March 6, 2019 Special Called Board Meeting


The Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College Board of Trustees convened a Special Called meeting on Wednesday, March 6, 2019, at 4:00 p.m. in the Ferguson Allied Health and Workforce Development Building. Mary Ann Rice, Chair, presided.

The following members of the Board were present: Gene Bell, Bruce Briggs, Joe Brumit, Ron Edgerton, Mike Fryar, Jacquelyn Hallum, Matt Kern, Keynon Lake, Roger Metcalf, John Parham, Frances Ramsey, and Darinda Noah, 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; Shelley White, Vice President Economic and Workforce Development/Continuing Education; Beth Stewart, Vice President Instructional Services; Brian Willis, Vice President Information Technology/CIO; David White, Executive Director of Research and Planning; Kerri Glover; Executive Director of Community Relations and Marketing; Shanna Chambers, Executive Director of Human Resources; 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.

 

Agenda

Chair M. Rice read a statement to the Board explaining the reason for the Special Called meeting. The meeting is to discuss the Board-approved Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the County on the expenditure of Article 46 Sales Tax Revenues over the next eight fiscal years. The Buncombe County Commissioners responded to the College’s proposed MOU with an added requirement of forming a joint advisory committee between the College and the County modeled after the Buncombe School Capital Fund Commission. The Board must vote to accept or reject the County’s counter-proposal.

Chair M. Rice opened the floor for discussion.

Mr. Campbell read the additional paragraph added to the MOU by the action of the County Commissioners describing the mandate of having a special “advisory committee” created with two members appointed by the County Commissioners, two members appointed by the A-B Tech Trustees, and one member appointed from the community. Mr. Campbell stated that in his opinion the amendment lacks sufficient detail to bind the Board of Trustees to any specific process. The Trustees can reject the change due to the lack of specifics. If the Board accepts the amendment, however, the details of the committee will need to be worked out in “good faith” between the two Boards. He suggested that the Trustees appoint a group to negotiate those details as part of any action approving the revised MOU.

Mr. Brumit moved to accept the MOU as presented, and recommends that the Executive Committee be empowered to work out the details with the Buncombe County Commissioners regarding the role and actions of the “advisory committee”. Mr. Bell seconded the motion on the condition that the Executive Committee reviews all decisions with the full Board prior to committing to anything with the County. Mr. Brumit had no objection to amending the motion as suggested by Mr. Bell.

The Trustees debated the pros and cons of accepting the MOU from the County. Mr. Kern reiterated his strong opposition to accepting the proposed MOU and using Article 46 funds toward the operating budget instead of for capital needs on campus. Mr. Edgerton stated that it was the Board’s fiduciary responsibility to the taxpayers to accept the agreement. Ms. Ramsey added that the original intention of the Article 46 tax was for College capital projects and that was the clear intention of the voters of Buncombe County. Dr. Metcalf asked about funding for Enka and the Ivy building. Mr. Fryar stated that although the MOU isn’t perfect, it would lock the money down for the College.

At 4:40 p.m., Mr. Bell called the question.

Following a brief discussion, Chair M. Rice asked for a vote on the Amended MOU with Buncombe County regarding the Article 46 Sales Tax as moved by Mr. Brumit and seconded by Mr. Bell. The amended MOU passed 7 to 5, with Mr. Briggs, Mr. Kern, Dr. Metcalf, Ms. Ramsey, and Chair Rice opposing.

 

Adjourn

On a motion by Dr. Metcalf, seconded by Mr. Bell, the meeting adjourned at 4:50 p.m. by unanimous consent.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Carolyn H. Rice
Board Secretary