April 9, 2018 Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes


The Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College Board of Trustees convened a meeting on Monday, April 9, 2018, at 3:30 p.m. in the Magnolia Building. Mary Ann Rice, Chair, presided.

The following members of the Board were present: Gene Bell, Bruce Briggs, Wayne Brigman, Joe Brumit, Ron Edgerton, Mike Fryar, Matt Kern, Roger Metcalf, William Murdock, and Frances Ramsey.

Others present for the meeting included: Dennis King, President; Dirk Wilmoth, Vice President Business and Finance/CFO; Terry Brasier, Vice President Student Services; Beth Stewart, Vice President Instructional Services; David White, Executive Director of Research and Planning; Kerri Glover, Executive Director, Community Relations and Marketing; Shanna Chambers, Executive Director of Human Resources; Chad Donnahoo, College Attorney; and Carolyn Rice, Secretary to the Board.

 

Call To Order

Chair Mary Ann Rice read the ethics statement. No conflicts of interest were reported. Ms. C. Rice called roll. A quorum was present.

 

Introductions

Mr. Darryl Rhymes introduced several new employees to the Board.

Dr. King introduced Ms. Shanna Chambers, the College’s new Executive Director of Human Resources to the Board.

Chef Chris Bugher, the winner of the Southeast Regionals for the American Culinary Federation Chef of the Year was introduced to and given a standing ovation by the Board for his accomplishments. Chef Bugher will compete in the “final four” competition in New Orleans later this year.

Finally, the Culinary Team who will be representing A-B Tech at future competitions was introduced to the Board.

 

Consent Agenda

Mr. Brigman moved to approve the Consent Agenda items: 1. A. February 8, 2018 Board Meeting Minutes; 1. B. March 9, 2018, Executive Committee Meeting Minutes; 1. C. Personnel Actions; 1. D. Proposed Budgets for Madison and Buncombe Counties; 1. E. Amendment to the 2018-2019 Schedule of Fees (Testing Fee for Immediate Adoption); and 1 .F. Amendment to the 2018-2019 Schedule of Fees (Lodge Fees for Employees for Immediate Adoption).

The motion to approve the Consent Agenda was seconded by Mr. Brumit and approved unanimously by the Board.

 

Resolution/Action Items

2. A. Dr. Dirk Wilmoth introduced Ms. Karen Walker, the College’s Certified Public Accountant with Cherry Bekeart, to the Board. Ms. Walker presented the following findings from the Financial Statements and Audit for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2017:

  • The financial audits are fairly stated according to accounting standards.
  • The College had a clean report with internal laws and regulations.
  • The audit was performed in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and Government Auditing Standards.
  • Cherry Bekeart is independent with respect to the College and received full cooperation from management while conducting the audit.
  • The audit was clean with no findings.

On a motion by Mr. Kern, seconded by Mr. Brigman, the Financial Statements and Audit for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2017, were approved by unanimous consent.

2. B. Dr. Dirk Wilmoth informed the Trustees that the College is required to actively pursue outstanding student debt for a minimum of 365 days. Student debt is then required to be placed with the Department of Revenue for an additional 365 days to be collected by set-off debt. Student debt is not written off completely but does come off the books. A lien is attached to the student’s tax returns in an effort to recover the student’s debt. When the College receives money from old student debt, the funds are used to offset receivables and placed in a cash account.

Mr. Kern asked that the Board be shown an accounting of how much past student debt had been collected and where it went once it was collected. Dr. Wilmoth agreed to provide the Board with this information and will do so in the May Update to the Board.

On a motion by Mr. Brumit, seconded by Mr. Murdock, the Write-off of Student Accounts Resolution and Student Account Trends was approved by unanimous consent.

2. C. Dr. Dirk Wilmoth discussed the Annual Open-Ended Service Agreements for Design and Engineering with the Board. Having an Open-Ended Service Agreement for projects that cost less than $300,000 saves the College time bidding on services for small projects.

On a motion by Mr. Brigman, seconded by Mr. Kern, the Annual Open-Ended Service Agreements for Design and Engineering Services for the Fiscal Year 2018-2019 were approved. Mr. Fryar opposed it.

2. D. Dr. Gene Loflin discussed a Revision to the 2018-2019 College Calendar. The North Carolina Community College System mandates that Colleges allow only twelve paid holidays per year. A-B Tech currently offers 17 paid holidays. To comply with the state system mandate, College Administration proposed that the following five paid holidays be removed from the 2018-2019 College Calendar:

  • December 20 and 21
  • January 2
  • March 22
  • May 27

Students are not affected by the changes to the College Calendar.

On a motion by Dr. Metcalf, seconded by Mr. Brigman, the Revision to the 2018-2019 College Calendar was approved by unanimous consent.

2. E. Dr. King informed the Trustees that Dr. Dan Lunsford has been a great friend to the College in helping A-B Tech have a presence in south Buncombe county. Dr. Lunsford has also had a long and distinguished career as an administrator and educator in North Carolina. College Administration wishes to honor Dr. Lunsford at the May 12 Commencement Ceremony with the honorary degree of Associate of Applied Sciences in Educational Leadership.

On a motion by Mr. Briggs, seconded by Mr. Brumit, the Honorary Degree Resolution for Dr. Dan G. Lunsford was approved. Mr. Brigman opposed it.

 

Trustee Business

3. A. Ms. Hallum, who is unable to be here today, attended the ACCT Governance Leadership Institute in San Antonio, Texas. Through conversations with Dr. King, Ms. Hallum found the Institute rewarding, and exhilarating, and represented the College and Trustees very well.

3. B. Dr. Gene Loflin and Dr. Beth Stewart introduced the Board to the new Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) required standard that states: “The governing Board defines and regularly evaluates its responsibilities and expectations.”As the first of a three-step process, Dr. Loflin and Dr. Stewart discussed responsibilities and expectations for a “Trustee Self-Evaluation” process with the Board. Resulting of the question and answer session with the Trustees, Dr. Loflin and Dr. Stewart will develop a self-evaluation instrument and present it to the Board for approval at the June meeting.

3. C. The Trustees discussed the A-B Tech Enka Property Appraisal at length. Dr. King stated that there is a large likelihood that there will not be any changes at A-B Tech Enka in the foreseeable future.

3. D. Chair Mary Ann Rice appointed Mr. Brumit, Ms. Hallum, and Mr. Murdock to the Presidential Evaluation Committee. The results of the Evaluation will be discussed in a closed session at the June 4, 2018 meeting.

 

President's Report

Due to the late hour in the afternoon, Dr. King will email the President’s Report to the Board. (A copy of the Report, sent on Tuesday, April 10 by email, is attached.)

 

SGA Report

Ms. Iris Frost was unable to attend the meeting.

 

Adjourn

On a motion by Mr. Brumit, seconded by Mr. Brigman, the meeting adjourned at 5:30 p.m. by unanimous consent.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Carolyn H. Rice
Board Secretary