The Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College Board of Trustees convened a meeting on Monday, June 22, 2015, at 3:30 p.m. in the Magnolia Building. Joe Brumit, Chair, presided.
The following members of the Board were present: Chair Joe Brumit, Mike Fryar, Richard Hurley, Don Locke, Kaye Myers, John Parham, Jr., Frances Ramsey, Nathan Ramsey, Mary Ann Rice, Ray Spells, Mandy Stone, and David Wyatt.
Others present for the meeting included: Dennis King, President; Terry Brasier, Vice President of Student Services; Melissa Quinley, Vice President of Instructional Services; Shelley White, Vice President of Economic and Workforce Development/Continuing Education; David White, Executive Director of Research and Planning; Brian Willis, Vice President, Information Systems Technology; Kaye Waugh, Vice President, Human Resources and Organizational Development; Kerri Glover, Executive Director, Community Relations and Marketing; Chad Donnahoo, College attorney; and Carolyn Rice, Secretary to the Board.
Call To Order
Mr. Brumit read the ethics statement; no conflicts of interest were reported. Ms. Rice called roll. A quorum was present. Mr. Brumit welcomed and introduced Dr. Roger Metcalf as the newly appointed Trustee by the Boards of Education. Dr. Metcalf will be sworn in at the August 3 meeting. Mr. Bruce Briggs from Madison County has been appointed to the Board by the Governor; he will also be sworn in on August 3.
Presentation To Retiring Board Member
The Board presented Mr. David Wyatt with a plaque of appreciation for his twelve years of service as a Trustee to A-B Tech Community College. Chair Brumit personally thanked Mr. Wyatt for his service on the Board, and all the Trustees joined in wishing Mr. Wyatt all the best for the future.
Resolution/Action Items
1. A. Dr. King presented an overview of the state and county budgets to the Board. The College has eliminated eleven positions and reduced all operating budgets College-wide by two percent in order to balance the state budget. Dr. King proposed the following budget cuts to the Board to balance the county budget:
- Closing the Haynes Tower on A-B Tech Enka by September 30, 2015.
- Reduction in general repairs.
- Reduction in Asheville campus operating funds.
- Freezing vacant positions for salary/benefits pool savings.
- Reduction in security operating funds.
Dr. King and the Board discussed the closure of the Haynes Tower at length. There are currently three tenants in the Haynes Tower who will be given a minimum of a ninety-day notice to relocate. The Technology Commercialization Center (TCC) has newly renovated space available that the tenants have the option of moving into. The College intends to keep the TCC open indefinitely. At some point, once all activities in the TCC are relocated, the College will dispose of the A-B Tech Enka property.
Dr. King stated that all programs and employees currently located in the Haynes Tower will be moved to the Asheville site or to other off-campus locations.
Mr. Hurley stressed the importance of and inquired about the future of the Small Business Incubator. Dr. King disclosed that the Small Business Incubator is currently located in the TCC and relocating the Incubator will be addressed at a future date.
Mr. Donnahoo informed the Board that the closing and selling of the A-B Tech Enka location will be a detailed and time-consuming process. First, the College has to offer the property to the state board, as the statute demands. Secondly, BASF still owns some of the property which has environmental issues. Depending on what BASF and the College intend to do with the property, brownfields, tax credits, and other issues must be investigated.
Mr. Ramsey moved to close the Haynes Tower by September 30, 2015.
Mr. Wyatt voiced his opposition to closing and selling the buildings. Mr. Wyatt stressed that a number of community colleges are getting into advanced manufacturing and that A-B Tech needs to focus on that as well. The facilities at A-B Tech Enka are too good to let go of.
Dr. Locke seconded the motion. The motion passed by a vote of eleven to one, with Mr. Wyatt voting against closing the Haynes Tower.
Mr. Ramsey further moved to explore the disposition of the TCC with the understanding that the Small Business Incubator, all current tenants, and employees will be provided with space to relocate to, and that ultimately the A-B Tech Enka property will be listed for sale after it is determined to be practical.
Mr. Hurley stressed that the College needs to have a training facility to retain the integrity of the programs currently offered and that there must be a plan in place. Mr. Ramsey agreed and reiterated that the TCC will not be closed until there is a viable space for all programs in the building to relocate.
Dr. King stated the TCC is included in the budget for this fiscal year, and Mr. Donnahoo added that it is the intent of the College to honor and find space for all tenants and programs in the buildings at this time.
Dr. Locke seconded the motion. The motion passed by a vote of eleven to one, with Mr. Wyatt voting against closing the TCC and ultimately selling the A-B Tech Enka property.
1. B. Dr. King discussed and recommended that the College assess a ten-dollar per semester parking fee for students only beginning with the 2015 fall semester. The fee will be used for the operating expenses of the parking garage as well as traffic control, police services, and maintenance of emergency technology and equipment across campus.
On a motion by Mr. Spells, seconded by Mr. Hurley, the Board unanimously approved the addition of a ten-dollar parking fee per semester for students only.
Trustee Business
2. A. Due to budget constraints, the President and two Trustees will attend the ACCT Conference in San Diego in October.
Adjourn
On a motion by Mr. Hurley, seconded by Mr. Brumit, the Board voted unanimously to adjourn at 4:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Carolyn H. Rice
Board Secretary