Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 5:03 p.m.
Roll Call
Present: Heywood, Holden, Jeffries, Patterson,
Pelleran, Rasmusson
Absent: Canady
Trustee Canady arrived at 5:13 p.m.
Additions/Deletions to the Agenda
There were no additions or deletions to the
agenda.
Limited Public Comment Regarding Agenda
Items
Lynn Savage - My name is Lynn Savage and I'm
speaking tonight in support of your adopting the smoking policy. I am
chair of the Physical Fitness and Wellness department and a member of
the college-wide wellness committee. I know that you usually hear me
speak as president of the LCC's Administrative Association, but actually
tonight I'm here on behalf of all employees and students. Smoking is the
number one preventable cause of illness and death in this country.
Employees who smoke cost their employers over $4,000 a year because of
increased absenteeism, increase medical care benefits, and lost employer
earnings. Michigan?s actually one of the worst states in the United
States in terms of the adverse economic impact smoking related diseases.
Second hand smoke also known as environmental tobacco smoke or ETS,
which is the stuff that you and I breathe from other cigarettes, is a
Group A carcinogen, one of fifteen such substances. As a comparison, so
is asbestos. It also means OSHA, Occupational Safety and Health
Administration, criteria as a potential occupational carcinogen. I am
particularly pleased to see this policy includes educational efforts to
help students and staff understand the policy and learn about the
various smoking cessation programs that are available. It seems
particularly fitting since we are an educational facility. I urge you to
adopt this policy. Thank you for your attention.
Chairperson and Board Member Reports
Chairperson
Chairperson Jeffries announced that the Board
is having a special meeting on Tuesday, December 17, 2002 at 5:00 p.m.
The agenda will only include the purchasing review reports. He stated
that he tried very hard to get the reports presented at this regularly
scheduled meeting because this is the last week that classes are in
session and the majority of faculty and staff will be on campus.
Chairperson Jeffries said that President Cunningham was ready a week or
two ago, but kindly agreed to wait until the Board's reviewers were
complete with their investigation.
Chairperson Jeffries stated that in the
management memo from the President there was an issue regarding wetlands
at the Delta Township site. He received several phone calls from various
Trustees expressing interest and concern on that issue. Due to the
complexity in getting all the pertinent parties together in terms of
receiving information it will be presented at the first work session in
January.
Trustee Rasmusson said that the Board might
want to see the documents that were involved to understand how this
happened so it won?t happen again.
President's Contract
Chairperson Jeffries stated that every year
the President's contract is reviewed after the evaluation is completed.
Any potential amendments to the President's contract will be brought to
the Board as an informational item at the work session and as an action
item at the regular meeting.
Committee of the Whole Meeting Schedule
Chairperson Jeffries presented the Committee
of the Whole meeting schedule to the Board (it is on file with the
official Board materials.) He asked the President to review with her
staff a convenient day and time to meet, in addition to a cost analysis
as to what this may cost. The estimated cost to hold the committee of
the whole meetings is $1200. Tuesday and Friday afternoons were an
option, but having the meeting available to the public was a concern;
therefore, Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. seemed to be the best day and time.
Chairperson Jeffries stated that only informational items would be
considered that eventually might come before the Board for action. The
only action items that may be considered at the committee of the whole
meetings will be vendor purchases.
Trustee Pelleran recommended that the Board
meet on Mondays to be consistent with the regular Board meetings.
Chairperson Jeffries stated that he has a
conflict on Mondays.
Trustee Pelleran said that he should
reevaluate that conflict on Monday.
Chairperson Jeffries stated that he has been
reevaluating it on a constant basis.
President Cunningham stated that staff was
asked which day was more convenient considering they would have to
attend an additional meeting. She said that the Board secretary has a
religious conflict on Mondays and indicated some hesitancy in doing two
Monday meetings. Therefore, selecting Tuesday to hold the committee of
the whole meetings was determined by reviewing the entire staff?s
schedules, not just the Chairperson?s schedule.
Bylaws and Policy Committee Update
Smoking Policy Amendment - Chairperson
Jeffries presented the amendments to the smoking policy (the amendments
are on file with the official Board materials.) The changes were a
result of a Bylaws and Policy Committee meeting. Changes included the
scope in terms of not only employees, but also including students,
staff, and visitors. Another change was to include the use of tobacco
products and expanded it to include chewing tobacco. Some of the
language that was deleted was no longer applicable to the policy.
Trustee Pelleran offered the amendment to
delete the usage of tobacco product. The use of tobacco is legal whether
we agree with it or not. She understood that this was a smoking policy.
Whether we choose to smoke or choose to chew it is an adult choice and
it is a legal choice in this country. If it's a smoking policy, she?d
like to amend it in deleting the use of tobacco product from the policy.
Chairperson Jeffries asked if there was any
support to Trustee Pelleran?s amendment.
There was no support for Trustee Pelleran?s
amendment
Trustee Heywood asked Trustee Pelleran if the
title of the policy was changed to ?Smoking and Tobacco Usage Policy?
would she accept that.
Trustee Pelleran stated that it is not a
concern it is a legal issue. She believes we're being extremely punitive
to those who choose to use a tobacco product. When we say smoking that
is one issue. It's been an issue at the doorways, but to add the use of
tobacco products, including smokeless products, does not deal with the
issue this policy is established to deal with.
Trustee Holden said that she would normally
tend to agree with Trustee Pelleran; however, after hearing some of the
descriptions of what may occur in the classroom in terms of where
tobacco chewers spew or spit, she supports the amendments.
Trustee Pelleran asked if there has been a
problem with those that misuse smoke free tobacco products.
Trustee Heywood said that he could testify
from his own personal experience being in a classroom where people are
chewing tobacco. He stated that it is one of the most disgusting
distractions.
Trustee Pelleran stated that she has a
personal preference here also. She worked to establish and pass an
initiative in Arizona where one of the outcomes was the reduction of the
usage of tobacco products. She said that at the same time she recognizes
peoples? legal rights to use those products that are available to them
legally in this country. Not only does she respect the rights, she?s
also learned of the negative health implications of the use of tobacco,
but it is a legal substance in this country. Trustee Pelleran said that
the smoking policy was portrayed as an issue with smoking at the
entrances of the building and that being an issue to students who have
asthma or other concerns or conditions that were afflicted by other
people smoking. She does not share the same concern with smoke free
tobacco.
Chairperson Jeffries asked for a roll call
vote on the amendments to the smoking policy:
Roll call vote:
Ayes: Canady, Heywood, Holden,
Jeffries, Patterson, Rasmusson
Nays: Pelleran
Absent: None
The smoking policy amendments were approved.
Organ Donor Policy - Chairperson Jeffries
presented the organ donor policy (it is on file with the official Board
materials.) He stated that this policy is being presented as an
informational item and the policy committee as well as the labor
coalition will review it. This policy was suggested by Trustee Rasmusson.
Trustee Patterson asked if the policy had been
fully reviewed by the College's legal counsel.
President Cunningham stated that Mr. Cliff
Flood, from Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone, was present when the
Bylaws Policy Committee reviewed it.
Trustee Heywood asked how is it currently
being handled when employees donate an organ.
Mr. David Davidson stated that is handled
under the Family and Medical Leaves of Absence policy.
Chairperson Jeffries stated that this policy
would be brought back to the Board at a later date.
Trustee Patterson asked if this policy was
modeled by another policy at another institution.
Trustee Rasmusson responded that it is similar
to the New Hampshire statute.
President Cunningham asked how many cases
exist at the college.
Mr. Davidson responded that the College has
had not more than two cases in the past 20 years.
Board Members
Trustee Olga Holden - Foundation Board
Trustee Holden stated that the Foundation
Board met and there was discussion regarding the executive director
search. She asked President Cunningham to elaborate on the search.
President Cunningham reported that the
committee is still in the process of conducting interviews and reviewing
applications for the executive director of the Foundation position. She
said that they hope to make a decision within the next two weeks.
Trustee Holden reported on the Foundation open
house. She said that it was well attended, and it is appreciated by the
Foundation members.
M-TEC Ground Breaking
Trustee Heywood reported that it was well
attended, and it was covered well by the media. He said that people are
excited and you could feel that energy by the people that were there.
Trustee Holden said that an important aspect
of the event is that Mayor Hollister played a prominent part of the
program and everyone credited the Mayor in keeping GM in the community.
It felt like the group was ready to move forward.
President Cunningham stated that it was nice
to see members of Lansing City Council, union leaders, management, and
students at the ground breaking event.
Trustee Holden reminded the Board of the
January 15 breakfast meeting between the Foundation Board and LCC Board
of Trustees.
President's Report
Informational Items
Human Resources
Appointments
Administrative--
Alicia Scanlon, Learning Center Coordinator, Language Skills,
Student and Academic Support Division
Roberta Peterson, Dean, Human, Health and Public Services
Division
Faculty--
Mark Gallup, Faculty Member - Speech, Communication, Liberal
Studies
Action Items
Approval of Minutes - November 18, 2002
President Cunningham presented the November
18, 2002 meeting minutes.
There were no changes to the minutes.
IT WAS MOVED by Trustee Holden and supported
by Trustee Patterson to approve the November 18, 2002 meeting minutes.
Ayes: Canady, Heywood, Holden, Jeffries,
Patterson, Pelleran, Rasmusson
Nays: None
Absent: None
Motion carried.
Public Comment
There were no comments from the public.
Trustee Pelleran - I just have a comment to
follow up on the last meeting that we had. I would really like to have a
little bit more dialogue on the issue of the 20% of the entire full-time
faculty being on terminal contracts. And I?d like to have that
presentation at one of our committee of the whole meetings.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 5:25 p.m.
