The Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College Board of Trustees convened a Called meeting on Monday, November 4, 2019, at 3:00 p.m. in the Brumit Hospitality Center’s Tillman Dining Room. John Parham, Chair, presided.
The following members of the Board were present: Leah Ashburn, Theresa Banks, Joe Brumit, Ron Edgerton, Mike Fryar, Jacquelyn Hallum, Vijay Kapoor, Matt Kern, Keynon Lake, Roger Metcalf, and Frances Ramsey.
Others present for the meeting included: Dennis King, President; Dirk Wilmoth, Vice President Business and Finance/CFO; Beth Stewart, Vice President Instructional Services; Kerri Glover; Executive Director of Community Relations and Marketing; Chris Campbell, College Attorney; Cynthia Lopez, College Attorney; and Carolyn Rice, Secretary to the Board.
Call To Order
Chair John Parham read the ethics statement. No conflicts of interest were reported. Ms. C. Rice called roll. A quorum was present.
Resolution/Action Items
1. A. Dr. King stated that on December 12, 2016, the Board gave the Board Chair the authority to approve Connect NC Bond project paperwork during the months that the Board of Trustees does not meet. Dr. King then informed the Board that the College is seeking the use of Connect NC Bond funds to move forward with the renovations of the restrooms in the Elm Building by reconfiguring and making them ADA compliant.
Dr. King informed the Board that the Executive Committee approved the Addition to the Connect NC Bond Referendum Project, and no further action was needed by the Board.
Budget Presentation
Dr. Dirk Wilmoth discussed the following areas of the College’s Budget with the Board:
- Sources of Revenue
- State Budget Formula
- Categories of Expenditures
- State Summary Budget Status
- Buncombe County Summary Budget Status
- Madison County Summary Budget Status
Dr. King continued the budget discussion by explaining the following parts of Capital Construction:
- State funds
- State Bond Referendums
- 2016 Connect NC Bond Projects
- County Article 46 (a.k.a.1/4 cent sales tax)
- Other Sources such as Foundation, Excess Fees, and Mission Naming
Money that the Foundation raises may only be used for program expenses, staff professional development, and other projects at the College that need funding.
All donor-specific money may only be used for what the donor intended it to be used for.
Closed Session
At 4:10 p.m. Mr. Kapoor moved that the Trustees enter into a closed session 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.
Upon a motion properly made, the Board returned to open session at 4:35 p.m.
Selection Of Presidential Search Firm
Chair Parham informed the Board that the Executive Committee met on October 30 to review the submitted proposals from ACCT (Association of Community College Trustees) and ELA (Executive Leadership Associates, LLP). The Committee recommends that ELA be the Search Firm for the College.
Dr. Parham also stated that when the Board agreed to go with a Search Firm in lieu of a Search Committee, the Search Committee was disbanded. Mr. Gene Bell will be asked to continue to participate in the Search as a member of the Executive Committee. All Executive Committee meetings are open for all Trustees to attend.
The Trustees discussed ACCT and ELA, as well as the search process at length.
At 5:05 p.m. the Trustees voted on the following Executive Committee recommendations:
- Hiring of a Search Firm:
The Board of Trustees hereby delegates authority to the Executive Committee to negotiate a final contract with ELA (Executive Leadership Associates, LLP) for supplemental presidential search services not to exceed $25,000 based upon the October 19, 2019 proposal from ELA.
The recommendation to hire ELA as the Presidential Search firm was approved by Trustees Ashburn, Kern, Ramsey, Brumit, Metcalf, and Parham. Trustees Kapoor, Hallum, and Edgerton opposed. Trustee Banks abstained from the vote.
Hiring ELA as the Presidential Search firm passed by majority vote.
- Final Applicant Selection:
The Board of Trustees hereby delegates authority to the Executive Committee and Executive Leadership Associates, LLP to reduce the candidate pool to no more than six (6) candidates for the presentation to the full Board of Trustees for selection by the Board of the finalists for Board interviews and campus visits. The Search Advisory Committee is hereby disbanded; however, Trustee Gene Bell will serve with the Executive Committee for the purposes delegated in this motion.
The recommendation to delegate authority to the Executive Committee and ELA to reduce the candidate pool to no more than six and to include Mr. Gene Bell in the Search was approved by Trustees Ashburn, Kern, Ramsey, Brumit, Metcalf, Parham, Kapoor, Hallum, and Edgerton. Trustee Banks abstained from the vote.
- Interim President Contract:
Negotiate a final contract for an interim President for an amount not to exceed $50,000 to include per diems, subject to final approval by the Board of Trustees.
The recommendation that Executive Committee will negotiate a final contract for an interim President for an amount not to exceed $50,000, subject to approval by the full Board was approved by Trustees Ashburn, Kern, Ramsey, Brumit, Metcalf, Parham, Kapoor, and Edgerton. Trustees Hallum and Banks opposed it.
Adjourn
On a motion by Mr. Brumit, seconded by Ms. Ashburn, the meeting adjourned at 5:10 p.m. by unanimous consent.
Respectfully submitted,
Carolyn H. Rice
Board Secretary