Call
to Order
The
meeting was called to order at
5:02 p.m.
Roll
Call
Present:
Canady, Heywood (was present telephonically), Holden, Jeffries,
Mason, Pelleran, Rasmusson
Absent: None
Limited
Public Comment Regarding Agenda Items
MAHE
Budget Presentation
No
one was present from MAHE to give the budget presentation.
Kyle
Huss - My name is Kyle Huss. I'm the training director for
AIS Construction Equipment. I came here on my own because I've
heard there have been some concerns through the Board members about
the AIS training. As you may know or may not know we run right
we're running the heavy equipment operation program with
Lansing
Community
College
and we're in
the process of running the heavy equipment repair programs. AIS
is over a 40-year-old company. We have over 500 employees, 130
technicians state-wide. Ten years ago we started the training
center. The reason being, first of all, to train our technicians
because of the change in technology. Once we started the
training program there was a need from contractors (inaudible) General
Motors was one of them that was really pushing it at the time for
operator training. There?s very limited operator training in
Michigan
and even in the
United States
, so we hired a
person part-time to come on and do some (inaudible) operator training.
Since then we have had two full-time operator trainers. We train
anyone from?we train General Motors, Michigan State University,
cities, counties, municaplities, the general public, students in
training going through the Michigan Works program. We are, AIS,
is a non-union organization. Ironically, 80 to 90% of all our
training is done by union organizations. Reason being, number
one, especially on the County level, they need operator training and
when they called the operator union in Howell, they direct them to us
to provide that training for them. We have since last year we
trained over 200 operators and the process bypassing that this year.
As you may know we started the LCC operation program?we're into
our second group that's going through that program?we have over
$600,000 of equipment that the students are able to use to run
equipment. Between the $600,000 piece of equipment they get to
run the oldest machine as 1997. So, they're getting the latest
technology, the latest equipment to run. We have very good
instructors. We had a local contractor Parish Port, I hired
their equipment supervisor; he comes in and helps us train the
students to help him keep up to date and let us know?to help us know
what they need to be trained on. So, that's what I wanted to
talk about first; the LCC operation program. Secondly, we're
in process of starting the heavy equipment repair program with
Lansing
Community
College
. I'm
also very excited about that because that's what we do, AIS, we
sell, we repair heavy equipment. I have a repair background and
the struggles we have as a company and as an industry as a whole is
there's not many heavy equipment repair programming out there.
The few that are they're limited on the components they have and the
equipment they have. I'm a
Ferris
State
grad. I
went up there because they had a (inaudible) program. My diesel
engine class I put out an engine and had components missing and it
didn?t even run. AIS,
we have over 14 diesel engines that run. So the student will be able to start it up, tear down, assemble
it, start it back up when they're done, so they can get a sense of
hey I accomplished something and it also has a lot to do with their
grade. You?re looking at
roughly $200,000 in diesel engines. We have over 16 transmissions that they will be tearing down
and repairing. We have
over 100 hydraulic pumps and hydraulic cylinders and the reason is
we're a heavy equipment repair facility. So we have the materials available.
A lot of the programs may have components. The struggle we have, and myself as a graduate, you would
interview a student that graduated maybe from
Ferris
State
or
Northwest
College
in the heavy
equipment repair program. They
can tell you all day how a diesel engine works, they can tell you all
day how an injection pump works, but when it came to pulling off a
starter or injection pump off a real live machine they couldn?t do
that because they didn?t have those machines to do that. We have over 100 piece of equipment on site that once we go
through the disassembly and assembly and rebuild (inaudible) real
life, tear down point of exchange on those pieces of equipment. Also, we train them to run a piece of equipment.
Nothing more discouraging than hiring a student who spent
ten?s, twenty thousands of dollars to go through a program and they
come to work for me when I was the service manager of the company, or
any company, and they can sit there and say I know how the engine
works, but I can't go out and start that bull dozer and bring it in
the bay. So, those are
some things as far as the heavy equipment repair program which is
going to put
this program not only in the state of Michigan, but in
the United States to being a superior program that's much needed out
there. So, that's
something I wanted to talk about and if you had any questions on those
(inaudible). We have at
this time?we're a proprietary school, AIS is a proprietary school
recognized by the state of
Michigan
. Secondly, we're in the process of getting nationally
recognized by AED, and AED is the Association of Equipment Distributors.
It's
a foundation much like NATEC is with the trucking industry and
automotive. And what has
happened is heavy equipment manufacturers, trucking industry,
distributors have seen all of these heavy equipment programs dropping.
Number one reason, they're very costly. There?s not that many students going through it.
To get one engine you're talking 30, 40 thousand dollars to
get a new engine. Well,
that's some programs complete budget. When numbers are down we don't know that.
Things start going on the way side. So, they have got money from manufacturers and distributors to
get this foundation started. What
this foundation is doing is certifying programs to meet
their criteria. So these programs?right now there's a half
dozen or more heavy equipment programs in the United States and each
program is doing their own thing what they feel is more important.
This foundation is going to these programs saying this is what the
industry wants, this is what you should be teaching your students.
Lastly, we have been working with Eaton ISD for five years now.
We started out with low enrollment and now we're up to 80 students.
Those 80 students come out they're from Ingham, Eaton, as far as
Gratiot we got some students from Stockbridge coming up. They
are being taught in equipment repair and operation. Out of those
80 students I would hope that would be a good feeding grounds for both
of these programs. What better opportunity than to talk to those
students if they're interested in this industry, hey, we have a
program right here and in the city of
Lansing
. So, those are some things I wanted to
mention. And in closing,
AIS, we've been in business over 40 years. We've always prided ourselves on excellence and our training
centers have stated to provide superior education at a fair price and
I think with both of these?I know with both of these programs it
will be superior education and it will be a fair price and in most
cases it is the pricing of these programs are much less than the
competition.
Trustee
Pelleran stated that it was a start up program and there were some
concerns with students who were in your first program.
She asked Mr. Huss to shed some light on the students?
satisfaction.
Mr.
Huss explained that there were two things they ran into.
One reason was their eagerness to begin the program and they
started Introduction to Equipment in the summer.
In the fall semester operations began.
He explained that this winter was one of the worst winters in
terms of frost in the ground. They
thought that by the end of January the frost would have started to
break. This did not happen
and they ran into problems of doing some operation when there is
approximately five feet of frost in the ground.
Mr. Huss stated that they have reworked the program to have the
operations portion of the program begin in the summer. The
second reason was the program lost an instructor to the war.
Then he and others had to come in take over a program.
He felt the some students were not used to the new instructor
and had some concerns. Mr.
Huss indicated that the students are now pleased.
He said that the contract limits one machine per three
students; however, they're placing two students per one machine.
Mr. Huss stated that for the past two months they have had
eight pieces of equipment for eight students to assist them in getting
caught up on their lab. He said that out of the eight students in the
program six students have jobs as heavy equipment operators.
The second group of students half of them already have jobs in
the industry.
Trustee
Pelleran asked if the students that participated in the Eaton
Intermediate
School District
program are
going through the program at the College.
Mr.
Huss responded that two students that graduated recently are enrolled
in the heavy equipment repair program.
Several juniors are planning to take the operation program when
they graduate from high school.
Trustee
Holden asked if the clients from Michigan Works are channeled to LCC
to seek training.
Mr.
Huss responded that they look at their options because they offer a
six-week course that runs 40 hours a week.
He also mentions the three-semester program that the College
offers.
Verbatim
Transcript begins:
Ralph
Hansen - My name is Ralph Hansen. I am the CTE director for
Eaton
Intermediate
School District
. I've presented to this Board before on presentation on a
number of students at
Eaton
Intermediate
School District
contracts with
Lansing
Community
College
to educate and
train. We have been in
partnership with the College for going on I believe next year is our
30th year. Many
of you know that it has been a very successful partnership. Going into next year we have approximately
700 students that
have enrolled in technical education programs that are offered by
Eaton
Intermediate
School District
. All but two of those programs are held here on campus. Those two programs are our building trades or our construction
program, which is housed at our
Charlotte
facility. Of which we have an agreement with the College for articulated
credit. For the programs
that are here on campus we have direct credit opportunities for those
students. The other
program that is off campus that we operate is our AIS heavy equipment
program. In 2000-2001 we
had 18 students enrolled in that program. Going into next year we have 80 students enrolled in that
program. Those students
are coming as far away as
Ithaca
,
Gratiot
County
.
Ingham
Intermediate
School District
(inaudible)
alluded to that. Many of
the students that attend programs here on campus we will or you will
see them as college students. The
last survey that we did and statistics show that about 50% of the
students that come here for a class in Automotive, in Business
Management, and whatever will return here. Some of them may have come anyways, but our statistics show
50%. I can't show that
for the AIS. Because what
I haven?t been able to do on AIS is to share with the counselors and
the students a syllabus, a syllabi of college courses that this
program aligns with. And
that's what I can do for the automotive program, for the hospitality
program, for the auto body program. I can align what we do by contracting with you with what it
takes now to get an Associates Degree or certificate of achievement.
that's what I came here tonight to do is to ask the Board to
consider a partnership with AIS Heavy Equipment, so that I can take my
80 students; 80 of the probably best kids we have in our programs.
If you see them and you meet them, you?d hire them to allow
them the opportunity?the same opportunity that the students that I
have contracted here that are attending your facility here. It's a wonderful program.
I can attest to the satisfaction, student satisfaction, and the
parents? satisfaction by giving you this scenario. We have a first year program that right now is two sections; we
have 29 students enrolled in that. Next year because it will be a second year program we allow 20
students to return. That
means nine students we had to choose who didn?t return. I had nine telephone calls from parents on why their son or
daughter couldn?t return to the program. To the point where please explain to me why my attorney
shouldn?t contact you to find out why my son or daughter can't
come back to this program. that's
the popularity of this program. They're
all interested in making sure that their son or daughter has the
opportunity to land that high skill, high wage job that we're all in
the business to do. So,
again I come before you as a member of Eaton Intermediate School
District?s Career Education?s staff; someone who's responsible
for something that happens to these students after high school. And as a member (inaudible) DeWitt, to provide an opportunity
for these students. Again,
I will answer any questions that wouldn?t tax my knowledge too much
or at least numbers wise without having an opportunity to research it.
End
of verbatim transcript.
Trustee
Pelleran asked with the heavy equipment operator program that is
through the ISD were there any issues with weather and scheduling the
use of equipment.
Mr.
Hansen responded, no because they did not go into much operation.
Their program dealt with teaching the students to operate the
equipment well enough to get it into the bay in order to repair it.
He said that because of the nature of the high school programs
they are there for 180 days for 2 hours a day, so what cannot be done
one week may be done four weeks from now. However, in a 6 or 12-week program such as the College has, it
is limited.
Trustee
Pelleran asked if the EISD program was just the mechanic program not
the operator program.
Mr.
Hansen responded that was correct.
Intellectual
Property Policy
President
Cunningham stated that this was an issue that Trustee Rasmusson
brought forward given the fact that the College is doing a lot in
terms of information technology, strategic planning book, Annual
Results Inventory models that Mr. Cerny and others have been
diligently working on. She
said that it is important to make certain that all of that is
captured, copyrighted, or patented before the College begins to be a
service provider to other community colleges and business and
industry. It is important
that the College and Mr. Cerny gets recognition or ownership of that.
President Cunningham asked Trustee Rasmusson if that was
correct.
Trustee
Rasmusson responded that his motion would be that the administration
examine the question whether to copyright the measures that were
developed by the College and Mr. Glenn Cerny for costing out classes
and programs and report back to the Board in 60 days. He said that this is seen in only the best run businesses such
as financial institutions and investment organizations. Trustee Rasmusson stated that the College has developed
something very useful and the College deserves credit.
IT
WAS MOVED by Trustee Rasmusson and supported by Trustee Canady to
authorize the administration to explore the question of whether to
copyright the measures that were developed by the College and Mr.
Glenn Cerny for costing out classes and programs and report back to
the Board in 60 days.
Ayes: Canady, Heywood, Holden, Jeffries, Mason, Pelleran, Rasmusson
Nays: None
Absent: None
Motion
carried.
2003-2004
Proposed Budget
Mr.
Glenn Cerny
provided a
PowerPoint presentation to the Board regarding the 2003-2004 proposed
budget (the presentation is on file with the official board
materials).
Trustee
Heywood understood that there are some non-labor associated items in
the course fees. However,
several months when the Board was presented with course fees for
approval that he voted no on what came up was that over 50% of the
costs in the course fees were directly related to labor costs. He asked of all of the proposed increases, what is the
percentage that is labor versus non-labor issues.
Vice
President VanKempen responded that it depends on the particular
course. The tuition covers
the standard amount of time that a faculty member would lecture and
that is incorporated into the tuition. However, if there is a laboratory where the contact hours are
more than credit hour, then that would add costs. If
there are support in the laboratory, that would also add costs. Vice President VanKempen said that there are some additional
labor costs that do go into those course fees.
Trustee
Heywood requested to get breakdown for the proposed course fees.
Vice
President VanKempen responded yes and it depends on the course. He stated that through the course fee approval request form
indicates which portion is labor and which portion is non-labor such
as equipment, supplies, or materials.
Trustee
Heywood stated that would be helpful if the Board had that
information.
Several
Board members highlighted the fact that the Board did receive that
information in their packets.
Trustee
Heywood stated the idea of going to contact hour fee schedule versus
the credit hour is going to be an appropriate choice. He said that the President has been promising for a year and
half to provide that information to the Board and they are still
waiting. Trustee Heywood
felt that increasing course fees is a back door way of increasing
tuition and it is inappropriate.
President
Cunningham responded that she doesn?t believe it has been quite that
long; however, she would rather wait another semester to bring the
Board accurate and complete information. President Cunningham explained that there were very complex
formulas that were attached to this as you look at healthcare or
aviation when you go to contact hours. She said that there was another suggestion to review block
tuition and in order to provide the Board a complete and accurate
report she would like to wait another semester. President Cunningham stated that this topic was not a direct
request from the Board, but it was an issue she brought to them.
The administration would be reviewing it in order to provide a
complete, accurate, and thorough report, and the Board could expect
this information some time in the fall.
Chairperson
Jeffries reminded Trustee Heywood that at the
May 16, 2003
special meeting
there was a discussion regarding the contact hour versus credit hour
issue and it was discussed that a recommendation would be forwarded to
the Board sometime in September or October.
Trustee
Pelleran asked Mr. Cerny to clarify what is included in the supplies,
expenses, and grant match figure on Attachment C. She requested a breakdown of that figure.
Mr.
Cerny responded that figure includes items such as the janitorial
services, Clark Construction,
Hobbs
and Black
contracts, and the travel budget for each division. He said that the match for the Perkins grant is also included
as well as the supplies and utility costs for the College. Mr. Cerny stated that it was a quite extensive list and it
would be helpful to find out what Trustee Pelleran was specifically
looking for.
Trustee
Pelleran stated that once again the Board is being asked to raise
tuition and course fees and she knows the Deans have reviewed this
budget over the last several months and offered their insight
regarding what they need in their divisions to operate. However, the Board is considering increasing tuition and fees
and she?d like to review what the College is doing with operations
and also asking if the departments can operate a little leaner with
their supplies and expenses. She
feels that this is a legitimate question based on the possibility of
increasing tuition and course fees.
Chairperson
Jeffries said that it appears there was a 4% increase from last
year?s budget in this line item. He asked where did that increase come from.
Mr.
Cerny responded that since the College now has two campuses. Part of the increase includes redundancy in physical plant
operations, the lease of the catholic conference building, utility
costs for the M-TEC. He
said that next year those are going to be gone and if you take these
components out, essentially the College has reduced the budget in that
area by one to two percent.
President
Cunningham stated that every Dean could possibly attest to the fact
that they had decreased their supplies budget.
Trustee
Heywood referred to Attachment E. He asked how the exterior masonry projects would impact
students.
President
Cunningham responded that it makes the campus more attractive for the
students to attend school. She
said the maintenance and preservation of the buildings is necessary to
avoid a situation where the buildings are not functional because they
have haven?t been maintained. President
Cunningham asked Dean
Bill Darr
to further
address Trustee Heywood?s question.
Dean
Darr responded that currently Dart Auditorium is being worked on.
There was moisture penetrating the west wall from the steam
leak in the mechanical room and also a roof leak. He reminded the Board of the buildings maintenance schedule
that was done in 1999, which included different firms having evaluated
the envelopes of the building, windows, doors, masonry, outside
sidewalks, mechanical, and electrical portions of the buildings.
The interior of each building was evaluated as well. A projected plan for the next 10 years was developed and it
included the annual costs for maintenance, which was a $30 million
projection. Dean Darr
explained that this is planned maintenance of the facilities so the
College is not in a position similar to other school systems that have
extensive repairs.
President
Cunningham stated that students have provided their feedback regarding
the physical appearance of the campus because it can become a learning
hindrance. She said that
some students prefer to take classes in the
Technology
Learning
Center
versus the Old
Central building probably due to the physical appearance of the
building. President
Cunningham said that we don't want to get into a position where
students will not want to take classes here, or people will not want
to rent the Dart.
Trustee
Holden reminded the Board that former Vice President of Finance,
Barbara Larson, provided information to them regarding the amount that
should be allocated every year to the maintenance of the buildings.
Chairperson
Jeffries highlighted the fact that all of this discussion has been
part of the facilities master plan, which is reviewed every fall.
Trustee
Heywood asked for clarification regarding the following items:
Architectural work to the Arts and Sciences building; campus-wide site
improvements; and campus wide miscellaneous projects.
Dean
Darr responded that every year a Facilities Planning Team collects
requests from the Divisions of minor renovations for program
improvement and the team evaluates that list. Out of the $3 million that is set aside each year, $250,000 is
used towards those types of projects. He said that they?ve been concentrating on upgrading the Arts
and Science building.
President
Cunningham asked Trustee Heywood if Dean Darr?s response answered
his question.
Trustee
Heywood responded that it did not answer his question regarding the
architectural project for the Arts and Sciences building, which has
approximately $550,000 budgeted. He
said that he would like a list of those projects.
Dean
Darr responded that the project includes some of the following items:
repairing doors, fixing walls, repairing the steps, and the
banisters.
Chairperson
Jeffries asked Trustee Heywood if he had any additional questions.
Trustee
Heywood responded that Dean Darr?s response was satisfactory.
Trustee
Pelleran stated that last year?s budget there was some savings and
when the College was hit with cuts by the State, we were able to
weather those economic blows a little bit easier. She asked what that number was.
Chairperson
Jeffries thought what was discussed last year was that there seemed to
be a process that the College employed where monies were left in
reserves. He said that
there was a greater effort for last year?s budget and this year?s
budget to monitor more closely in terms of what the actual revenues
and expenses are.
President
Cunningham stated that there is a conscious effort to get to a zero
balance at the end of year and that has not always been the case.
This year it was around $300,000 out of a $94 million budget.
Mr.
Cerny showed a spreadsheet of the budget breakdowns for each division.
He highlighted that $2.8 million was reduced from the ISCD,
Executive Office, and Administrative Services divisions. The budget was then reallocated to the instructional areas,
specifically the Health Careers and developmental education areas.
Trustee
Pelleran asked for a copy of the spreadsheet Mr. Cerny was showing and
the breakdown for the prior two budget cycles with the departments as
well.
Trustee
Holden stated that the maintenance and replacement funding has been a
part of the campaign for the trustee election. Some of the candidates have said that the College should use
this money before laying off staff. She said that it was a very painful decision.
Trustee Holden stated that
Lansing
Community
College
is one of the
oldest campuses in the state. If the College does not maintain the
buildings, we will find ourselves in the same position as
Lansing
School District
who has
crumbling buildings and huge layoffs. The kinds of millages they need to maintain and renovate their
buildings, it is almost impossible to get. Trustee Holden said that she supports the plan in maintaining
the College's facilities.
Trustee
Pelleran agreed with Trustee Holden?s statement.
Chairperson
Jeffries asked if the Board had any additional questions.
Trustee
Pelleran asked for a breakdown of all of the projects, which included
maintenance, architectural and masonry.
Chairperson
Jeffries asked if there were any specific questions for the
individuals from AIS and
Eaton
Intermediate
School District.
Trustee
Pelleran asked how the College sets the course fees for the heavy
equipment operator and repair programs.
Mr.
John Theroux stated that the College establishes the fees based on the
service costs from AIS. He
said that AIS provides the following services: instruction, facility,
equipment, and tools. The
course fees are based on the anticipated costs from AIS divided by the
anticipated number of students that will enroll.
Trustee
Pelleran asked if the course fee includes instruction and the
facility, why is the tuition being charged of $18,000.
Mr.
Theroux responded that the figure includes tuition and fees.
Trustee
Pelleran asked what is the tuition being charged because she heard
that for the heavy equipment operator program it was $10,000 per
student.
Mr.
Theroux took a few moments to look for the information in order to
respond to Trustee Pelleran.
Trustee
Holden asked Mr. Kyle Huss to clarify a statement he made earlier. She
asked if he had said that AIS?s charge to the College were
competitive and within the market.
Mr.
Huss responded that he was referring to the program costs. He said that what an LCC student is paying, which is
approximately $10,000 or $12,000, is competitive to what a student may
pay at
Ferris
State
, which is
approximately $24,000. If
a student enrolls in the program at
Ferris
State
, they would
also have to pay for room and board. Mr. Huss stated that AIS?s
rates are competitive. There
is a charging out rate per hour which is competitive and lower than
most companies.
Trustee
Pelleran asked if a student enrolled in the
Ferris
State
University
program if room
and board is included in the tuition.
Mr.
Huss responded, yes.
Trustee
Pelleran asked what type of certification the students receive from Ferris
State
Mr.
Huss responded that they receive an Associates Degree. He said that AIS provides a certificate and if the student
takes an additional semester, they receive an Associates Degree.
Mr.
Theroux stated that Ferris State University has contacted the College
to discuss the possibilities of offering a Bachelors Degree
particularly in the heavy equipment repair program.
Trustee
Pelleran stated that the students at Ferris pay $24,000 they get an
Associates Degree, and they get room and Board.
Mr.
Theroux responded to Trustee Pelleran?s earlier question. He said that of the $12,000 for the heavy equipment operator
approximately $1900 is tuition and the rest are fees. Mr. Theroux stated that the heavy equipment repair technician
is approximately $9800 which includes tuition and fees.
Mr.
Huss stated that at Ferris State it is over $14,000 for tuition costs.
He explained that he is familiar with the costs at Ferris
because AIS sponsors students to attend Ferris. Mr. Huss emphasized that Ferris cannot hold a match to what the
College's program has to offer.
Trustee
Pelleran asked why is the College not offering a degree yet for the
heavy equipment operator program.
Mr.
Theroux responded that the College will be offering a degree in the
near future. He said that
they have submitted paperwork to offer a degree in the heavy equipment
repair program because it more likely to get students to want the
Associates Degree and perhaps continue their education to receive a
Bachelors Degree.
Chairperson
Jeffries asked for clarification regarding the Ferris State figures
just mentioned and the figures that were provided in documentation
sent earlier to the Board.
Mr.
Theroux responded that the figures do not include the costs for
purchasing tools. Students
enrolled at Ferris State regardless of what degree they will be
receiving, are required to purchase $6,000 worth of tools. In the College's program, AIS supplies the tools.
The students may purchase tools if they wish, but it is not
required for them to go through the curriculum.
Chairperson
Jeffries asked if the Trustees had additional questions regarding the
heavy equipment program or regarding the budget.
Chairperson
Jeffries asked how future funding of retirement and healthcare looks.
Mr.
Cerny responded that there is no projected increase in the MPSERS
(Michigan Public School Employee Retirement System) contribution, but
asked Mr.
David Davidson
to add any
additional information.
Mr.
Davidson responded that the College contributes 12.1%. He stated that healthcare and retirement contributions will be
increasing.
Trustee
Pelleran stated that she appreciates all the extra work people went
through to give the Board a better picture of the heavy equipment
operator program. She said
that the Board can only work from information that they are given.
Chairperson
Jeffries asked if the Board had any additional questions.
The
Board did not have additional questions.
Chairperson
Jeffries stated that the proposed 2003-2004 budget would be approved
at the next Board meeting.
Community
Linkages Update
Chairperson
Jeffries announced that a community linkage has been scheduled for
June 11, 2003 regarding the College's alternative fuel endeavor.
He said that the College received a grant from Next Energy and
there was a press conference held earlier in the day. The purpose of the dinner is to bring together partners in the
community that have expressed an interest and want to be involved with
the College.
Finance
Approval
of Bids
President
Cunningham presented one bid for the Board's approval, which was for
asphalt paving, concrete curbs and gutters at the M-TEC and Technical
Training Center. The award
recommendation was made to the lowest bidder, which was Aggregate
Industries from Mason, Michigan at $1,130,000.
IT
WAS MOVED by Trustee Pelleran and supported by Trustee Mason to
approve the bid.
Chairperson
Jeffries expressed his appreciation to Ms. Beckie Beard for providing
additional information regarding minority or women-owned businesses.
He asked if she new why the minority and women-owned businesses
did not bid on this project.
Ms.
Beard responded, no, she did not know.
Chairperson
Jeffries was curious to find out why they did not bid and asked if she
would please follow up. He
asked what is the website that was referenced in the bid.
Ms.
Beard responded that www.epaconline
is a website sponsored by the Michigan Minority Business Development
Council along with Wayne County. The
College has been a faithful user of that system for about four years.
This system has helped the minority and women-owned businesses
on the western part of the state are learning how to use the computer
and going online to check for the bids.
Chairperson
Jeffries asked if the other businesses mentioned in the bid are
agencies that minority and women-owned businesses will work through.
Ms.
Beard responded, yes. She
said that one of the reasons some businesses will be reluctant to
participate is normally we do prevailing wages, but there is a labor
management agreement on the M-TEC. For them they would have to become signatories for this
contract and that may be a hesitancy.
Chairperson
Jeffries asked if Ms. Beard would follow up on that. He also asked if the College follows through to see who they
are subcontracting with and if that affects the numbers.
Ms.
Beard responded, yes, there's a requirement with the entire M-TEC
project for a 1% minority business enterprise participation and a 1%
women business enterprise participation. She said that there is a final close out document that a
contractor must submit when they have completed the job and this
document is a sworn statement that discloses who their subcontractors
were. The companies have
to show their good faith effort of why they failed.
Roll
call vote:
Ayes: Canady, Heywood, Holden, Jeffries, Mason, Pelleran, Rasmusson
Nays: None
Absent: None
Motion
carried.
Public
Comment
President
Cunningham recognized Annette Parker who wrote the successful grant
for the alternative energy initiative. Ms. Parker stayed until 1:00 a.m. to make the certain the grant
wasn't late. President
Cunningham also recognized Ms. Beckie Beard and Mr. Renee Noe. They stayed here until 9:00 p.m. trying to gather information
regarding contracts and didn?t complain at all. In addition, President Cunningham recognized Mr. Cerny who has
been doing two jobs since Vice President Barbara Larson left. He has worked diligently to get the College through this budget
crunch before a decision is made about how to move forward with that
position.
Trustee
Holden distributed a list of the Foundation Board of Directors. She said that there are number of new members and it is an
impressive list. Trustee
Holden stated that they may meet them in the community and that it is
important to acknowledge the work they will be doing for the College.
Trustee
Canady responded to an email that was sent by Trustee Heywood earlier
that week. He stated that
Trustee Heywood was criticizing his attendance at the Board meetings,
which is fair for him to do that because it is a busy time of year for
him and he?s been unable to attend some of the meetings. Trustee Canady relayed that in the email Trustee Heywood tried
to suggest that Mr. Robert Proctor, who is one of the candidates for
the Board, was less then desirable because of Trustee Canady?s
attendance record. Trustee
Heywood suggested that Mr. Proctor and Trustee Canady were both
?chummy?. Trustee
Canady explained that he and Mr. Proctor are not ?chummy?. He knows Mr. Proctor and he served on a board with him 15 years
ago. Trustee Canady explained that he served on a board with Mr.
Proctor?s wife 12 years ago, but he does not know Mr. Proctor very
well. He doesn?t know
where he lives and he doesn?t think he?s ever been to his home
unless perhaps he did so when he was campaigning door to door. Trustee Canady stated that Mr. Proctor has never been to his
home unless he did so when he was campaigning. He doesn?t know his children?s names and he doesn?t know
if Mr. Proctor has any children. Trustee
Canady found the suggestion that he and Trustee Canady were
?chummy? disturbing because there is no fact to support that
supposition. Trustee
Canady concluded that the assumptions were probably made regarding
both of them (Trustee Canady and Mr. Proctor) being attorneys and
black and that must mean they are buddies. He finds the mentality underlying such an assumption to be both
disturbing and profoundly insulting. Trustee Canady expressed that he doesn?t care if what he does
on the Board is criticized because that is fair game; however, Mr.
Proctor and other people are owed an apology.
Trustee
Heywood responded that Trustee Canady?s comments are duly noted and
some day he will show him all of the background information that he
has for which he drew those conclusions. He assured Trustee Canady that it had nothing to do with his
profession or the color of his skin.
Trustee
Canady responded that no information exists.
Adjournment
The
meeting was adjourned at
6:27 p.m.
