Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 5:06 p.m.
Roll Call
Present: Canady, Heywood, Holden, Jeffries,
Pelleran, Rasmusson Absent: None
Limited Public Comment
Sally Pierce - I'm here to address you as the
President of LCC MAHE. The item I'm addressing is about the insurance.
We were happy to hear that bids had gone out for a long-term disability
and accidental death and dismemberment coverage. We knew that that was
going to happen. Our members have had some problems with coverage lately
and this is an increasing interest to us. I'm somewhat surprised that it
appears on your agenda as an action item tonight. I believe it would
serve the college and all employees well to refer this to the labor
management health care committee for review. That committee has worked
well together and has focused on better coverage for employees and lower
costs to the college. The committee plans to look at vision and dental
insurance this semester and we believe that it's appropriate for them to
include the long-term disability coverage as well in what we review. And
that's my comment.
Trustee Rasmusson - I did mention to Sally
that I think it was broken up into two pages and there were maybe four
bids on each one and apparently this information was never furnished to
anyone else other than Trustees.
Sally Pierce - I don't know who else saw it,
but I didn?t see it.
Board Vacancy
Chairperson Jeffries stated that the Board
established at the last meeting in December the rules and procedures in
which they would follow to fill the vacancy. Those rules and procedures
are consistent with how the Board has filled a vacancy in the past.
Chairperson Jeffries stated that the Board received 27 applications.
Each trustee, in no particular order, will present their top five
candidates. It was indicated in the process that those candidates with
the minimum of four votes would be forwarded in the process. It is
typically found that there is a natural cut off and if there are less
then four votes, the Board can certainly consider that. Chairperson
Jeffries said that the Board would want to maintain as much of an open
process and include as many people as possible in the process. He asked
the Board secretary to read each trustee?s name aloud and for each
trustee to give their unranked top five candidates.
Pelleran: Bughra, Dougan, Laverty, Mason
Canady: Bughra, Proctor, Dougan, Laverty, Mason
Rasmusson: Dougan,
Klunsinger, Laverty, Miller, Grettenberger
Heywood: Bughra,
Grettenberger, Klunsinger, Marinez, Mason
Holden: Grettenberger,
Laverty, Marinez, Mason, Monticello
Jeffries: Drake, Grettenberger,
Laverty, Marinez, Mason
IT WAS MOVED by Trustee Holden and supported
by Trustee Pelleran to interview six candidates.
Ayes: Canady, Heywood, Holden, Jeffries,
Pelleran, Rasmusson
Nays: None
Absent: None
Motion carried.
The following six applicants will be
interviewed: Bughra, Dougan, Grettenberger, Laverty, Marinez, and Mason.
President's Contract Update
Chairperson Jeffries stated that the intent is
to get a proposed contract to the Board within a week or two. The
President's contract would then be discussed at the next Board meeting.
Purchasing Investigation Invoices -
Additional Hours/Board Budget
Vice President Larson stated that each year
the Board of Trustees has a budgeted cost center, which is relatively
small. The $70,000 that has come forward as a result of the purchasing
investigation is well beyond the funds available in the Board's budget.
As part of any budget reconciliation the college will need to identify
funding to cover that expenditure. She stated that at this point there
is a negative in the Board of Trustees budget.
Chairperson Jeffries stated that in the Board
packet are the invoices that were submitted by Ms. Jan Lazar and Mr.
Kenneth McIntyre. He said that he was quite surprised to see the overage
in Mr. McIntyre?s submission based upon the Board meeting in November.
This was in excess of what was discussed and what was approved.
Chairperson Jeffries said that Ms. Lazar?s billing was very close to
what the Board approved.
Trustee Canady felt it would be appropriate
for the Board to approve that amount the Board authorized. Mr. McIntyre
was aware that the Board would be approving the 160 hours that were
previously given.
Trustee Holden asked if Mr. McIntyre had
discussed with anyone the overage in his hours.
Chairperson Jeffries stated that he was not
aware of any discussion.
Trustee Rasmusson felt that if the Board
received valuable work then the Board should pay for it.
Trustee Canady stated that he is not
suggesting not paying for it, but it should be discussed further.
Trustee Heywood stated that he has done
consulting work and he would never hand a bill to the agency that's
contracted him with 127 hours over not without going back to the
institution and requesting more hours. He said that he is uncomfortable
with approving anything over 160 hours.
Trustee Pelleran would like the Board to
approve the 160 hours and then talk with Mr. McIntyre about any room for
negotiation of the balance.
Chairperson Jeffries asked how would the
Purchasing Department handle a situation similar to this.
Ms. Beckie Beard responded that if the
suppliers anticipate exceeding the number of hours authorized then they
are to obtain approval prior to incurring any additional charges,
otherwise it would be at their own liability.
Trustee Pelleran stated that the Board gave
them an extremely tight timeline. The review was put on hold for a
significant amount of time. Then the Board brought it forward and
entered into forward motion that was fast paced. She felt that there are
other considerations to look at.
Trustee Holden stated that she agrees with
Trustee Heywood, but is open to some flexibility. She said that when the
Board met with Mr. McIntyre he stated he might not need the additional
100 hours. Trustee Holden believes that he did not exceed the authorized
hours intentionally, however, he did not follow the proper protocol in
coming to the Board for approval. She said that she was impressed that
Ms. Lazar charged to gather her bill and would approve paying her the
160 hours, but would prefer to negotiate anything beyond that.
Chairperson Jeffries stated that at the
meeting the Board had with Mr. McIntyre Chairperson Jeffries expressed
the need to reach some position where there would be an initial
determination made if more money would need to be added into the
investigation. He said that was expected as part of the statement of
work. Chairperson Jeffries also thought Mr. McIntyre would not exceed
the 100 hours, and agrees with Trustee Holden that it was not
intentional. He said that if the Board is to approve Ms. Lazar?s bill
for 166 then that amount should also be approved for Mr. McIntyre?s
bill.
Trustee Canady felt that to maintain
consistency the Board should approve the original amount and leaving the
remainder open for further discussion.
Chairperson Jeffries clarified that this
motion would be to approve the 160 hours and expenses.
Trustee Pelleran offered the friendly
amendment on Ms. Lazar?s bill to include the 6 additional hours because
the Board did not ask her to itemize her bill until after she was
already 90% through her review. Therefore, Ms. Lazar had to go backward
and put in the extra work.
Trustee Canady stated he would support that.
Chairperson Jeffries stated that he disagrees
with that characterization. What the Board asked of Ms. Lazar is what
the college asks for from everybody in terms of submitting a bill to
this public body. He said that everyone, including the investigators the
President hired, had to submit an itemization as to the time spent.
Trustee Pelleran stated that she wasn't privy
to what was asked of each person. She was not that they were asked up
front for an itemized hourly bill.
Chairperson Jeffries said that when the Board
passed the resolution, it was directed that all of the procedures and
guidelines of the purchasing policy, which is standard operating
procedure would be followed.
Trustee Pelleran said that she was unaware of
how it was presented to Ms. Lazar. She saw Ms. Lazar?s interim bill and
it was not itemized and it was returned. Ms. Lazar mentioned that it was
not her customary style. Trustee Pelleran asked if it was presented to
her that she should itemize.
Ms. Beard responded that whenever the college
does work for hire it gets billed by the hour.
Trustee Pelleran asked if that was in writing
and if that is the way it was presented to her.
Ms. Beard responded that she was unaware of
how it was presented to Ms. Lazar.
Chairperson Jeffries stated that in the
committee it was not stated to provide an itemized list. As the review
progressed, he asked for an itemized bill as to where they were with
their hours. He said that he doesn?t know of any public body that
doesn?t request when they're spending dollars to tie time to the bill in
order to justify to the taxpayer how their money is being spent.
Trustee Pelleran felt that the Board has
admitted that perhaps there is some area of grayness. No one has firmly
expressed that this is the fashion it was presented to Ms. Lazar.
Chairperson Jeffries asked for a roll call
vote to approve the 160 hours for the purchasing reviewers.
Roll call vote:
Ayes: Canady, Heywood, Holden,
Jeffries, Pelleran, Rasmusson
Nays: None
Absent: None
Motion carried.
Enrollment Update
Chief Information Office Glenn Cerny presented
the enrollment update to the Board (it is on file with the official
Board materials).
Service Review
President Cunningham stated that this item is
on the agenda as a follow up to the program review that was conducted 1
- year ago. The service review has been challenging, but she expressed
how proud she was of the people who have worked on this. The main
indicator of service review and how the college is doing are the numbers
received from the State of Michigan that continue to reflect a decrease
in administrative overhead costs and an increase in instructional costs.
That has always been a struggle at LCC, but the administrative overhead
numbers are now lower.
Ms. Nancy Lombardi and Vice President Barbara
Larson presented a PowerPoint presentation to the Board regarding
service review (the presentation is on file with the official Board
materials.)
Contract Faculty
Trustee Pelleran asked if this information had
been shared with Mr. Barry Stearns.
President Cunningham stated that Mr. Stearns
has not requested this information.
Trustee Pelleran asked if the college has
grown the number of full-time faculty or reduced that number. She asked
how does the list that is in the Board packet differ from the list that
was provided by Mr. Rich Howard today.
President Cunningham responded the college has
grown the number of faculty by a total of 10. Every year full-time
faculty positions have increased at Lansing Community College.
There was discussion regarding what was
provided in the packet compared to what Mr. Howard provided earlier that
day. It was clarified that they were two different documents because two
different questions were asked. The two responses differed by the number
of total full-time faculty temporary positions currently filled versus
the number of non-grant funded full-time faculty temporary positions
currently existing.
Trustee Pelleran asked if the college has
grown in faculty positions.
Vice President Larson responded that the
college has grown in authorized, full-time, regular faculty positions.
Trustee Heywood asked how many temporary
positions are being moved into permanent positions.
Vice President Larson responded that is a part
of the budget development process. A discussion takes place as to
whether this position is fulfilling a need that the college perceives as
a long-term need at the college.
Budget Update
Vice President Larson provided a 2002-2003
budget update to the Board (it is on file with the official Board
materials.) For next year, the college is preparing for an additional 5%
as much as a 10% reduction in state aid. She stated that it might be
very difficult to develop a balanced budget without considering an
increase in tuition possibly one that is higher than the rate of
inflation.
Remaining Policies for Board Approval
Update (Drug Free Workplace; Employment of Relatives; Organ Donor;
and Working From Home)
Chairperson Jeffries stated that this is an
informational item only and will be brought back to the Board at the
next meeting for action. He said that all the policies with exception of
the Organ Donor policy have existed for almost one year. The policies
have gone through a review with the labor coalition and they have
approved them.
Trustee Pelleran asked if the Drug Free
Workplace policy is consistent with policies at other colleges.
Mr. David Davidson responded that he is
unaware what other colleges have in place; however, the policy is
consistent with the state law.
Finance
Approval of Bids
Automated Degree Audit Process
The first bid the Board reviewed was for the
automated degree audit process. The college received two proposals and
the successful vendor was Decision Academic Graphics.
Mr. Cerny, Mr. Evan Montague, and Mr. Steven
Grenus provided a presentation to the Board that highlighted Degree
Navigator, the automated degree audit process, and the benefits for
students in implementing this program. Some of those benefits included
on-line access to view what a student needs to finish their degree, a
certificate, or to transfer.
Fire Truck
The second bid was for a new fire truck for
the Fire Academy Program. The college received two proposals and the
successful vendor was Payette 7 Associates, Inc., from Mason, Michigan.
Life/AD&D/LTD Insurance for Employees
The third bid the Board reviewed was for Life,
Accidental Death and Dismemberment and Long Term Disability insurance.
The College received two proposals and the successful vendor was SIG
Benefits.
Trustee Rasmusson asked if this should be
something that should be discussed with labor.
Mr. Davidson responded that within the
bargaining agreements it is stated that a certain number of dollars will
be provided for this type of coverage and that is negotiated. The
College does not negotiate with the unions the carrier and he would not
suggest that it be negotiated.
Trustee Pelleran asked if in the past has this
been taken to labor.
Mr. Davidson responded, no. The only thing
that is discussed with the healthcare coalition is the healthcare
carriers.
There was further discussion regarding the
purchase of the fire truck regarding if used equipment was reviewed. The
department did review used equipment, but the Fire Academy Program chose
a new fire truck because the old trucks are outdated for their training.
The Fire Academy will not be selling the old fire truck because there
are some things on the truck that can still be used.
IT WAS MOVED by Trustee Holden and supported
by Trustee Canady to approve the bids.
Roll call vote:
Ayes: Canady, Heywood, Holden,
Jeffries, Pelleran, Rasmusson
Nays: None
Absent: None
Motion carried.
Closed Session
IT WAS MOVED by Trustee Heywood and supported
by Trustee Holden for the Board to go into closed session for the
purpose of discussing an attorney/client privileged communication.
Roll call vote:
Ayes: Canady, Heywood, Holden,
Jeffries, Pelleran, Rasmusson
Nays: None
Absent: None
Motion carried.
The Board entered into closed session at 6:30
p.m.
IT WAS MOVED by Trustee Canady and supported
by Trustee Heywood to return to open session.
Ayes: Canady, Heywood, Holden, Jeffries,
Pelleran, Rasmusson
Nays: None
Absent: None
Motion carried.
The Board returned to open session at 7:30
p.m.
Public Comment
There were no comments from the public.
Trustee Canady - In my never-ending quest to
whip as many horses as I can (inaudible.) I just want to let you know
that at the next meeting I will be bringing two motions that's at our
regular scheduled meeting. First, I want to amend our bylaws with
respect to late items requiring five votes of the Board of Trustees to
allow late items in the meeting. I think I've already explained why I
think the procedure that we have right now is?I don't need to go on with
that further. I again will be renewing my motion to lift the censor
against Dave Patterson for a variety of reasons that for which I don't
need to get into much detail right now. However, I think that continuing
that given the fact that the pound and flesh has been distracted and he
has resigned and it will be more harm for the college than beneficial.
And I think it probably reflects, at least will be construed by, Mr.
Patterson?s reflecting a great deal of spite which then would make him
act in ways that you probably don't want to deal with by removing that
you can bring closure to this issue once and for all. So, I will be
renewing that.
Trustee Pelleran - I?d just like to say two
things. One, if Mark brings those two issues I will support them and
will be supporting Canady?s motions. The other thing I?d like to say of
how sad I was over the holiday receive the information that our Vice
President (Barbara Larson) has taken another job. And how unfortunate we
are and our loss is their gain. I hope you're getting a big pay increase
and I hope you get to see more of your family because of it. I just have
to say that you are solid as a rock and our loss is this other College's
gain. If they mistreat you, just tell them to call us.
Trustee Canady - You?ll definitely be missed
and congratulations.
Trustee Holden - I also would like to bring up
something at the next meeting. I?d like us to have a discussion about
moving our regular Board meetings, the time up, to accommodate a number
of things. We met at five several times and it's worked. It's better for
the staff and I think it will accommodate our chair. So, I would like to
propose moving those up.
Trustee Pelleran - I think if you do that?I
mean I don't mind meeting at 5:00 p.m. when you bring that up, but I
think our Chair also has to realize that the public issue that he deals
with, which I do think he realizes. I also want to mention that there
was a recent article of the LCC newspaper. And I don't know who
perpetuated that article. I was given an email request from the reporter
and I emailed my response back to her. That was not generated by me. It
was the December 9 edition. It was about dual service and I said that's
what you're going to have?(tape ended) That was not an issue that I
brought up in the campaign. It was never brought up by me. It was
brought up by other people. The State Journal.
Trustee Holden - The purpose of me saying that
so we can be ready for discussion.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 7:35 p.m.
