The Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College Board of Trustees convened a meeting on Monday, June 6, 2016, at 3:30 p.m. in the Magnolia Building. Joe Brumit, Chair, presided.
The following members of the Board were present: Pamela Baldwin, Bruce Briggs, Mike Fryar, Richard Hurley, Roger Metcalf, Kaye Myers, John Parham, Frances Ramsey, Robin Ramsey, Mary Ann Rice, Mandy Stone, and Ana Frady, Ex-Officio.
Others present for the meeting included: Dennis King, President; Dirk Wilmoth, Vice President Business and Finance/CFO; Terry Brasier, Vice President Student Services; Melissa Quinley, Vice President Instructional Services; Shelley White, Vice President 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
Chair Brumit read the ethics statement; no conflicts of interest were reported. Ms. Rice called roll. A quorum was present.
Presentation Of Plaque
Chair Brumit and Dr. King presented plaques of appreciation to Trustees Kaye Myers and Richard Hurley. Chair Brumit expressed the Board’s appreciation for all of their years of hard work and thanked them both for their labor, helping to make the College what it is today. Ms. Myers and Mr. Hurley will be greatly missed.
The Board was informed that Chair Brumit had been reappointed to the Board by the Governor. There will be three other Trustees sworn in at the August meeting: Mr. William Murdock, who was appointed to the Board by the Boards of Education, and Mr. Gene Bell, who was appointed to the Board by the Buncombe County Commissioners. Ms. Andrea Howell, SGA President, will be sworn in as Ex-Officio.
Consent Agenda
Ms. Stone moved to approve the Consent Agenda: 1. A. Minutes of May 2, 2016; 1. B. Closed Session Minutes of May 20, 2016 Board Meeting; 1. C. Personnel Actions; 1. D. Blanket Travel Authorization and Excess Approval; 1. E. Annual Appointments and Reappointments 2016-2017; and 1. F. Vision, Mission, and Values Statement.
The motion to approve the Consent Agenda was seconded by Ms. Myers and approved unanimously by the Board.
Resolution/Action Items
2. A. Dr. King informed the Board that after spending over 40 years in education, having several books published, and because the College has a history of continually associating with good people, it seemed appropriate to rename the Holly Library the “Don. C. Locke Library” in honor of Vice Chair Locke.
On a motion by Mr. Fryar, seconded by Ms. Myers, the Board unanimously approved the Resolution to name A-B Tech’s Holly Library the “Don C. Locke Library”.
2. B. Dr. King informed the Board that the county has selected an architect for the Rhododendron and Elm buildings. The College is seeking Board approval to use one architect and one engineer for all small projects under the expenditure threshold of $300,000.
Mr. Fryar stated that the county saves money by using more than one architect.
Dr. King stated that the alternative is for the College to use the RFP process for each project which is costly and time-consuming for the College.
On a motion by Mr. Metcalf, seconded by Dr. Parham, the Board approved the Annual Open-ended Service Agreements for Design and Engineering Services during 2106-2017. Mr. Fryar opposed it.
2. C. Dr. King discussed replacing the HVAC system in the Ramsey building, and the electrical upgrades needed for the welding shop located at the A-B Tech Madison. Dr. King asked the Board for approval to send both projects, funded by the Connect NC Bond Referendum, to the state.
On a motion by Dr. Parham, seconded by Ms. Stone, the Board unanimously approved the Connect NC Bond Referendum projects for A-B Tech Madison.
2. D. Through the RFP process, Dr. Wilmoth and members of the finance office narrowed the selection of an auditing firm for both the College and the Foundation. Cherry Bekaert has been selected for a three-year contract. The College Foundation Finance Committee approved the selection of Cherry Bekaert and the administration recommends using the same firm for the College.
On a motion by Mr. Hurley, seconded by Ms. Robin Ramsey, the Board unanimously approved the selection of Cherry Bekaert as the College’s auditing firm.
Trustee Business
Chair Brumit appointed Dr. Baldwin, Ms. Rice, and Mr. Fryar to the Nominating Committee, and asked the Committee to have a slate of officers to present to the Board at the August 1 meeting.
President's Report
Dr. King shared the following news with the Board:
- Summer enrollment numbers are increasing. The College is now earning FTE for summer classes.
- Fall enrollment is looking positive as well. There are approximately 1,200 high school students who may attend the fall semester.
- The Buncombe County engineer went to Madison County and evaluated all the structures located at A-B Tech Madison. The evaluation was free of charge; major problems identified will be addressed with the NC Connect Bond Referendum money.
- The SGA officers had an end-of-the-year dinner which was very nice and informative for the College.
- The College held an end-of-the-year picnic for all employees on the ground floor of the new parking garage. The event was successful and well attended.
- The A-B Tech Woodfin designation project is getting closer to being approved. Senator Apodaca has the designation in the Senate budget, and Representative McGrady will try to get it into the House budget as well. Thank you to Ms. Robin Ramsey for discussing A-B Tech Woodfin with Representative McGrady on behalf of the College.
- The Senate has called for merit raises for state employees this year. The House has called for across-the-board raises for state employees. Ms. Kaye Waugh will look into who should receive a merit raise if the College is required to do so.
- Ms. Sue Olesiuk, Director of the Foundation, was asked to share two events with the Board:
- The annual K. Ray Bailey golf tournament raised $63,000, which will be used to fund scholarships for over 50 students.
- Over $50,000 in scholarship funds were raised this year, which is an increase of two percent over last year.
- Dr. King informed the Board that Ms. Olesiuk will retire at the end of June after many years of service at the College. Dr. King praised Ms. Olesiuk for her accomplishments as the Director of the Foundation and wished her many years of success.
- On a sad note, the College and the community lost an amazing paramedic and instructor, Corey Pittman, who passed away unexpectedly last week. Mr. Pittman was well-loved and respected by his peers and students. He also flew in the Mission Air Medical Ambulance helicopter for Mission Hospital.
SGA Report
Outgoing SGA President Ana Frady introduced Andrea Howell, who has been elected President of the SGA for the 2016-2017 school year to the Board.
Ms. Howell informed the Board that there was nothing to report.
Closed Session
At 3:50 p.m., Mr. Briggs moved to enter into a closed session. Ms. Rice seconded the motion, which was approved unanimously.
On a motion properly made, the Board returned to open session at 4:35 p.m.
Open Session
On a motion by Mr. Briggs, seconded by Ms. Frances Ramsey, the Board unanimously agreed to have the College attorney explore all avenues of resolving the property issue, both civilly and criminally, and report the findings with the costs thereof back to the Board at the August 1, 2016 meeting.
Adjourn
On a motion by Mr. Hurley, the meeting was adjourned at 4:45 p.m. by unanimous consent.
Respectfully submitted,
Carolyn H. Rice
Board Secretary