Rangers provide walking and bicycle patrol of the area, and the court restitution process provides assistance in keeping the area clean.  She provided additional information concerning art projects for the area.

 

Dr. Davis expressed appreciation to Ms. Silas for presenting information on the linkage with the Downtown Austin Alliance and stated additional reports will be presented by Trustees on various linkages with the community at the first Board meeting of each month.

 

ITEM(S) FOR CONSENT

Dr. Davis introduced the Consent Agenda:

 

Agenda Item 7333

Minutes of February 12, 2000, Regular Meeting, and February 23-24 Retreat of the Austin Community College Board of Trustees

Recommendation:  That the Board of Trustees approve the minutes as presented.

 

Agenda Item 7334

Proposed Approval of New Continuing Education Program:  Certificate in Veterinarian Assistant

Recommendation:  That the Board of Trustees approve the proposed new continuing education program leading to a certificate in Veterinarian Assistant.

 

Agenda Item 7335

Proposed New Workforce Education Program:  Certificate in Meeting Planning

Recommendation:  That the Board of Trustees approve the proposed new workforce education program leading to a certificate in Meeting Planning.

 

Agenda Item 7336

Proposed Amendment to Board Policy G-2, Purchasing

Recommendation:  That the Board of Trustees approve the proposed amendment to Board Policy G-2, Purchasing.

 

Della May Moore requested Agenda Item 7335, Proposed New Workforce Education Program:  Certificate in Meeting Planning, be pulled from the Consent Agenda for discussion. Beverly Watts Davis requested Agenda Item 7336, Proposed Amendment to Board Policy G-2, Purchasing, be pulled from the Consent Agenda for discussion.

 

Carol Nasworthy moved and  Beverly Silas seconded that:

MOTION:  The Board of Trustees approve Consent Agenda Item 7333, Minutes of February 12, 2001, Regular Meeting, and February 23-24, 2001, Retreat of the Austin Community College Board of Trustees, and Agenda Item 7334, Proposed Approval of New Continuing Education Program:  Certificate in Veterinarian Assistant.

VOTE:  The motion passed on a unanimous vote of 8-0.

The Chair did not vote.

 


Agenda Item 7335

Proposed New Workforce Education Program:  Certificate in Meeting Planning

Trustees discussed the item.

Allen Kaplan moved and Rafael Quintanilla seconded that:

MOTION:  The Board of Trustees approve Consent Agenda Item 7335, Proposed New Workforce Education Program:  Certificate in Meeting Planning.

VOTE:  The motion passed by a unanimous vote of 8-0.

The Chair did not vote.

 

Agenda Item 7336

Proposed Amendment to Board Policy G-2, Purchasing

Trustees discussed the item and requested additional information.  This item will be on the agenda of the April 2, 2001, meeting.

 

Agenda Item 7337

Riverside Campus Property

Dr. Davis introduced the item and Steve Kinslow presented information concerning the Riverside golf course property including options to maintain the status quo, sell and/or trade, or retain ownership and pursue possible joint venture.  Dr. Kinslow responded to questions from Trustees concerning possible options and the need to declare the golf course property as surplus in order to solicit RFPs for possible sale and/or land exchange. 

 

Rafael Quintanilla moved and Beverly Watts Davis seconded that:

MOTION:  The Board of Trustees not declare the Riverside golf course property as surplus at this meeting, and asked the staff to work with the College Legal Counsel to advise what the Board can do without declaring the property as surplus. 

VOTE:  The motion passed by a unanimous vote of 8-0.

The Chair did not vote.

 

Agenda Item 7338

Proposed Amendment to Board Policy B-4, Board of Trustees Bylaws

Dr. Davis introduced the item and Richard Fonte, College President, stated a sentence was omitted on page 74 of the agenda to add after 3.1 and before Option 1:  "This exception does not apply to adoption of a Board policy."  Dr. Davis stated "in accordance with State law" should be deleted from Options 1 and 2 on page 74 of the agenda.

 

Beverly Watts Davis moved that:

MOTION:  Section 3.1 be approved with the addition of Option 1.

The motion failed for lack of a second.

 

Allen Kaplan moved and Barbara Mink seconded that:

MOTION:  The Board of Trustees approve Section 3.1 without any additional sentences.

Trustees discussed the motion.

Barbara Mink requested a friendly amendment.

FRIENDLY AMENDMENT:  At the end of Section 3.1, add:  "or if not taking action could harm the College.  This exception does not apply to the adoption of Board policy."

Mr. Kaplan approved the addition of the friendly amendment to the motion.

VOTE:  The motion passed on a vote of 7-1.

FOR:  Beverly Watts Davis, Allen Kaplan, Barbara Mink, Della May Moore, Carol Nasworthy, Rafael Quintanilla, and Beverly Silas.

AGAINST:  John Worley

The Chair did not vote.

 

President's Report

Dr. Fonte distributed a memorandum and Dr. Elva Allie provided information which addressed concerns expressed by the Faculty Senate regarding administrative follow-up, associate deans/assistant deans, and assistant task force chairs.

 

Executive Session

The Austin Community College Board of Trustees recessed into Executive Session at 8:55 p.m. to consult with legal counsel regarding Texas Government Code 551.074 related to personnel matters and 551.07 regarding pending or contemplated litigation.

 

Reconvene

The Board of Trustees of Austin Community College reconvened in public session at 9:40 p.m. pursuant to Texas Government Code 551.

 

Information Items

There were no information items.

 

Meeting Review

Trustees commented regarding the meeting: 

What we did well:  liked the way the meeting went;  Board looks good on television; enjoyed discussion on Riverside and policy discussion; wished we had done this when we discussed Shadowridge in public; good meeting; appreciate time; in general it was a good meeting but it is a quarter until ten and we punted on Riverside property; good meeting, good discussions; enjoyed the debate about Riverside; enjoyed the meeting, good discussions. 

What we can do better:  when we get to issues like Riverside, can we work together to think out of the box? need to avoid discussion of information that is not part of the agenda; need to have a format for asking questions and getting information.

 

Adjournment

Having no motion before the Board, the March 5, 2001, regular meeting of the Austin Community College Board of Trustees was adjourned at 9:43 p.m.


Approved By

John B. Worley, Secretary