The Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College Board of Trustees convened a meeting on Monday, October 31, 2016, at 3:30 p.m. in the Magnolia Building. Joe Brumit, Chair, presided.
The following members of the Board were present: Pamela Baldwin, Gene Bell, Wayne Brigman, Mike Fryar, Jacquelyn Hallum, Roger Metcalf, William Murdock, John Parham, Frances Ramsey, Robin Ramsey, Mary Ann Rice, and Andrea Howell, 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 Schmidt, Vice President, Human Resources and Organizational Development; Marketing; 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. C. Rice called roll. A quorum was present.
Consent Agenda
Dr. King asked to remove item 1.B. from the Consent Agenda for further discussion.
Mr. Murdock moved to approve the Consent Agenda items: 1. A. Minutes of September 19, 2016; 1. C. Personnel Actions; 1. D. Western North Carolina Historical Association Public Notice, and 1. E. Approval of Revised Policies.
The motion to approve the amended Consent Agenda was seconded by Dr. Parham and approved unanimously by the Board.
Dr. King explained item 1.B. Minutes of October 12, 2016, Executive Committee Meeting to the Board. The Executive Committee, the County Manager, and two members of the community met in October to discuss the disposition of the Enka property. The College is interested in selling the Enka property but due to potential environmental issues with some of the land, an environmental study must be conducted prior to any sale. Thirteen and a half acres of the Enka property still belong to BASF, which donated the use of the land to the College. BASF is willing to donate the remaining thirteen and a half acres to the College, but will not pay for an environmental study to be conducted.
After an environmental study is conducted on the Enka property, and the College receives ownership of the property, the College would like to be prepared to sell the property as soon as feasible. The Small Business Incubator and the Brewing, Distillation, and Fermentation programs currently located at A-B Tech Enka, are both very successful and will need to be relocated to a space on the Asheville campus.
The Executive Committee discussed several different possible scenarios which were to be discussed with the full Board.
The Board unanimously passed item 1.B. Minutes of October 12, 2016, Executive Committee meeting.
Resolution/Action Items
2. A. Dr. King proposed changing the frequency of Board meetings from ten to six meetings per year, beginning in February 2017.
On a motion by Dr. Metcalf, seconded by Ms. M. Rice, the Board unanimously approved amending the Board Constitution meeting times from holding ten to six meetings per year.
2. B. Dr. King has been requested to and recommends that the College endorses the City of Asheville Bond Issuance, which is up for a vote on the November 8 ballot.
On a motion by Ms. F. Ramsey, seconded by Dr. Parham, the Board approved the Resolution of Support for the City of Asheville Bond Issuance. Trustees Mr. Fryar and Mrs. R. Ramsey abstained.
2. C. Mr. Chad Donnahoo presented PSNC’s Right-of-Way Easement request to the Board. PSNC is seeking an easement to place a substation on the corner of Smokey Park Highway and Sand Hill Road in Enka. PSNC already has an easement on the Enka property which encloses the main gas pipeline to western North Carolina. The current easement runs near the Norfolk-Southern Railway, and a train has previously hit one of PSNC’s gas lines. To eliminate any further potential accidents, PSNC is requesting an additional fifteen feet on the Enka property and will financially compensate the College for the value of the land at its recently appraised rate. PSNC has agreed to make the substation as aesthetically appealing as possible.
The Administration recommends that the Board approve the easement for PSNC, which is still subject to state board approval, as well to legal review by both parties’ attorneys.
On a motion by Mr. Bell, seconded by Ms. R. Ramsey, the Board unanimously approved the PSNC Right-of-Way Easement on the Enka property.
2. D. Dr. Wilmoth informed the Board that the College advertised, interviewed, and recommends the selection of an architect firm for the renovations of the Advanced Manufacturing Center and for the Poplar building. Both renovation projects are being funded by the Connect NC Bond Referendum. The College recommends the selection of Novus Architects for both projects. Novus Architects is currently involved with the renovation of the Chestnut building as well.
On a motion by Dr. Parham, seconded by Mr. Murdock, the Board unanimously approved the selection of Novus Architects for the Renovations of the Advanced Manufacturing Center and for the Poplar Building.
Trustee Business
3. A. Chair Brumit attended the ACCT Conference in New Orleans and informed the Board that the meeting was excellent and so encompassing that more than one Trustee should attend each year. The Conference had multiple breakout options, and Chair Brumit attended several on Board Development and Strategic Planning. Chair Brumit came away reassured that the Board is doing a great job and that A-B Tech is far ahead of other colleges.
3. B. Chair Brumit informed the Board that the next conference is the ACCT Community College National Legislative Summit in Washington D.C. The Conference is scheduled for February 13-16, 2017, and asked the Trustees to let Ms. C. Rice know if they are able to attend.
3. C. The December 12 Board meeting coincides with the College’s Annual Holiday Luncheon. Chair Brumit invited all Trustees to attend the 1:00 pm seating at the Holiday Luncheon; subsequently, the Trustees agreed to move the Board meeting to 2:30 pm on December 12.
4. D. The February Board meeting typically starts with a luncheon provided by the College’s Culinary department. Due to scheduling and student availability, the College is asking that the Board have lunch followed by a meeting on February 9, 2017.
On a motion by Ms. Hallum, seconded by Ms. M. Rice, the Board unanimously approved moving the February Board meeting to Thursday, February 9, 2017, with a noon start.
President's Report
Dr. King shared the following news with the Board:
- The Locke Library dedication was a wonderful ceremony, and the College has received an enormous amount of positive feedback.
- The College’s new grant writer, Coryn Harris, starts on November 8. Ms. Harris will start by working with the Rural Development Commission for funding books for Career and College Promise students at Madison High School.
- The College has been hosting early voting in the Conference Center since October 27.
- The College hosted High School Counselors on campus in an effort to educate them on all of the offerings of the College.
- Interviews for the three finalists for the Vice President of Instructional Services were held last week, and a final candidate will be chosen on November 4.
- Lunch with the President starts on November 1. This is an excellent opportunity for new employees to meet each other and share ideas about the College.
- Dr. King has been appointed to the Executive Committee of HUB, as well as on the Executive Committee of the Community Colleges of Appalachia.
- The College and the Foundation are hosting a brunch on December 15 for all retirees. The College is hoping to organize a “Retiree Group” and get them involved with the College Foundation.
- In the past, the General Assembly awarded employees bonus vacation days in lieu of a pay increase. Some of our employees have used those days, others have held on to them. If an employee holds on to them until he or she retires, they can cash them in at the salary rate at retirement. As the awarding of the bonus days was an unfunded mandate from the state, if we were to pay them out it would cost the College approximately $746,000. The unfunded mandate is unsustainable. Recently, the General Assembly gave us the opportunity to buy out the bonus vacation days from our employees. The College set aside $100,000 of unallocated money, offered the buy-out on a first come first serve basis, and within the first day the $100,000 was cashed in.
Staff Report
Dr. David White presented the final 2015-2016 Strategic Plan update to the Board. Dr. White discussed student retention and completion, enrollment, FTE, dual enrollment with local high schools, diversity of staff and students, Foundation goals, technology, Board giving, as well as a number of other metrics.
Board members donating to the College show that the Trustees believe in the College, and Chair Brumit took the opportunity to challenge the Board to make a donation.
Ms. Melissa Quinley and Ms. Shelly White discussed three of the 2016-2019 Strategic Plan Initiatives with the Board. The College is increasing the availability of online programs of study. The College currently offers an Associate in Arts, Associate in Applied Science in Business Administration, as well as several Certificate programs that may be completed online.
The College continues to work with local employers and has started a new Environmental Engineering program to develop an awareness of and further the interest in sustainability efforts. To anticipate local employment needs, new programs such as Supply Chain Management and Occupational Therapy Assistant are being offered.
The continuing education department is aligning with curriculum requirements to provide classes such as advanced manufacturing industrial maintenance which trains students to repair and service equipment. The College is also offering classes in skilled trades for the construction industry which includes areas in electrical, plumbing, and masonry.
New pathways are being offered for transfer students and unnecessary courses are being eliminated. A vast array of career and college promise programs are being added such as accounting, automotive technology, and fire protection.
SGA Report
President Andrea Howell informed the Board that the Student Government Association held a successful voter registration day on campus.
The Wellness Fair was also successful, and the SGA is wrapping up for the semester.
The SGA’s final event for the year is the annual Children’s Holiday Party. The College typically hosts one hundred children from the Head Start program. Each child is presented with a gift as well as holiday goodies.
Adjourn
On a motion by Mr. Brigman, seconded by Dr. Parham, the meeting was adjourned at 5:15 p.m. by unanimous consent.
Respectfully submitted,
Carolyn H. Rice
Board Secretary