MINUTES

Board Work Session - Board of Trustees

November 17, 2003

 

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, November 17, 2003, at 6:08 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:  Rafael Quintanilla, Chair /Presiding Officer; Barbara Mink, Vice Chair; Allen Kaplan, Secretary; Lillian J. Davis; John Hernandez; Nan McRaven; Beverly S. Silas; and John Worley.  Trustee Beverly Watts Davis resigned from the Board of Trustees effective October 1, 2003, and, therefore, did not attend the meeting.

 

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.

 

Items for Discussion/Possible Action

 

Trustee Nan McRaven asked that the agenda for the meeting be revised to postpone discussion of Agenda Item 7823, Master Planning Overview.  Trustees agreed, and the item was postponed until the November 24, 2003, Special Board meeting.

 

 

Agenda Item 7818

Place 4, Austin Community College Board of Trustees Candidate Interviews/Possible Selection

Mr. Quintanilla introduced the item and stated that each candidate would make a two-minute presentation and respond to one of the questions selected from the standard list of questions provided to the candidates in advance of the meeting. 

 

Candidates Rodney E. Ahart, Tom Arbuckle, James McGuffee, Veronica Rivera, Jeffrey Richard, Charles Rouse, and Melvin G. Wrenn participated in the interviews.  Candidate Weaver (Bruce) Cook was delayed in Houston because of the weather and Candidate Thomas Krueger was absent due to an earlier commitment; therefore, they were unable to participate in the interview process.

 

[College President Richard Fonte left the meeting at 6:55 p.m.]

 

Chair Quintanilla stated that the Board would need to decide whether to proceed with appointment of a candidate to fill the Place 4 seat on the Austin Community College Board of Trustees.

Trustee Nan McRaven moved and Allen Kaplan seconded that:

MOTION:  The Board of Trustees proceed to appoint a candidate to Place 4, Austin Community College Board of Trustees.

Trustee John Hernandez requested an amendment to the motion:  If there was a tied vote, no appointment would be made.  Five votes would be needed to appoint.

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

 

Trustee Beverly Silas suggested that each Trustee name three candidates or less for the possible appointment.  Mr. Quintanilla stated any candidate who did not receive a vote would be eliminated from the second ballot; on the second ballot, the successful candidate must receive 5 votes.

Trustee Lillian Davis named:  Jeffrey Richard, Veronica Rivera, and Tom Arbuckle.

Trustee John Hernandez named:  Rodney Ahart, Veronica Rivera, and Jeffrey Richard.

Trustee John Worley named:  Rodney Ahart, James McGuffee, and Veronica Rivera.

Trustee Barbara Mink named:  Rodney Ahart and Jeffrey Richard

Trustee Rafael Quintanilla named:  Jeffrey Richard, Veronica Rivera, Rodney Ahart.

Trustee Allen Kaplan named:  Rodney Ahart, James McGuffee, and Jeffrey Richard.

Trustee Beverly Silas named:  Rodney Ahart, Veronica Rivera, and Jeffrey Richard.

Trustee Nan McRaven named:  Jeffrey Richard, Rodney Ahart, and Veronica Rivera.

 

Candidate Rodney Ahart received 7 votes, Candidate Jeffrey Richard received 7 votes; and Candidate Veronica Rivera received 6 votes.

 

Trustees cast their vote on the second ballot for:

Nan McRaven – Jeffrey Richard

Beverly Silas – Rodney Ahart

Allen Kaplan – Rodney Ahart

Rafael Quintanilla – Veronica Rivera

Barbara Mink – Rodney Ahart

John Worley – Rodney Ahart

John Hernandez – Veronica Rivera

Lillian Davis – Jeffrey Richard

The total vote on the second ballot was:  Rodney Ahart – 4 votes; Jeffrey Richard – 2 votes; Veronica Rivera – 2 votes.  Rafael Quintanilla stated he would change his vote to Jeffrey Richard.  No candidate received the 5 votes required for appointment.

 

John Hernandez moved and Nan McRaven seconded that:

MOTION:  The Board of Trustees not fill the Place 4 seat on the Austin Community College Board of Trustees.

VOTE:  The motion passed on a vote of 5-3.

FOR:  Lillian Davis, John Hernandez, Nan McRaven, Beverly Silas, John Worley.

AGAINST:  Barbara Mink, Allen Kaplan, Rafael Quintanilla.

 

Agenda Item 7819

Proposed Dental Hygiene Course Fee

Mr. Quintanilla introduced the item.  Mike Midgley, Interim Associate Vice President for Workforce Education, provided information regarding the establishment of a student equipment leasing fee for the dental hygiene students and responded to questions from Trustees.  Participation in the student equipment leasing fee would be voluntary, and students who choose to purchase the required instruments and equipment may do so.  This item will be included on the Consent Agenda for the December 1, 2003, Regular Board meeting.

 

Agenda Item 7820

Proposed Contract for Land Surveying Services

Mr. Quintanilla introduced the item and Ben Ferrell, Vice President, suggested that the Board discuss a proposed increase to the current contract for land surveying services.  The original contract estimate was $75,000.  He stated that current expenditures remain well within the original contract amount, but the contract could exceed $100,000 threshold due to additional services required.  He stated that the request was made in order to avoid delays in the project timelines.  Mr. Ferrell responded to questions from Trustees.  Trustees requested establishment of a maximum cap for the services.  This item will be included on the agenda for the December 1, 2003, Regular Board meeting.

 

Agenda Item 7821

Proposed Construction of Parking Lot at Eastview Campus

Mr. Quintanilla introduced the item and Bronson Dorsey, Associate Vice President for Facilities and Operations, provided information.  He stated the proposed options for the Eastview Campus parking would require an increase in scope to the existing construction contracts with Graeber, Simmons & Cowan, and Faulkner Construction, and add approximately $400,000 to the existing Health Sciences Building II project.  The campus currently has 402 parking spaces and the projection is that the campus will need approximately 1,000 parking spaces by the year 2010.  Mr. Dorsey responded to questions from Trustees, including the need for additional information regarding the community garden at the Eastview Campus.  This item will be included on the agenda for the December 1, 2003, Regular Board meeting.

 

Agenda Item 7822

Proposed Resolution Authorizing Execution of License Agreement with the City of Austin for Pedestrian Bridge Over Govalle Street at Eastview Campus

Mr. Quintanilla introduced the item and Bronson Dorsey stated that in order to provide Eastview students, faculty, and staff with a safe means of crossing Govalle Street between the main campus buildings and the Health Science Building, a pedestrian bridge would be built over the street.  Construction of the bridge would necessitate entering into a License Agreement with the City of Austin for the air rights over Govalle Street.  The City of Austin Department of Public Works requested a resolution from the Board of Trustees authorizing the President to sign the License Agreement.  Mr. Dorsey responded to questions from Trustees.  This item will be included on the agenda for the December 1, 2003, Regular Board meeting.

 

Announcements

Mr. Quintanilla stated the Master Planning Overview and Selection of an Interim President would be on the agenda for the November 24, 2003, Special Board meeting.

 

Quick Meeting Evaluation

Trustees commented regarding the meeting: 

What we did well:  good meeting; ditto; very good meeting; good meeting; no comments; very good meeting; very good meeting.

What we can do better:  No comments.

 

Adjournment

Having no motion before the Board, the November 17, 2003, Work Session of the Austin Community College Board of Trustees was adjourned at 7:50 p.m.


Approved By
                                               

Allen H. Kaplan, Secretary