Call
to Order
The meeting was called to order at
5:03 p.m.
Roll
Call
Present: Heywood,
Jeffries, Mason, Rasmusson
Absent: Canady, Holden,
Pelleran
Trustee Holden arrived at
5:06 p.m.
Trustee Canady arrived at
5:15 p.m.
Limited
Public Comment
Lynn Savage - Hi, my name is Lynn Savage and I
am addressing you this afternoon as president of the LCCAA
administrative association, local number 4751.
I was saddened by former Trustee David Patterson?s opinion
piece in the Lansing State Journal last Saturday as it resurrected
issues which I, as president of the LCCAA, had hoped were resolved.
Most unfortunate to me as it referenced the December 17th
Board meeting. The meeting
as you will recall that saw the presentation of other results of two
audits of the purchasing policies and procedures at LCC.
One of these studies was funded by the Board.
The other by the administration.
In contrast to Mr. Patterson?s view point of the findings
that quote ?both reports made suggestions for changes to the
purchasing policy and criticized misinformation and lack of
communication? end quote. What
I heard that night was an almost total vindication of LCC's
purchasing policies and procedures and the employees involved in the
investigation. And only a
suggestion that some very minor communication issues should be
addressed. In fact, as a
direct result of the proceedings that evening the Board appropriately
issued a formal apology to all employees involved.
LCCAA very much appreciates that Board's support of our
employees to this ordeal. Obviously
there are other even deeper issues raised by Mr. Patterson?s opinion
piece. I trust, both as an
individual and as president of the administrative association, that
this Board will resolve those deeper issues in accordance with this
public trust and its own policies.
Ray Wawro - I'm Ray Wawro from ISCD and I?d also like to speak
about Mr. Patterson?s letter to the editor in the paper.
Quite honestly I was shocked by the letter.
I really wondered if he read the same report that I had read.
I just want to once again pronounce my commitment to the
individuals involved, Beckie Beard,
Glenn Cerny
, and
Lee Whipple
. I've worked with all
of them on a regular basis and they really do a fine job.
Carrie Schafer
- My name is
Carrie Schafer
. I also was at the last
December Board meeting. I
would like to thank the LCC Board of Trustees for standing behind the
employees of LCC. The
inappropriate actions of Mr. Patterson exhibited over the past year
have been degrading and threatening to the employees.
This behavior is unacceptable and unprofessional.
Thank you for your continued support to LCC employees.
Nancy Lombardi - My name is Nancy Lombardi.
I'm here to speak on behalf of the same things other folks
did, but particularly I'm here to address item number four on the
agenda, Resolution to Reenact the Motion of Censure.
I'm wondering why that's here again for.
I thought you guys did this already.
I'll just be frank. The
Board is a resource just like the employees are a resource, just like
the students? tuition is a resource, and I find it offensive to keep
seeing this on the agenda. What
is it? You?re going to
have this on the agenda until someone gets the answer they want to
hear? I find that a waste
of College resources.
Linda Uhler
- Hi, my name is
Linda Uhler
. I want to publicly thank
the LCC Board of Trustees for their support in this censure of former
Trustee Patterson, his attitude, behavior, and threat to certain LCC
employees that led up to the censure (inaudible) in these times of
radical changes happening on campus, such as new software, new
hardware, new buildings, and new ways of doing business we need a
Board that is strong enough to do the right thing and the censure was
the right thing, and thank you again.
A
Resolution to Reenact a Motion of Censure
Chairperson Jeffries stated that a lawsuit has
been filed alleging in part that the Open Meetings Act was violated
when the motion was made to censure Dave Patterson on December 17.
There is a curative provision within the act that allows the
Board to reenact this issue for purposes of lawsuits.
This resolution would nullify any irregularity that may have
been found without any admission of any wrongdoing on the part of the
College. This action will
address some of the issues in the lawsuit. Chairperson
Jeffries emphasized that this resolution does not result in any
admission of wrongdoing or impropriety on the part of the Board or any
admission to the Open Meetings Act.
IT WAS MOVED by Trustee Heywood and supported by Trustee Rasmusson to
accept the resolution to reenact a motion of censure.
Trustee Heywood explained why he would be
supporting the motion. He
does not believe there was a violation of the Open Meetings Act.
He thinks that the lawsuit Mr. Patterson has filed is
frivolous. Trustee Heywood
believes that the lawsuit is meant to bloody several Trustees who have
been doing the right thing on the Board for years.
He will be supporting the resolution, not because he wishes to
keep dragging up the censure, but because enough is enough and he
wants to eliminate this as quickly as possible so the Board can get on
with the important business of the institution.
Trustee Holden expressed the reasons she would be
supporting the resolution. She
said that it would have been very easy, when the other motions came
forward, for the Board to lift the censure.
However, the easy road wasn't one the Board wanted to take.
The primary reason she supported the censure on December 17 was
to send a message to the employees that they need not be treated
unfairly, and in some cases painfully, by a Board member.
Trustee Holden said that the Board knew there was a possibility
that Mr. Patterson would file a lawsuit, but she, and others, did not
want to bend on a threat of a lawsuit.
Roll call vote:
Ayes: Heywood, Holden,
Jeffries, Mason, Rasmusson
Nays: None
Absent: Canady, Pelleran
Motion carried.
Sale
of Bonds
Chief Information Officer,
Glenn Cerny
, gave a presentation to Board regarding the sale of bonds, and
included the budget update in his presentation.
The presentation is on file with official Board materials. He
introduced Mr. Dan Gilmore from Paine Webber, and Mr. Paul Stauder
from Stauder & Barch that were also present to speak about the
sale of bonds.
Mr. Cerny acknowledged Ms. Sue Maloney, Director
of Accounting & Payroll, who assisted in gathering data for the
sale of bonds. He asked
Mr. Bill Danhof, from Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone, to walk the
Board through the sale of bonds resolution.
Mr. Danhof walked the Board through the
resolution (the resolution is on file with the official Board
materials.) He said that
legal counsel and the financial advisors have reviewed this and
believe it is in proper order.
IT WAS MOVED by Trustee Canady and supported by
Trustee Holden to approve the sale of bonds resolution.
Roll call vote:
Ayes: Canady, Heywood,
Holden, Jeffries, Mason, Rasmusson
Nays: None
Absent: Pelleran
Motion carried.
Mr. Cerny thanked Ms.
Carrie Schafer
and Ms. Maloney for their help in the sale of bonds.
Aviation
Spotlight
President Cunningham stated that the Aviation
Department had worked with the external and internal community in
order to meet challenges that have faced the department prior to
September 11 and after. The
purpose of the spotlight is to give the Board an update on what is
being planned for the future.
Mr. John Theroux, Transportation Department
Chair, thanked the Board for allowing them to spotlight the Aviation
Program. He introduced Mr. Harry Whitehead, who has been with the
College since 1978. Mr.
Whitehead gave a presentation to the Board on the past, present and
future of the Aviation Program (the presentation is on file with the
official Board materials.)
(The following minutes were added per Trustee
Heywood?s request at the
April 21, 2003
regular Board of Trustees meeting.)
Chairperson
Jeffries asked who would pay the tuition for high schools students to
participate in the high school articulation programs that are
currently being discussed.
Mr. Whitehead
responded that for the program being planned for the Star Institute,
the K-12 school districts would pay for the tuition.
For the articulation programs, those would be paid for by a
tuition-type operation.
Chairperson
Jeffries asked what the expected number of students this program would
generate.
Mr. Whitehead
responded that there is a potential for up to 200 students, but
realistically 20 or 30 students will participate in the Fall; however,
there is a potential for an increase as the program develops.
Chairperson
Jeffries asked if there was a certain number of students that they
have to have to meet their bottom line.
(Tape ended and
response was not recorded.)
Trustee Holden
asked for clarification regarding average section size and average
section size program sub unit.
Mr. Theroux
responded that the average section size applies to the College as a
whole, and the sub unit is the individual program, such as aviation
maintenance.
Trustee Holden
stated that
Western Michigan
dropped one of their aviation
programs, and she asked if this would impact the College.
Mr. Whitehead
responded that the biggest thing
Western Michigan
had was their contract with British
Airways to train their pilots and that contract has ended.
Mr. Whitehead said that he doesn?t think the
Western Michigan
situation would impact the College.
However, there is a potential for the college to receive the
students that may have gone to Western.
President
Cunningham stated that she has been concerned with not only getting
students to enroll, but having them graduate and what happens to them
after they leave. The flight market is not as lucrative as it once
was. The Aviation
Department has done an analysis in terms of where the job
opportunities are and how they can increase those opportunities for
students.
Trustee Holden
said that she was under the impression that the College had moved to
more a vocational perspective. She
asked if that was true.
President
Cunningham responded that increasing the time that classes are
available was suggested to allow opportunities for those students
taking aviation for a personal interest.
She asked Mr. Theroux to further address Trustee Holden?s
question.
Mr. Theroux
responded that the industry is going through some changes.
There are more regional type airlines where they are flying
smaller airplanes. The
Aviation Department is finding, despite the layoffs in the industry,
that there are a number of airlines that are hiring pilots for smaller
aircrafts.
President
Cunningham said that in terms of the personal interest pilots that has
not been fully developed or marketed.
It is still being reviewed in terms of increased costs and
staff.
Trustee
Rasmusson stated that it was mentioned previously that an aircraft
would be sold. He asked if
the money is placed in a reserve fund so it doesn?t go into
operating costs.
President
Cunningham responded that the college did sell an airplane and it will
go back into the program, but not into the ROI.
Trustee Holden
asked how selling the aircraft affected the program.
Mr. Theroux
responded that it affected the program by about 20 cents in the ROI.
The sale was about $206,000, but it was a one time deal.
Trustee Heywood
asked how many international students are currently enrolled and how
many were enrolled prior to the September 11 events.
Mr. Whitehead
responded that prior to September 11 they were working with
Saudi Arabia
Airlines and there were
approximately 30 students enrolled.
Currently there are zero students enrolled.
Trustee Heywood
asked how much of that has to do with the new restrictions on
enrollment policies from the federal government.
Mr. Whitehead
responded that probably a lot. Saudi
Arabia Airlines, whether it was because it was due to government
restrictions or not, decided not to continue training in the
United States
.
He stated that he could not tell Trustee Heywood the exact
reason for the decline in enrollment from
Saudi Arabia
.
Trustee Heywood
said that it sounds as if the Aviation Program is doing all of the
work themselves. Trustee
Heywood was concerned with the outreach activities and what support
are they receiving from the Marketing Department.
Mr. Whitehead
responded that they are doing a lot of their own outreach activities
in cooperation with the Marketing Department.
He said that they are not doing it on their own.
They are doing a lot of it directly themselves because they
feel that they would have a better impact than a Marketing person
would in going to the schools. Mr.
Whitehead said that the Aviation Program feels that it is the best
approach.
Chairperson
Jeffries asked how active the Aviation Program?s external advisory
committee is.
Mr. Whitehead
responded that they have regular meetings.
Chairperson
Jeffries asked if the advisory committee has provided any new
partnerships, recommendations or outreach.
Mr. Whitehead
responded that at this point nothing has developed.
However, like any other advisory committee those types of
connections are there and will continue.
He felt that the connections will pay off in the future and
their indirect input with their colleagues and their other networks.
Mr. Theroux
stated that at their last advisory committee they had a brainstorming
session regarding outreach activities and also discussed possible
activities with businesses. He
said that there is a lot of interest from businesses and their
indications are that they want to support the Aviation Program.
President
Cunningham asked Mr. Theroux or Mr. Whitehead to address what role the
Aviation Program plays with the count for take off and landing at
Capital
City
Airport
.
Mr. Theroux
stated that the College accounted for approximately half of the take
offs and landings. The
College is a significant part of the
Capital
City
Airport
continuing to get its funding for
full-time operations. The
Aviation Program is a major contributor and important component of the
airport.
Trustee Holden
asked Mr. Chris Holman, Director of Workforce Development, if there
are two new carriers coming to the area.
Mr. Holman
responded that Continental is coming back.
He said that it is projected that the industry as a whole is
going to recover to its prior state in 2008.
Commercial airline pilots are not going to be in demand, but
what will be in demand will be pilots for freight carriers and that is
where the future expansion will be much greater.
Trustee Holden
asked if there are two carriers coming back, how it would help the
program.
Mr. Theroux
responded that the benefit will be an awareness of the program so the
students have the potential of being employed there.
Mr. Holman
responded that it opens up opportunities for the students.
President
Cunningham stated that having a maintenance facility here in town will
be attractive to airlines.
Trustee Holden
asked what the average salary is for a graduate of the Mechanics or
Avionics program.
Mr. Whitehead
responded that according to data they have an A&P mechanic will
have a starting salary of approximately $50,000 a year.
An Avionics graduate?s salary would be slightly higher.
Strategic
Plan Update
President Cunningham stated that the Board will
be asked to participate in a focus group sometime in April to reaffirm
the strategic plan. The
process for community focus groups has begun.
She suggested that the Board review the strategic plan that was
provided in the Board packet.
Community
Linkages Update
Chairperson Jeffries stated that all of the
Trustees have returned their calendars.
He said that dates would hopefully be finalized soon.
Budget
Update
Mr. Cerny provided a budget update during the
sale of bonds presentation.
Finance
- Approval of Bids
M-TEC/TTC
Steel Bid
Ms.
Rebecca Beard, Purchasing Director, presented the M-TEC/TTC structural steel bid to
the Board for their approval. She
said that 26 suppliers received the bid package and 11 bids were
received from 11 suppliers. The
evaluation committee consisted of staff members from Purchasing,
Facilities Planning, and consultation from Clark Construction Company,
the construction manager. The
evaluation committee recommended that the award be made to Dumas
Concepts from Northville, MI, which was the lowest bid, and was deemed the most advantageous to
the College.
Ms. Beard presented the M-TEC/TTC site utilities
bid to the Board for their approval. The
evaluation committee consisted of staff members from Purchasing,
Facilities Planning, and consultation from Clark Construction Company,
the construction manager. The
evaluation committee recommended that the award be made to TCI, Inc.
of
Michigan
from Eaton Rapids, MI, which was the lowest bid, and was deemed the
most advantageous to the College.
Health
Building & Administration
Building
Construction Management
President Cunningham stated that this bid will be forwarded to
the Board at the April 21 meeting.
IT WAS MOVED by Trustee Canady and supported by Trustee Holden to
approve the M-TEC/TTC steel bid and M-TEC/TTC utilities bid.
Roll call vote:
Ayes: Canady, Heywood,
Holden, Jeffries, Mason, Rasmusson
Nays: None
Absent: Pelleran
Motion carried.
Public
Comment
Trustee Holden - Occasionally we're asked, I
know I have been, why are you continuing building when you're having
to cut staff and with the downturn of the economy?
I know that there are a lot of financial reasons why we have to
maintain this, but the other evening I was at a Sparrow function and
the head of the their nursing department said that in the first time
in her history, and as long as she can remember, when they only needed
37 or 39 nurses. I said
there goes my story, our story was that Sparrow would hire 100.
She said we?d hire them just to keep them on hand and
proceeded to say, I'm quoting her ?it will be worse in the next
several years.? It just seems imperative that we move ahead.
Chairperson Jeffries - Also, I?d like to announce that KP?s
father passed away on Saturday and that is why she is not here today.
So, please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.
There were no comments from the public.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at
6:18 p.m.
