MINUTES

Regular Meeting – Board of Trustees

December 2, 2002

 

In accordance with the terms and provisions of the Texas Open Meetings Act, Chapter 551 of Texas Government Code, the Board of Trustees of the Austin Community College District convened in public session on Monday, December 2, 2002, at 6:02 p.m. in the Board Room (201) the Highland Business Center of Austin Community College located at 5930 Middle Fiskville Road, Austin, Texas, with the following members present: Rafael Quintanilla, Chair/Presiding Officer; Barbara Mink, Vice Chair; Allen H. Kaplan, Secretary; Beverly Watts Davis [arrived at 6:50 p.m.]; Lillian J. Davis; John F. Hernandez; Nan McRaven [arrived at 6:30 p.m.]; 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

There were no new employees to be recognized.

 

Citizens Communication

·        Charles Zucker, Adjunct Faculty, spoke regarding health benefits for adjunct faculty.

·        Becky Villerreal, Adjunct Faculty, distributed information and spoke regarding health benefits for adjunct faculty.

·        Mark Goodrich, ACC/AFT, spoke regarding proposed tax and bond referenda.

·        Betty Edgemond, citizen, spoke regarding South Austin Campus.

·        Brig Mireles, Adjunct Faculty, spoke regarding health benefits for adjunct faculty.

·        Catherine Watson, Adjunct Faculty, spoke regarding reduction of teaching load.

·        Dan Dewberry, Adjunct Faculty, spoke regarding adjunct faculty health benefits proposal.

·        Anita Thurwachter, Adjunct Faculty, spoke regarding health benefits for adjunct faculty.

·        Laura Hague, Adjunct Faculty, spoke regarding adjunct faculty health benefits proposal.

·        Myra Bradley, ACC/AFT, spoke regarding proposed amendment to Board Policy D-3 and health benefits for adjunct faculty.

·        Patrick Collins, Adjunct Faculty, spoke regarding health benefits for adjunct faculty.

·        John Cise, Full-Time Faculty, distributed information and spoke regarding pay for full-time faculty and the Report on the State Comptroller’s Performance Review of Austin Community College.

·        Guadalupe Sosa, South Austin Campus Advisory Committee, spoke regarding health benefits for adjunct faculty and the South Austin Campus.

 

Reports from Associations

·        Adjunct Faculty Association – Don Morris, President, spoke regarding College’s mission/values.

·        Classified Employees Association – Judy Doyen, President, spoke regarding the State Employee’s Charitable Contributions Campaign and activities of the Classified Employees Association.

·        Full-Time Faculty Senate – Stacey Thompson, President, expressed appreciation for the proposed amendment to Board Policy D-3, Faculty Workloads, for calculation of pay; Association activities and non-renewal of Downtown Education Center lease past May 2003.

·        Professional-Technical Employees Association – Marilyn Lee-Taylor, President, provided a “snapshot” of Professional-Technical Employee Linda Morrison and comments from Association members regarding a tax referendum.

·        Student Government Association – Zander Parker, President, spoke regarding Association issues regarding student services; State Comptroller’s Report; and tax referendum.

·        ACC Retirees Association – Roger Griffin, President, spoke regarding Association Constitution and Bylaws and recommended approval of the changes; and Association activities.

 

Trustee Community Organization Reports to the Board

·        Trustee Lillian Davis provided information on a meeting of the Lakeline Business Network.

·        Board Secretary Allen Kaplan reported on a recent meeting of the Lake Travis Chamber of Commerce.

 

Reports to the Board

·        Internal Budget Committee – Dr. Terry Perrin and Ben Ferrell, Committee Co-Chairs, stated the Committee supports pursuing general obligation bonds in an amount necessary for the College’s expansion and renovation through 2010 and recommended that the lease for the Downtown Education Center not be renewed.

·        Financial Update-October 2002 – Ben Ferrell, Vice President for Business Services, provided a financial report for the month of October detailing year-to-date expenditures and revenues against the budget and a revised fiscal-year projection of expenditures and revenues.  He stated that the College would have a positive balance of revenues versus expenditures for the current fiscal year and would meet the expectations of the minimum reserves level policy (G-6) or the corrective action plan requirements, based upon the best estimates and projections provided in the October report.

·        Report on Achievements and Recognitions – Dr. Steve Kinslow, Executive Vice President, distributed information and recognized recent awards/recognitions received by faculty/programs, staff, students, Austin Community College.

 

CONSENT AGENDA

 

Agenda Item 7621

Minutes of November 4, 2002, Regular Board Meeting; November 18, 2002, Board Work Session; and November 25, 2002, Special Meeting of the Austin Community College Board of Trustees

Recommendation:  That the minutes be approved as presented.

 

Agenda Item 7622

Proposed Amendments to Board Policies F-10, Employee Compensation, and D-3, Faculty Workloads

Recommendation:  That the Board of Trustees approve the proposed revisions of Board Policy F-10, Employee Compensation, and D-3, Faculty Workloads.

 

Trustee John Hernandez requested Agenda Item 7622, Proposed Amendments to Board Policies F-10, Employee Compensation, and D-3, Faculty Workloads, be pulled from the Consent Agenda for discussion.

 

Trustee Nan McRaven moved and Beverly Silas seconded that:

MOTION:  The Board of Trustees approve Agenda Item 7621 be approved as presented.

VOTE:  The motion passed on a vote of 9-0.

FOR:  Beverly Watts Davis, Lillian J. Davis, John F. Hernandez, Allen Kaplan, Nan McRaven, Barbara P. Mink, Rafael Quintanilla, Beverly S. Silas, and John Worley.

 

Agenda Item 7622

Proposed Amendments to Board Policies F-10, Employee Compensation, and D-3, Faculty Workloads

Trustees discussed the budget implications of the proposed amendments.

Board Secretary Allen Kaplan moved and Beverly Silas seconded that:

MOTION:  The Board of Trustees approve Agenda Item 7622 be approved as presented.

VOTE:  The motion passed on a vote of 9-0.

FOR:  Beverly Watts Davis, Lillian J. Davis, John F. Hernandez, Allen Kaplan, Nan McRaven, Barbara P. Mink, Rafael Quintanilla, Beverly S. Silas, and John Worley.

AGAINST:  None.

 

Agenda Item 7623

Proposed Addition of Health Benefits for Adjunct Faculty to Austin Community College’s Legislative Agenda/Priorities for the 78th Session of the Texas Legislature

Chair Rafael Quintanilla introduced the item and Trustee John Worley provided information regarding the proposal and discussed an alternative that would not involve a fiscal note.

Trustee John Worley moved and Beverly Watts Davis seconded that:

MOTION:  The Board of Trustees add health benefits for adjunct faculty to Austin Community College’s legislative agenda/priorities with amendment of the proposal regarding the fiscal notes.

VOTE:  The motion passed on a vote of 9-0.

FOR:  Beverly Watts Davis, Lillian J. Davis, John F. Hernandez, Allen Kaplan, Nan McRaven, Barbara P. Mink, Rafael Quintanilla, Beverly S. Silas, and John Worley.

AGAINST:  None.

 

Agenda Item 7624

ACC Master Plan for FY 2004-2006 and Setting Referendum for May 2003

Mr. Quintanilla introduced the item and Dr. Steve Kinslow, Executive Vice President, provided information regarding two scenarios for Austin Community College:  one in which College resources continue to decline, as evidenced by significant budget reductions in FY02 and FY03, and a “preferred future” which would allow the College to continue to meet important community needs.  He discussed values and assumptions; projected revenues and expenses; ACC tax rate overview comparisons; summary of Campus forums on Master Plan; and the value of one. Cary Sowell and Mark Butland provided information regarding the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Alternative Self-Study of Austin Community College in March 2003.  Ron Brey, Associate Vice President for Instructional Resources and Technology, spoke regarding technology improvements.  Ben Ferrell, Vice President, provided a financial analysis and Dr. Kinslow distributed information on the costs of the Master Plan for FY 2004-2206.  Dr. Kinslow stated that the administration recommends actions to enable the College to fulfill community needs at least through the year 2010:  (1) that the Board of Trustees vote to call for a public referendum in May 2003 to increase the College’s tax rate; (2) that the proposed tax cap be increased from a maximum of five cents per $100 assessed property valuation to a maximum cap of ten cents per $100 assessed property valuation; and (3) that the tax rate for ACC be incrementally increased by two cents in FY 2004 (from five cents to seven cents) if the referendum election were successful. 

 

Board Secretary Allen Kaplan moved and Trustee Nan McRaven seconded that:

MOTION:  The Board of Trustees set a referendum on May 3, 2003, to raise the ACC tax cap by four cents from five cents to nine cents for Maintenance and Operation purposes and to set a bond election on that same date for $99.15 million in General Obligation bonds to be funded by a one cent tax for the following capital improvements program: 

 

Proposed Bond Election – May 2003

 

                                                                                                                                                                Millions of

                                                                                                                                                                Dollars

 

Eastview Campus

Phase 2 Health Sciences Building                                                                                                     14.0

 

South Austin Campus                                                                                                                        21.0

 

Cypress Creek Campus Expansion                                                                                                 25.0

 

Rio Grande Campus

                Purchase                                                                                                                                  2.0

                Renovations                                                                                                                         11.0

                Offices (on Parking Structure)                                                                                           3.2

 

District-Wide Renovations                                                                                                                  6.0

 

Parking Improvements                                                     

                Eastview (Surface)                                                                                                                   .8

                Northridge (Surface)                                                                                                                .5

                Pinnacle (Surface)                                                                                                                    .65

                Rio Grande (Structure)                                                                                                        15.0

 

Total General Obligation Bonds                                                                                                      99.15

 

VOTE:  The motion passed on a vote of 9-0.

FOR:  Beverly Watts Davis, Lillian J. Davis, John F. Hernandez, Allen Kaplan, Nan McRaven, Barbara P. Mink, Rafael Quintanilla, Beverly S. Silas, and John Worley.

AGAINST:  None.

 

Agenda Item 7625

Resolution Concerning State Comptroller’s Review of Austin Community College

Mr. Quintanilla introduced the item and Trustees provided suggestions to be included in the proposed Resolution concerning the State Comptroller’s review of Austin Community College.  This item will be included on the agenda for the January 13, 2002, Board meeting. 

 

Agenda Item 7626

Board Work Plan for Next Six Months—February through July 2003

Mr. Quintanilla introduced the item and Trustees provided suggestions to be included in the proposed Work Plan.  Dr. Fonte, College President, asked that Trustees provide information concerning any items suggested for the Work Plan.  This item will be included on the agenda for the January 13, 2003, Board meeting.

 

Agenda Item 7627

Presidential Evaluation

 

Executive Session

The Board of Trustees of Austin Community College recessed into Executive Session at 9:10 p.m. pursuant to Government Code 551.074 to consult with legal counsel regarding personnel matters, including evaluation of the College President.

 

Reconvene

The Board of Trustees of Austin Community College reconvened in public session at 10:05 p.m. pursuant to Government Code 551.

 

President’s Administrative Report

No report was presented. 

 

Announcements

·        Trustee Beverly Watts Davis requested that former Trustee Della May Moore be nominated for an award of the Association of Community College Trustees.

 

Meeting Review

Trustees commented regarding the meeting: 

What we did well rated as 1-5 (with 5 being very satisfied):  4; high 5; 5; 4,commended Trustee Allen Kaplan’s leadership at this meeting.

What we can do better:  need to cut length of reports/presentations; need a second camera for televising Board meetings.

 

Adjournment

Having no motion before the Board, the December 2, 2002, Regular Meeting of the Austin Community College Board of Trustees was adjourned at 10:15 p.m.

 

Approved By

Allen H. Kaplan, Secretary