MINUTES

Regular Meeting – Board of Trustees

October 4, 2004

 

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, October 4, 2004, at 6:03 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: Dr. Barbara P. Mink, Chair/Presiding Officer; Mr. John F. Hernandez, Board Vice Chair; Mr. Jeffrey Richard, Secretary; Mr. Allen H. Kaplan; Ms. Nan McRaven [arrived at 6:08 p.m.]; Ms. Veronica Rivera; and Dr. John Worley.  Trustees Lillian J. Davis and Rafael Quintanilla were absent from 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.

 

Recognitions

Dr. Gerry Tucker, Associate Vice President for Human Resources, introduced Ms. Soon Merz, Associate Vice President, Office of Institutional Effectiveness.

 

Citizens Communication

·        Mr. Mark Goodrich, President, ACC/AFT, stated October was his last month as President of the Association and spoke regarding activities during the past year and future activities.

 

Reports from Associations

·        Adjunct Faculty Association – Mr. John Herndon, President, introduced Ms. Kitty Henderson, Vice President of the Adjunct Faculty Association, and spoke regarding activities for Fiscal Year 2005 and compensation.

·        Classified Employees Association – Ms. Sue Bloodsworth, President, spoke regarding Association activities.

·        Dr. Larry Willoughby, President, Full-Time Faculty Senate – provided an update of Association activities.

·        Professional-Technical Employees Association – Mr. Jerry North, President-Elect, discussed Association activities.

·        Student Government AssociationMr. James “Levi” Barnes, President, spoke regarding Association activities.

 

Reports to the Board

·        Report on Achievements and Recognitions – Dr. Stephen B. Kinslow, Executive Vice President, presented the Kudos Report and called attention to recent awards/recognitions received by faculty/programs, staff, students, and Austin Community College.

·        Financial Report – August 2004 – Mr. Ben Ferrell, Vice President for Business Services, called attention to the August 2004 financial report noting that the College would have a positive balance of revenues versus expenditures for the Fiscal Year 2004 and would meet the expectations of the Cash Reserves Board Policy G-6 or the corrective action plan requirements.  Mr. Ferrell responded to questions from Trustees including:  a net surplus/revenue; unrestricted net assets; enrollment declines; estimate of growth; senior citizens’ exemption/tuition waiver; lapse salary adjustments; accrual of interest on revenue bonds and general obligation bonds;

 

CONSENT AGENDA

 

Chair Mink introduced the Consent Agenda:

 

Agenda Item 7980

Minutes of the September 7, 2004, Special Board Meeting; September 7, 2004, Regular Meeting; September 20, 2004, Special Board Meeting; and September 20, 2004, Work Session of the Austin Community College Board of Trustees

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

 

Trustee Rivera requested Agenda Item 7980 be pulled for a correction to the minutes of the September 7, 2004, Regular Board Meeting.  Ms. Rivera requested a correction in the spelling of the name for her committee appointee, Ms. Dolores Gonzalez.

 

Trustees Nan McRaven moved and Veronica Rivera seconded that:

MOTION:  The Board of Trustees approve the minutes of the September 7, 2004, Special Board Meeting; September 7, 2004, Regular Board Meeting; September 20, 2004, Special Board Meeting; and September 20, 2004, Board Work Session, as corrected.

VOTE:  The motion passed on a unanimous vote of 7-0

FOR:  Mr. John F. Hernandez; Mr. Allen H. Kaplan; Ms. Nan McRaven; Dr. Barbara P. Mink; Mr. Jeffrey K. Richard, Ms. Veronica Rivera; and Dr. John B. Worley.

AGAINST:  None.

ABSENT:  Trustees Lillian J. Davis and Rafael Quintanilla

 

Agenda Item 7981

Expenditures in Excess of $100,000

Recommendation:  That the Board of Trustees approve a list of vendors projected to have expenditures over $100,000 in FY05.

 

Trustee Jeffrey Richard requested Agenda Item 7981 be pulled for discussion.  Mr. Ben Ferrell; Mr. Gilbert Rodriguez, Purchasing Manager; and Mr. Roy Mosier, Buyer, Information Technology, responded to questions from Trustees including:  recurring contracts; contract for SHI Government Solutions; and the $450,000 for International Schools - Truck Driving School.

 

Trustees Jeffrey Richard moved and Nan McRaven seconded that:

MOTION:  The Board of Trustees approve the list of vendors projected to have expenditures over $100,000 in FY05.

VOTE:  The motion passed on a unanimous vote of 7-0

FOR:  Mr. John F. Hernandez; Mr. Allen H. Kaplan; Ms. Nan McRaven; Dr. Barbara P. Mink; Mr. Jeffrey K. Richard, Ms. Veronica Rivera; and Dr. John B. Worley.

AGAINST:  None.

ABSENT:  Trustees Lillian J. Davis and Rafael Quintanilla

 

ITEMSFOR DISCUSSION/POSSIBLE ACTION

 

Agenda Item 7982

Renewal of Resolution on Advisory Committee for Finance and Budget and Approval of Appointees for Fiscal Year 2005

Chair Mink introduced the item and Mr. Ben Ferrell provided information regarding renewal of Resolution 7598 supporting the continuance of the Citizens’ Advisory Committee for Finance and Budget and proposed appointees to the Committee for Fiscal Year 2005.

 

Trustees Allen Kaplan moved and John Worley seconded that:

MOTION:  The Board of Trustees renew Resolution 7598 supporting the continuance of the Citizens’ Advisory Committee for Finance and Budget, and approve the appointees for FY 2005.

 

Trustee Rivera requested Friendly Amendments to the Motion:

FRIENDLY AMENDMENTS:

§         Include in the Purpose statement of the renewal Resolution:  “(4)  This Committee will provide a report of its work at least annually for discussion by the Board.”

§         Include as a last sentence under Membership and Chair:  “If a vacancy occurs, the Trustee that appointed the member will appoint another member to the Committee for the unexpired term within 30 calendar days after the vacancy occurs.”

§         Insert a category in Resolution:  Rules and Procedures.  The Committee shall adopt its own rules and procedures including but not limited to attendance, meeting format, conflict of interest provided that such do not conflict with Board of Trustees policies.”

§         Change Terms of Committee to read:  “And this is established by resolution, this Committee will dissolve in one year from the date this Resolution in adopted.”

 

Trustee Rivera stated one of these rules could possibly deal with absenteeism and removal of a Committee member.  Trustees discussed guidelines for College advisory committees and the attendance expectation of Committee members;

 

Trustees Kaplan and Worley accepted the Friendly Amendments.

 

Jeffrey Richard requested a Friendly Amendment:

FRIENDLY AMENDMENT:  That the Board of Trustees add a new section to the Resolution concerning the budget for the Committee to do its work.

Trustees discussed Mr. Richard’s a proposed Friendly Amendment. 

Mr. Richard withdrew hispProposed Friendly Amendment.

 

Trustees discussed the need for this item to be included on a future agenda for discussion of the items to be reviewed by the Committee and whether the committee to be increased by three members appointed by Board Officers, as earlier discussed.

 

VOTE:  The motion, as amended, passed on a unanimous vote of 7-0.

FOR:  Mr. John F. Hernandez; Mr. Allen H. Kaplan; Ms. Nan McRaven; Dr. Barbara P. Mink; Mr. Jeffrey K. Richard, Ms. Veronica Rivera; and Dr. John B. Worley.

AGAINST:  None.

ABSENT:  Trustees Lillian J. Davis and Rafael Quintanilla.

 

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Resolution 7982

(Renewal of Resolution 7598)

Citizens’ Advisory Committee on Finance and Budget

 

The Board hereby establishes a Citizens’ Advisory Committee on Finance and Budget.

 

Purpose

This committee will (1) evaluate the quality and accuracy of the economic and financial analyses that the administration provides to the Board through the Master Plan, (2) examine the College budget for possible ways to reduce expenditures and increase revenue, taking into account the recommendations of the Internal Budget Committee and the State Comptroller’s Office, (3) examine any additional economic or financial analyses of substantial financial impact that the administration provides to the Board if the Board votes to refer any such set assumptions to the committee for their review and (4)  This Committee will provide a report of its work at least annually for discussion by the Board.

 

Membership and Chair

                Each Trustee may appoint one person to the committee.  The Board Chair will appoint the chair of the Committee.  If a vacancy occurs, the Trustee that appointed the member will appoint another member to the Committee for the unexpired term within 30 calendar days after the vacancy occurs.

 

Rules and Procedures.  The Committee shall adopt its own rules and procedures including but not limited to attendance, meeting format, conflict of interest provided that such do not conflict with Board of Trustees policies.

 

Procedure for referring an economic or financial analysis to the Committee:

                (1)           If a Trustee submits a request for a Committee review of an economic or financial analysis to the Board Chair by the seventh day before a Board meeting, the request must be put on the Board agenda for discussion.

                (2)           If a Trustee, either in a written message sent to the Board Chair (and copied to all Board members) before the meeting at which the request for review is posted or at that meeting, asks that the request for review of the financial or economic analysis be put to a Board vote, the issue will be put on the agenda of the next regular or specifically-called meeting for a vote.  If no Trustee asks for a vote in this manner, the request for review of the economic or financial analysis will be referred to the Committee.  If a Trustee asks for a vote in this manner, five Board members must vote for referral to the Committee for a request for review to be referred.

                (3)           When a request for review has been referred to the Committee, the Board Chair will transmit the request for review to the Chair of the Committee.  The Chair of the Committee will then convene the Committee to discuss how the request for review will be handled.

                (4)           If the Committee is of the opinion that its workload will not permit immediate review of all the economic or financial analyses referred to it by the Board, it may accordingly prioritize or decline Board referrals.

 

Term of Committee

                And this is established by resolution, this Committee will dissolve in one year from the date this Resolution in adopted.  (See Policy B-1[2].)

 

Adopted by the Austin Community College Board of Trustees on this _______ day of October, 2004.

 

                                                                                                                                                                                               

                                                                                                                Barbara Mink, Board Chair

Attest:

 

                                                                               

Jeffrey Richard, Board Secretary

 

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FY05 Advisory Committee on Finance and Budget

 

Trustee:

Appointee:

Jeffrey Richard

Kimberly Edwards

Executive Director

TX Public Finance Authority

Lillian Davis

 

Pete Palazzari

IBM Site Senior Location Mgr.

John Hernandez

 

 

Gilbert Zamora

State Comptroller’s Office

Retired

Allen Kaplan

 

Antoinette (Toni) Hunter

Attorney

Nan McRaven

 

Bob Rutishauser

WorkSource

Barbara Mink

Kathryn Schwerdtfeger

CPA

Rafael Quintanilla

 

Richard Borchard

Judge

Veronica Rivera

 

Dolores Gonzalez

Banker, Wells Fargo Bank

John Worley

 

Hunter Ellinger

Former ACC Trustee

 

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Trustee Jeffrey Richard introduced his Committee appointee, Ms. Kimberly Edwards, Executive Director, Texas Public Finance Authority. 

 

Agenda Item 7983

Board Policy B-8, Removal of Trustees

Dr. Mink introduced the item.  Dr. Robert Aguero, College President, provided information regarding the proposed new policy and called attention to the revisions to the proposed policy submitted by Trustee John Worley.  Dr. Aguero discussed the revisions and stated that the proposed revised Board Policy B-8, Removal of Trustees, would meet the requirements for removal of members of the governing board for just cause and with due process. 

 

Trustees John Worley moved and Allen Kaplan seconded that:

MOTION:  The Board of Trustees adopt a new Board Policy B-8, Removal of Trustees.

VOTE:  The motion passed on a unanimous vote of 7-0

FOR:  Mr. John F. Hernandez; Mr. Allen H. Kaplan; Ms. Nan McRaven; Dr. Barbara P. Mink; Mr. Jeffrey K. Richard, Ms. Veronica Rivera; and Dr. John B. Worley.

AGAINST:  None.

ABSENT:  Trustees Lillian J. Davis and Rafael Quintanilla

Dr. Mink expressed appreciation to the Board for passing the policy and stated it would be included in the report to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).

 

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Proposed New Board Policy
B-8, Removal of Trustees

In accordance with the SACS Principles of Accreditation regarding Trustee expectations and with applicable Texas law, the ACC Board of Trustees will follow this policy regarding removal of trustees for just cause and following due process.

                Under Texas law, trustees may be removed from Board membership for incompetency, official misconduct, intoxication on or off duty caused by drinking an alcoholic beverage (but not if it was caused by drinking such beverage on the directions and prescription of a licensed physician) or conviction by a jury for any felony or for misdemeanor official misconduct).  “Official misconduct” includes conviction for an offense relating to a violation of purchase procedures.  Actions for removal of Board members must be brought before the judge of the district court having jurisdiction, except that any court convicting a trustee of a felony or official misconduct must order removal.  Texas Const., Art. V, § 24, Texas Local Government Code §§ 87.011-87.013, 87.031, Tex. Education. Code § 44.032(e).

 

                After due process, including notice of specific charges and an opportunity for the accused trustee to answer them, the Board, if it finds just cause under Texas law for the trustee’s removal, will vote to file suit in district court for the removal of the trustee.

 

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RECESS

The Board of Trustees recessed for a break at 7:20 p.m.

 

RECONVENE

The Board of Trustees reconvened in public session at 7:36 p.m. pursuant to Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code.

 

Agenda Item 7984

Organizational Performance Evaluation/Auditing

Dr. Mink introduced the item.  Dr. Stephen B. Kinslow stated Austin Community College was committed to the concept of continuous quality improvement and, through Board Policy E-4, Organizational Performance Evaluation/Auditing, and administrative practice, seeks to measure its organizational effectiveness through a variety of assessments including:  internal surveys regarding the effectiveness of all organizational units, as well as reports from the Internal Auditor and the annual External Auditor’s Report.  He advised that the results of the assessments are incorporated in the Colleges U-LEAD system and form the basis of institutional improvement efforts.

 

Dr. Kinslow introduced Nancy Jokovich, Manager, Quality Initiatives, and Chair of  the College’s Quality Initiatives Committee, and provided information on the Internal Customer Survey, including background, survey administration, data, cautions regarding use of the data, evolution of use of Internal Customer Survey, and the Goals For Internal Customer Survey.  He discussed Trend Data to Date:  College-wide Level of Satisfaction 2001-2004, Neutral and Dissatisfied and Data by Cluster Group Sorted by Level of Dissatisfaction, 2001-2004.  He called attention to the Highly-used College-wide Offices/Services:  Comparison of Spring 2003 and 2004 Ratings of “Overall Quality”.

 

Mr. Imad Mouchayleh, Internal Auditor, discussed the Annual Audit Plan for Fiscal Year 2005.  He stated that some of the items were currently in progress and others were new items.  Mr. Mouchayleh and Dr. Aguero responded to questions from Trustees regarding:  the order or priority for areas to be audited; staff resources to perform the entire work plan; statute of undocumented high school students which graduate from Texas high schools; and whether the information provided to President Aguero should include the order of priorities, additional objectives or scope of work, and the timeframe.

 

Dr. Mink stated the need to include quarterly Internal Audit Reports on the Board Calendar/Work Plan.  She asked Trustees to provide Dr. Aguero with any additional suggestions, reflections, and comments.


Mr. Ferrell provided a status report on the External Auditor’s Fiscal Year 2003 Recommendations provided in the management letter including:  Capital Assets Inventory; Reconciliation of Accrued Liabilities; Procedures for Capital Projects; and Board Travel Policies. Mr. Ferrell responded to questions from Trustees including:  whether the Fiscal Year 2003 recommendations were addressed satisfactorily; any areas that the Board needed to review in terms of the External Audit; the expected date of receipt of the Fiscal Year 2004 management letter; whether this was the last year of the contract with the current audit firm and when an RFP would be issued for the External Auditor firm; Capital Projects, Eastview Phase I project and the Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP); whether the President anticipated a threshold by which change orders would be reported to the Board for information; whether these would be the responsibility of the Internal Auditor or if a monitor for some of the projects would be employed; GMP should be followed for the South Austin Campus, Cypress Creek Campus Expansion, and Rio Grande Campus; and at what point change orders would be reported to the Board for approval; suggested that this be included in the policy review process.  Regarding Board Travel, Trustees inquired regarding what was required of employees concerning the turnaround time for reimbursement, whether the one instance beyond adoption of the Board travel policy was also the largest dollar amount of the violation, and what should happen currently.

 

The Chair was commended for enforcement of the Board travel policy.

 

President’s Administrative Report

§         Dr. Aguero provided an update on enrollment.  He stated that on October 4, 2004, there were 30,759 students including the flex entry classes and others that start late.  This represents a .9% increase from this time last year.

§         Dr. Aguero stated he had received a recent report from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), but was not prepared to release it at this time since the report was still in draft format.  He said there would be one recommendation, which was the Removal of Trustees, and the policy was passed at the current meeting.  He stated that it was a very positive report and would be released as soon as the official report was provided by SACS.

 

Executive Session

There was no Executive Session.

 

Announcements

§        Trustee Rivera asked if there was a report on the Hiring of Faculty Report.  She noted the number of minorities hired for the Fall Semester, expressed her concern, and encouraged the President to increase diversity in the faculty.

§        Mr. Richard announced that a number of educational institutions would host a non-partisan state legislators debate at the Austin ISD Main Auditorium on October 5, 2004, at 7:00 p.m.  He stated it was open to the public, would be recorded and televised.  Candidates from both State Representative Offices in Districts 48 and 50 would be present.

§        John Hernandez stated the deadline for the Employee Golf Tournament at the Riverside Campus would be October on Thursday and asked for any teams who wished to play to submit the team names by the deadline.

§        Dr. Mink stated Trustees Kaplan and Quintanilla and Legal Counsel Myra McDaniel would attend the Association of Community College Trustees meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana, October 6-9, 2004.

 

Meeting Review

Dr. Mink stated that the Quick Meeting Report would be handled on a quarterly basis during Work Sessions.  Therefore, no Meeting Review would occur at the October 4, 2004, Board meeting.

 

Adjournment

Having no motion before the Board, the October 4, 2004, Regular Meeting of the Austin Community College Board of Trustees was adjourned at 8:35 p.m.

 

Approved By

Jeffrey Richard, Secretary