LANSING COMMUNITY COLLEGE
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
April 16, 2007
Special Meeting
Adopted Meeting Minutes
Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 4:40 p.m.
Roll Call
Present: Pelleran, Proctor, Smith, Laverty
Absent: Canady, Rasmusson
Trustee Rasmusson arrived at 4:42 p.m.
Trustee Canady arrived at 4:47 p.m.
Limited Public Comment Regarding Agenda Items
Good afternoon. My name is Lynn Savage, and I am currently
Chair of the LCC Labor Coalition. As you know, the Labor
Coalition consists of members of all seven labor unions on
campus. We are speaking this afternoon in support of
Lawrence Hidalgo, candidate for the vacated Trustee's
position. We believe his 17 years of experience with the
Electrical Apprenticeship program here at LCC, including his
10 years as a faculty member, uniquely qualify him for this
position. Education is clearly of
great importance to Lawrence. As a former faculty member and
a former member of the MAHE negotiating team, and with his
current leadership responsibilities in the Apprenticeship
program, Lawrence will bring an excellent perspective to the
Board. That perspective is essential in resolving many of
the issues that are critical to the institution.
Additionally, those of us who know Lawrence know him to be
intelligent and informed about the issues, and we believe he
will bring a fair-minded, open approach to any discussion.
In short, we believe that Lawrence is highly qualified to
provide excellent service as a Trustee, and we support his
selection to this position.
Mr. Chair and Madame President, I am a current retiree,
Terry Fobbs. I am here to speak on the behalf of Marylou
Olivarez-Mason. On the 24th
of January 2003 I had the opportunity to do the
same when she came before the Board to apply for a vacancy.
At that time I had come back from weeks of military duty and
was about to see 700 - 800 of my soldiers out in the war.
Since that time I have had a chance to retire as of 2005 and
start work on a PhD program. Education
is something that is very near and dear to my heart.
I was very gratified to see that Marylou was selected by the
Board to serve for a short while. Things have not change in
terms of Marylou's vision, her compassion, and energy. In
fact she has gotten more and more active. I have known her
for a number of years and she makes me tired by keeping a
look at the schedule she keeps. Marylou has done a great
deal of wonderful work with a variety of institutions and
community organizations such as Cristo Rey. She has a great
deal of commitment and compassion. Not compassion that is
condescending, but compassion that means you roll up your
sleeves and work. She has compassion with caring and
compassion with concern. Marylou has vision and the ability
to see beyond the horizon; to take the same details and not
lose sight of them but keeping in focus the big picture. She
had demonstrated that when she served on the Board before. I
am fairly confident that she will be able to do that again.
Marylou has integrity. This is important as we hear time and
time again of folks who have feet of clay. Marylou is
steadfast in her integrity, not only to the commission and
to the Board, but also to the community. Marylou also has
what I would say courage. She has not only physical courage
but moral courage. She has the ability to stand up for what
is right and to stand up for those who stand in need of
assistance and help. You did not go wrong before when you
made the selection for her to serve on the Board. I would
encourage you to look hard again at this wonderful woman and
the things she brings to the table and how she can also
serve this great institution.
I am here to support Lawrence Hidalgo for the vacant seat on
the LCC Board of Directors. My name is Barbara Strachan,
Assistant Executive Vice President and Director of Workforce
Development for the Associated General Contractor of
Michigan. The AGC provides services to construction
contractors of heavy commercial and industrial
constructions. I am also a member of the National
Association of Women in Construction. The Association with
Mr. Hidalgo has been through the Career Readiness and
Fitness Training Program (Craft). Craft is a partnership
with the Lansing School District and Lansing Area
Construction Contractors and Construction Trades. As an
industry we go into the classroom and share with student's
life skills and employability skills that employers are
looking for in their employees. The other focus of Craft is
to give students an exposure to career opportunities that
lead to apprenticeship. Mr. Hidalgo contributions to the
craft program have been numerous. His careful thought
processes have led the Craft advisory committee to make
meaningful decisions. His leadership has kept the Craft
program on track. His teamwork abilities have encouraged an
environment for creativity and for the development of
solutions to problems. The AGC believes that Lansing
Community College has a long history serving the community
as an educational institution. Likewise, it is Mr. Hidalgo
intention to serve LCC and the Lansing Community. He will do
it with fairness, professionalism and integrity.
Hi my
name is Kayle Graham and I am here to support Lawrence
Hidalgo's application for LCC Board of Trustees. I am a
second year apprentice in the Lansing Electrical Joint
Apprenticeship and Training Committee. I first got my
exposure to the apprenticeship program through the Craft
program. I also graduated from Sexton High School. The year
I first met Roland Cornish, owner of Roland Electric, I also
met Lawrence Hidalgo as the Director of Electricians. At
that time, I got to talk with him about being an electrician
and being an apprentice. I also got to do some hands on work
being an electrician and laying my first piece of conduit on
a class project. After that I decided I wanted to be an
electrician. It has been a very exciting job so far. I have
had a lot of good experience in the trade and met a lot of
wonderful people who help me on projects around my house.
Without the Craft program I would not be where I am today.
This is something I can see myself doing for the next 40
years. I received motivation from Mr. Hidalgo once I got
into the program. When I had 86% on my test he would
encourage me to keep striving for an A. I am glad to know
him and have his support by encouraging me to do better in
the apprenticeship program. I look forward to being a
Journeyman Electrician and I thank him for his support and
dedication to the Craft program.
Chair, fellow Trustees, my name is Jim Bitzer, President of
the Lansing Building Trades. The trade's family in the
Lansing Community support Lawrence Hidalgo for the open
Trustee position. We hope you take very careful
consideration in this selection today. Lawrence has all the
traits to be successful in this position. Hardworking,
dedicated, loyal and above all he cares. He is a community
person and has been very involved for years. I hope that you
make the right decision and support him for the open seat.
The Board
took a brief recess at 4:58 pm and resumed at 5:02 p.m.
Review Process and Ground Rules
Chairman Laverty stated that the guidelines have already
been discussed. He further stated that the applicants had
been notified that they will have five to six minutes, and
that the timer will go off at six minutes as a warning. The
remainder of the time will be for the Board to ask
additional questions.
Discussion followed.
Trustee Proctor clarified to the audience that at the last
Board meeting he did not feel it would be appropriate to
have the candidates remain in the room while another
candidate was being interviewed. He stated that the
candidates have voluntarily agreed to be absent while
another candidate is being interviewed.
Trustee
Pelleran stated that the candidates were randomly selected
in no rank order.
Interview of Board Applicants
Candidate #1 - Lawrence Hidalgo
The interview began at 5:08 p.m. and ended at 5:15 p.m.
Candidate #2 - Jerry Hollister
The interview began at 5:16 p.m. and ended at 5:26 p.m.
Candidate #3 - Marylou Mason-Olivarez
The interview began at 5:26 p.m. and ended at 5:35 p.m.
Candidate #4 - Edward Jocque, Jr.
The interview began at 5:36 p.m. and ended at 5:43 p.m.
Selection of New Trustee
The floor was opened to discussion.
Trustee Canady stated that all of the candidates were fine
candidates and would all make fine Trustees at LCC. He
further stated that unfortunately they have the difficult
task of only picking one candidate.
Trustee Pelleran stated that it was refreshing to see the
caliber of the candidates who applied and that is was
tremendous to have the opportunity to interview all four
candidates. She thanked the candidates for their commitment
to Lansing Community College and running for the office.
Trustee Smith thanked the candidates for their preparedness
and for seeing this process through. She stated that she
looks forward to seeing them all on the ballot.
Trustee Rasmusson stated that he has spoken with people that
have run for office before and they often state that the
process is demeaning. Trustee Rasmusson stated to the
candidates that he had hoped they did not feel this was a
demeaning process and that they were all quality people.
Roll call: (1st
round of votes)
Canady:
Hollister
Pelleran:
Hidalgo
Proctor:
Hidalgo
Rasmusson: Hollister
Smith:
Hollister
Laverty:
Hidalgo
Split vote of three to three.
Chairman Laverty requested that a second round of votes be
taken again.
Trustees Smith asked for clarity on the process for taken a
second round of votes.
Chairman Laverty answered that the process is that one
candidate has to have a vote of four before being selected
as the new Trustee.
Roll call: (2nd
round of votes)
Canady:
Hollister
Pelleran:
Hollister
Proctor:
Hidalgo
Rasmusson: Hollister
Smith:
Hollister
Laverty:
Hidalgo
Trustee Hollister was congratulated on being selected as the
new Trustee.
Public Comment
Trustee Pelleran stated that she was not planning on running
for election and that she has served on the Board for seven
years. She reported that her term was up at the end of the
year and encouraged the other candidates to run for the
office. She stated that her seat was a six year term, but
that there was also a two-year term seat and another six
year term seat. Trustee Pelleran further stated that she was
delighted with the caliber of people that they had. She
wished them all well and thanked them for their interest.
Adjournment
MOVED by Trustee Canady and supported by Trustee Smith for the
meeting to adjourn.
Ayes: Canady, Pelleran, Proctor, Rasmusson, Smith, Laverty
Nays: None
Absent: None
Motion carried.
The meeting adjourned at 5:50 p.m.
