The Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College Board of Trustees convened a meeting on Monday, May 4, 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, William Hart, Richard Hurley, Don Locke, Kaye Myers, John Parham, Frances Ramsey, Ray Spells, David Wyatt, and Brandon Priester, Ex-Officio.
Others present for the meeting included: Dennis King, President; Terry Brasier, Vice President Student Services; Melissa Quinley, Vice President Instructional Services; David White, Executive Director of Research and Planning; Rhonda Devan, Vice President Business and Finance, CFO; 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.
Consent Agenda
Dr. Locke moved to approve the Consent Agenda: 1. A. Minutes of April 6, 2015; 1. B. Personnel Actions; 1. C. Budget Resolution Amendment; 1. D. State Funds Budget Transfers; 1. E. Schedule of Investments; 1. F. Approval of New and Revised Policies; and 1. G. Joint Jurisdictional Law Enforcement Agreement.
The motion was seconded by Mr. Hart and was approved unanimously by the Board.
Resolution/Action Items
2. A. Dr. King discussed the closing of A-B Tech’s Early Childcare Center with the Board. The Center has sustained financial losses since the College assumed ownership from Buncombe County in 2011. The College has hired a consultant to assist A-B Tech employees to locate other employment opportunities and will assist the parents of the children attending the Center to find alternate childcare options as well.
The College will offer to assist with the cost of retraining Center employees for another profession. After July 1, the employees will receive a weekly bonus for remaining at the Center through the final closing day. Healthcare benefits will be continued for a year and employees will be eligible to continue those benefits through COBRA for an additional eighteen months at the end of that year.
Mr. Fryar moved to approve the closing of the Early Childcare Center; the motion was seconded by Mr. Hart. The Board unanimously approved closing the Early Childcare Center.
2. B. Ms. Devan discussed outstanding student accounts with the Board. Outstanding student accounts date back to 2011 and are partially due to the College's over-awarding of student loans. Receivables in arrears over three years and federal financial aid over-awards need to be written off as part of the College’s fiscal year-end closing requirements. Writing off the student accounts satisfies the state tuition portion, not the federal portion.
On a motion by Dr. Locke, seconded by Mr. Hart, the Board unanimously approved the Write-Off of Student Accounts Resolution.
2. C. Dr. King is recommending changing the name of the Maple building to the “Advanced Manufacturing Center.” The Maple Building is the current location of the composites training center and the future location of industry training for industrial maintenance and machining. Changing the name of the building will not require a SACSCOC notification.
On a motion by Dr. Parham, seconded by Mr. Fryar, the Board unanimously approved to designate the Maple building as the Advanced Manufacturing Center.
Closed Session
Dr. Locke moved to enter into a closed session at 3:50 p.m. pursuant to G.S. 143-318.11(a) (1) and (3) in order to discuss confidential personnel matters pursuant to G.S. 115D-27-29 and to discuss matters protected by the attorney-client privilege. Mr. Hurley seconded the motion which was approved unanimously.
On a motion properly made, the Board returned to the open session at 4:15 p.m.
Open Session
On a motion by Dr. Locke, seconded by Dr. Parham, the Board unanimously approved the length of the contract and salary proposal for Dr. King.
Trustee Business
5. A. Ms. Ramsey discussed the NCACCT Law/Legislative Seminar with the Board. The introduction of new Trustees and their responsibilities was an excellent presentation. The College was well represented by eight Trustees and the sessions presented by the College attorneys were excellent.
5. B. Mr. Donnahoo discussed potential changes to the Board Constitution regarding the frequency of Board meetings. The Trustees discussed the options of quarterly, bi-monthly, and/or continuing with monthly meetings. The resolution in the current Board packet to change the constitution is for informational purposes only, further discussion and a vote on any changes will take place at the June meeting.
President's Report
Dr. King informed the Board that an additional resolution regarding authorizations for the Craft Beverage Institute of the Southeast has been added to the Board meeting and requires Board action. The resolution is to authorize the President to execute and file certain limited federal and state permits on behalf of the College’s Craft Beverage Institute of the Southeast. All local level permits through the state have been attained and the Institute is preparing to file a brewer’s notice permit at the federal level. Mr. Donnahoo added that once the brewer's notice is completed, the College is in compliance.
On a motion by Mr. Hurley seconded by Dr. Locke, the Board unanimously approved the Authorizations for the Craft Beverage Institute of the Southeast.
Dr. King shared the following news with the Board:
- A video on faculty and staff excellence has been sent to all Trustees and legislative delegation to show how wonderful A-B Tech employees are, in hopes that the General Assembly will add pay increases for Community College employees to the budget.
- The Leadership Society inducted 40 people who have taken on extra responsibilities of leadership, and community involvement, and who have been certified as leaders.
- Phi Theta Kappa is inducting new members this evening.
- A Spring Concert was held at the College on May 3 and was very successful.
- Phi Beta Lambda, the College’s business society, is an outstanding organization that won several awards at the April State Leadership Conference in Charlotte, NC.
- With the help of Trustee David Wyatt, the College will be partnering with Caldwell Community College to offer a truck driving school for twelve students in Madison County. The cost of the program and FTE will be split equally. This is the first major new program in Madison County and the College plans to offer this twice a year.
- Summer and fall registration is happening presently and going well.
Staff Report
Rhonda Devan presented the proposed county budget to the Board. As of the third quarter, all but 8 percent of the budget has been spent. The College will ask the County to restore $2 million in funding back to the College.
Ms. Devan pointed out that the College has been spending a lot of money trying to keep older equipment and infrastructure functioning. Mr. Lyn Martin, Energy Engineer with the NC State Energy Program was introduced to the Board. Mr. Martin informed the Board that a Department of Energy grant is available specifically for community colleges to perform a review of the College's energy costs in an effort to reduce both. Once projects are identified and due diligence is completed by the state, identified energy performance projects that will yield energy savings will be presented to the Board for consideration.
Mr. Fryar stated that any energy projects on county-owned buildings should be completed by the county and not by the state. Mr. Fryar will not support an energy performance contract.
The College will continue with the fact-finding aspect of the energy contract opportunity and report the results to the Board at a meeting later in the year.
A portion of the county budget is used to supplement state-funded positions. With the current $1.7 million deficit from the state, any loss from the county will directly affect positions.
In summary, Ms. Devan informed the Board that the College will ask the county for $8.4 million in recurring operating budget support from the County (net of rent income). This is $2 million higher than the College was funded for last year. There is also a need for a $378,000 increase to pay for increases in utility costs and routine maintenance.
The College will present the budget to the County Commissioners on May 19, and a decision will be made by the Commissioners by June 6.
SGA Report:
SGA President Brandon Priester informed the Board that the SGA has been involved with the following:
- Substance Abuse Program
- Stand Against Racism Event
- High School Visitation
- Volunteer Luncheon
- Earth Day
- Grow the Campus Green – Blueberry bushes and trees were planted
Three new officers have been elected to the SGA and will start in the fall of 2015. Ana Frady will be the new SGA President; Amy Vonsite is the new Vice President; Tamika Bowman will be Secretary.
Mr. Priester shared that he appreciated the opportunity to serve on the Board and that he will be working for A-B Tech in the IT department.
Adjourn
On a motion by Dr. Locke, seconded by Mr. Hurley, the Board voted unanimously to adjourn at 5:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Carolyn H. Rice
Board Secretary