The Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College Board of Trustees convened a meeting on Monday, August 12, 2019, at 3:00 p.m. in the Mission Health/A-B Tech Conference Center. Mary Ann Rice, Chair, presided.
The following members of the Board were present: Bruce Briggs, Wayne Brigman, Ron Edgerton, Mike Fryar, Jacquelyn Hallum, Matt Kern, Roger Metcalf, John Parham, and Frances Ramsey.
Others present for the meeting included: Dennis King, President; Terry Brasier, Vice President Student Services; Shanna Chambers, Executive Director of Human Resources; Kerri Glover; Executive Director of Community Relations and Marketing; Beth Stewart, Vice President Instructional Services; Shelley White, Vice President Economic and Workforce Development/Continuing Education; Brian Willis, Vice President Information Technology/CIO; Dirk Wilmoth, Vice President Business and Finance/CFO; Chris Campbell, 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.
Swearing In
At 3:05 p.m., Dr. Theresa Banks was sworn in as a new Trustee, and Mr. Matt Kern and Dr. Roger Metcalf were sworn in as reappointed Trustees by the Honorable J. Calvin Hill.
Presentation To Board Member
Chair Mary Ann Rice presented Judge Bruce Briggs with a plaque of appreciation for serving on the Board for the last four years and thanked Judge Briggs for his time and wisdom. Judge Briggs gave a gracious farewell speech and thanked the Board for the opportunity to serve.
Introductions
Mr. Darryl Rhymes introduced several new employees to the Trustees, one of whom will be singing the National Anthem at the 2020 Commencement Ceremony.
Dr. Beth Stewart introduced the students who recently competed in the American Culinary Federation’s national competition in Orlando. The Culinary Students won a silver medal in the hot food competition.
Chef Chris Bugher won an international bronze medal for creating a vegetarian cold platter in the American Culinary Classic, and Chef Steven Hertz won second place for his original recipe of peaches and pourable cream cheese.
Mr. Chris Campbell introduced Ms. Cynthia Lopez to the Board. Ms. Lopez has joined the Campbell Shatley Law Firm as Of Counsel.
Consent Agenda
Chair Rice asked for a motion to approve the Consent Agenda.
Mr. Kern moved to approve Consent Agenda items: 1. A. June 10, 2019 Board Meeting Minutes; 1. B. June 10, 2019, Closed Session Minutes; 1. C. June 28, 2019, Executive Committee Meeting Minutes; 1. D. June 28, 2019, Presidential Search Committee Meeting Minutes; 1. E. July 16, 2019, Executive Committee Meeting Minutes; 1. F. July 26, 2019, Presidential Search Committee Meeting Minutes; 1. G. July 29, 2019, Executive Committee Meeting Minutes; 1. H. Continuing Budget Resolution; and 1. I. Personnel Actions.
The motion to approve the Consent Agenda was seconded by Mr. Fryar and approved unanimously by the Board.
Resolution/Action Items
2. A. Dr. King discussed the need for renovating the restrooms in the Ramsey Building, located at A-B Tech Madison. The renovations will be paid for out of the Connect NC Bond Referendum and the College has referendum funds available to use to complete the renovations.
Dr. King asked the Board to remove the budgeted funds from the referendum funds for the Ramsey Welding Facility Upgrade, as other funds were used to accomplish the needed improvements.
Ms. Ramsey thanked Dr. King for all of the renovations that have been completed on the Ramsey Building this past year.
On a motion by Mr. Brigman, seconded by Ms. Hallum, the Amendments to the Connect NC Bond Referendum were approved by unanimous consent.
2. B. Dr. Wilmoth informed the Board that for the past ten years, A-B Tech and Mission Health Systems have operated under an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) allowing Mission access and use of 412 parking spaces in the Dogwood lot at no cost to Mission since it was built and maintains the facilities at its expense. Mission’s successor, HCA Health Care, Inc., would like to extend the MOU for an additional five years.
On a motion by Ms. Hallum, seconded by Mr. Brigman, the Memorandum of Understanding between HCA Healthcare, Inc., and A-B Tech was approved by unanimous consent.
2. C. Dr. Gene Loflin discussed the proposed 2020-2021 College Calendar with the Board. The Calendar is in compliance with the North Carolina Community College System’s mandated twelve paid holidays per year.
On a motion by Mr. Brigman, seconded by Mr. Kern, the 2020-2021 College Calendar was approved by unanimous consent.
2. D. Dr. Stewart stated that the College has replaced the service trip to Greece with a service trip to Belize and a medical service trip to Costa Rica. Both global educational trips have been vetted by the College attorney, and Ms. Kelly McEnany will consult with Ms. Ramsey on future student trips.
On a motion by Ms. Hallum, seconded by Mr. Brigman, the 2020 Global Education Trips to Belize and Costa Rice were approved by unanimous consent.
2. E. 1. Dr. Stewart informed the Board that the definitions for full and part-time faculty have been updated in the Faculty Responsibility and Workload Policy, to include information on employee agreements and benefits.
On a motion by Mr. Brigman, seconded by Mr. Kern, updates to the Faculty Responsibility and Workload Policy were approved by unanimous consent.
2. E. 2. Dr. Loflin informed the Board that SACSCOC (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges) rewrote several standards for the upcoming fifth-year report which is due next fall. The Regional and Programmatic Accreditation Policy has been broadened to reflect these new standards, and a new Procedure has been created to outline the process for both programs seeking initial accreditation, and for programs already created.
On a motion by Mr. Brigman, seconded by Mr. Kern, updates to the Regional and Programmatic Accreditation Policy and Procedure were approved by unanimous consent.
2. E. 3. Mr. Brian Willis informed the Board that the College has received warnings from the North Carolina Community College System Office, the Governor, Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and others about the severity of the latest malware being used in coordinated cyber-attacks on state, local, and tribal educational entities. It was recommended that the College put a new policy in place to require employees to report any and all suspicious IT (Informational Technology) activity to the appropriate authorities immediately. The College created the Reporting Suspicious IT Activity Policy and Procedure to comply with the above recommendation and to outline the steps for an employee of the College to take when encountering suspicious activity.
On a motion by Dr. Parham, seconded by Mr. Fryar, the Reporting Suspicious IT Activity Policy and Procedure was approved by unanimous consent.
Trustee Business
3. A. Dr. King stated that 31 College Place, LLC, has withdrawn its offer for thirteen acres of property A-B Tech Enka due to parking concerns. Dr. King stated that Campbell Shatley can represent the College in any future sales of the property, without a commission, and recommends that the Board does not retain another Realtor.
Dr. King further stated that A-B Tech intends to continue to have a presence in the Enka community and all future decisions on the Enka property will be handled by the Executive Committee on behalf of the Board.
On a motion by Dr. Metcalf, seconded by Mr. Fryar, the motion not to retain a Realtor and to sell the property with the assistance of Campbell Shatley was approved by unanimous consent.
Dr. Wilmoth added that Dominion Energy intends to build a pipeline from their property to the power station located at the corner of the Enka property on Sand Hill Road. The College is in discussions with Dominion Energy regarding the pipeline as Dominion Energy has proposed a route directly through the Enka property.
3. B. Chair Rice asked Ms. Hallum to present the Nominating Committee’s selections for Chair, Vice Chair, and Board Secretary for 2019-2020. Ms. Hallum stated the Committee selected Dr. John Parham as Chair, Dr. Roger Metcalf as Vice Chair, and Ms. Carolyn Rice as Board Secretary.
Chair Rice asked for and did not receive further nominations from the floor. Chair Rice congratulated the officers selected by the Committee.
3. C. Chair Rice stated that each August, the Board must nominate two Trustees to serve on the Executive Committee along with the Board Chair, Vice Chair, and immediate past Chair. Chair Rice then opened the floor for nominations for two additional Trustees to serve on the Committee.
Ms. Ramsey nominated Mr. Kern to serve on the Committee. Dr. Metcalf nominated Ms. Ramsey to serve on the Committee. There were no other nominations from the floor. Ms. Ramsey and Mr. Kern were welcomed to the Executive Committee.
3. D. Chair Rice stated that she appointed Mr. Brumit, Dr. Metcalf, Mr. Bell, Dr. Parham, and Ms. Ramsey to the Presidential Search Committee.
3. E. 1. The Board reviewed and discussed a draft timeline for the Presidential Search.
On a motion by Mr. Brigman, seconded by Mr. Kern, the Timeline for the Presidential Search was approved by unanimous consent.
3. E. 2. The Board discussed the pros and cons of keeping the applicants for the President’s position confidential.
On a motion by Ms. Hallum, seconded by Dr. Parham, all applicants will remain confidential until the final interviewees are selected. The motion was approved by unanimous consent.
3. E. 3. Ms. Ramsey updated the Board on the first Presidential Campus and Community Forum which was held in Madison County on August 8. The Forum was well attended, and excellent suggestions were made. Madison County will be actively involved in the Presidential Search.
3. E. 4. Chair Rice stated that the next Presidential Forums dates are September 10 and September 17. Both Forums will be held on the A-B Tech Asheville Campus.
3. F. Dr. Wilmoth told the Board that he, Dr. King, Mr. Edgerton, and Mr. Kern met with County Commissioner Newman to discuss the viability of putting Solar Panels on the A-B Tech Asheville Campus. Buncombe County plans to issue an RFP for solar panels on public facilities by late summer and wishes to issue a joint RFP that will include multiple public organizations including A-B Tech, the City of Asheville, and Buncombe County Schools, and Buncombe County.
The Trustees discussed the idea of using Solar Panels to offset the cost of electricity at the College and where on campus the Panels could be located. Mr. Kern and Mr. Edgerton strongly advocated for Solar Panels during the discussion.
3. G. Dr. King and Dr. Wilmoth discussed the Buncombe County Budget with the Board. Buncombe County approved a budget that leaves the College short $700,000. The deficit has now decreased from $700,000 to $500,000 through cuts recommended by the College.
Dr. King and Dr. Wilmoth have met and presented the deficit to the Buncombe County Manager. The County Manager agreed to do what she could to try to balance the budget. Dr. King will consult with the Board prior to laying off county-funded personnel if it becomes necessary.
3. H. Chair Rice thanked the Trustees who are attending the NCACCT Leadership Seminar in Wilmington.
President’s Report
Dr. King informed the Board that Chair Mary Ann Rice has been appointed to the North Carolina State Board of Community Colleges by the Governor, which is a high honor for Chair Rice and the College.
Dr. Parham presented Chair Rice with a plaque of appreciation for her service to the College. Chair Rice stated it was an honor and a privilege to have worked with the College and the Trustees.
Mr. Fryar mentioned that Mr. Bell was not in attendance at the meeting today due to the loss of his son. Mr. Bell is a good man and has served this community for over 25 years. Mr. Fryar stated that he strives to work as hard as Mr. Bell has for this community.
Ms. C. Rice will email the Trustees the specifics of the service for Mr. Bell’s son.
Dr. King will email his Board Report to the Trustees. (A copy is attached.)
Handouts
Chair Rice mentioned that a State and County Budget Update and the 2016-2019 Tracking Measures Scorecard Update were in the Board packet for review.
Adjourn
On a motion by Mr. Brigman, seconded by Mr. Kern, the meeting adjourned at 4:55 p.m. by unanimous consent.
Respectfully submitted,
Carolyn H. Rice
Board Secretary