Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at
Minute="30">
5:30 p.m.
Roll
Call
Present: Heywood,
Holden, Jeffries, Mason, Pelleran, Rasmusson
Absent: Canady
Additions/Deletions
to the Agenda
Chairperson Jeffries stated that closed session
would be added to end of the agenda for the purpose of discussing an
attorney client privileged communication.
Limited
Public Comment Regarding Agenda Items
Steve Vossler - Hello.
My name is Stephen Vossler.
Lynn Savage is passing out a copy of my speech and I've also
given a copy to Norma for the minutes.
The other thing is I have to apologize as soon as I'm done I
have to leave I'm covering my wife?s class tonight.
She suffers from severe migraine headaches and is not able to
be here. So I have to run
right out the door and get back to her class.
In fact I postponed it a few minutes to be here.
As chair of the LCC Coalition of Labor Organizations, I wish to
speak about the budget here at
Lansing
Community College
. We have all heard about
the budget crunch and the cuts in funding.
However, I want to remind the Board that the cuts are only to
funding from the State of
Michigan
, which is about a third of our budget.
Property taxes have not been cut, but have risen.
Tuition may increase depending on the actions of this Board.
Using the numbers from the Sunday April 20 edition of the
Lansing State Journal:
LCC budget @
$92 million
Budget cut @
$4 million
The $4 million is less than 4.5% of the budget.
While this is not a small amount, the Executive Leadership has
decided that more than $4 million must be cut.
This budget crunch supposedly spawned the layoffs here at the
College. However, the
layoffs seem to have very little to do with money.
If the budget crunch was as severe as is being portrayed, would
we: give the President a 6% raise? Fix the sprinklers so we can spend
money on watering the grass this summer? Fund the Price-Pritchett
training for all full-time staff and faculty? Continue the
construction of more buildings? The
only building we must build at this time is the MTEC building or else
we forfeit state funding for that building.
However, one bid you may approve tonight calls for almost $1
million dollars for a construction manager for the Health &
Administration Buildings. Continue
plans and construction for renovations and building upkeep?
Again, bids you may approve tonight call for approximately
$600,000. Now there is one
other bid in there that, actually there's two of them in there, one
for fiber optic connections and one for stuff at the M-TEC center, I
lumped them together as part of the M-TEC construction, which I feel
that we do need to do or else we lose the $4.5 million from the State.
Number six, hire a person for a new position - Director of
Workforce Development? Seven,
replace faculty and staff computers even though many of them meet the
current needs of the new Oracle Collaboration Suite, and eight,
continue to buy major equipment? We
have been told that some of the money saved from layoffs of
administrators and support staff will be used for direct instruction
of students. However, the
work that was done by these people will now be pushed down onto the
remaining faculty and staff. Technology
is somehow supposed to lessen this work, but it is still a fact that
the remaining faculty and staff will be doing more support type work
which means they will have less time to do their normal work.
The State of
Michigan ACLS
data will show that more money is going to direct instruction, but we
do not believe more time will be spent educating students.
The Labor Coalition believes that the real impetus for the
layoffs is control of faculty and staff and that control is being
strengthened through fear. I
have had faculty and staff come to me, personally, I'm talking about
me not in general, literally shaking with fear that they might be
?laid off?. I have no
words of encouragement or comfort for them.
Perhaps I should have given them some advice from the
Price-Pritchett training: ?Depersonalize
the situation - accept it as the luck of the draw - and harbor no
resentment toward higher management.
Ideally, you?ll accept change as an exercise that, though
sometimes painful, helps you build more emotional muscle.?
This is not the way this College should operate.
All of us, and when I say all of us I mean the Board of
Trustees, the Executive Leadership, the faculty, and the staff of this
institution need to talk and work together to get to solutions.
The Coalition did attempt to talk to the Executive Leadership,
but we were not invited to take part in any discussions about layoffs
or other cuts. At the 11th
hour, when most of the decisions had already been made, the Labor
Organizations were asked to provide cost-saving suggestions.
We did put forth some general suggestions, but since we had not
been part of the discussions and did not even know the goals that the
Executive Leadership was trying to attain with the cuts, we did not
know whether our suggestions were helpful or whether they had already
been discussed and dismissed. Collaboration
between the Executive Leadership and the Coalition might have
convinced us that layoffs were really necessary.
We must get out of the fear style of management and get back to
collaborative mode of management where all members of the LCC family
have real input into the decisions.
Thank you for your time and attention.
Trustee Pelleran - I want to ask Mr. Vossler if
he?ll be available for the budget hearings that we expect to have in
May?
Steve Vossler - I certainly can be, yes.
Trustee Pelleran - If you could help with your
suggestions at that time as we review the budget documents, we would
certainly appreciate that.
Chairperson
and Board Member Reports
Chairperson
Report
Policy
Committee Reports - Amendment to Purchasing Policy & Amendment
to Bylaw 1.3 - Committees
Chairperson Jeffries stated that the Policy
Committee has met to review the recommendations from the purchasing
review reports and considered suggestions made by members of the
Board. The Policy
committee proposed two changes as a result of the review, and the
committee has completed their review.
One change is regarding the purchasing policy under the scope
section, which is as follows (change is in italics and bold):
?II. Scope
This policy applies to all purchases and
leases.?
Chairperson Jeffries highlighted the fact that the word ?vendor?
has been changed to ?supplier? throughout the entire purchasing
policy in order to be consistent with the terminology Purchasing is
using for ISO 9001:2000 compliance.
Chairperson Jeffries presented the amendment to
Bylaw 1.3, Committees. He
said that the overall change is adding an audit committee as a
standing committee. The
purpose of the audit committee will be to meet with the auditor
before, during, and after the audit as well as any other times to
consider the College's financial policies and related issues that
may be raised by the Board. The
Bylaw was amended as follows (amendment is in bold and italics):
?1.3
BOARD
COMMITTEES
1.3.1
Committees
There shall be no standing committees of the Board other
than an Audit Committee, as provided for in Section 1.3.2, below;
however, there may be appointed special committees to study
issues and perform tasks. These
committees shall be appointed by the Chairperson for certain
expressed purposes and periods of time.
1.3.2
Audit Committee
Members of the Audit Committee
shall be appointed by the chairperson of the Board of Trustees
and shall serve as a standing committee to meet with the
College's auditors in advance of and during the annual college
audit, to review the
College's financial policies as may be appropriate, and to
address other financial and related issues the Board
or committee members deem appropriate.?
Chairperson Jeffries stated that both of the
changes came from the information presented to the Board as well as
suggestions from Trustee Rasmusson.
He said that Trustee Rasmusson?s concerns were addressed by
the Policy Committee, and those that weren?t addressed are reflected
in the amendments. Chairperson
Jeffries stated that under the Board's Bylaws an amendment to a
Bylaw is required to be presented and laid over for one meeting and
considered at the next meeting for approval.
Regarding the Purchasing Policy, it's up to the will of the
Board if they wish to consider the changes at another meeting.
IT WAS MOVED by Trustee Holden and supported by
Trustee Rasmusson to accept the Policy Committee?s recommendations
to the Purchasing Policy.
Trustee Pelleran expressed her disappointment
that the policy was buried in committee for a year and there is an
amendment to the purchasing policy that has not been considered or
reviewed. Trustee Pelleran
was disappointed in the lack of leadership and lack of responsiveness
to that particular issue.
Chairperson Jeffries responded that the amendment
Trustee Pelleran is referring to was considered and reviewed by the
Policy Committee. The
committee reviewed her amendment and compared it to the policy that
was in place last year. Ms.
Jan Lazar?s language regarding delegating complete responsibility to
the President was reviewed by the committee.
However, after considerable amount of discussion it was agreed
upon that the policy language and procedures set forth is sufficient
and appropriate.
Trustee Pelleran requested that the Board be
informed of any future Policy Committee meetings.
Trustee Rasmusson stated that he had a full page
of suggested changes to the purchasing policy and reviewed them with
several Trustees. The
committee reviewed his changes and he felt that the best approach was
to expand the scope so it is clear that everything over $25,000 has to
be bid or if there is an ongoing relationship with some supplier that
is going to be $25,000 or more because of past purchases, those will
be aggregated. He said
that things that were ambiguous were corrected.
Trustee Rasmusson stated that the Board has to have an audit
committee in order to have a little more supervision.
Roll call vote:
Ayes: Heywood, Holden,
Jeffries, Mason, Pelleran, Rasmusson
Nays: None
Absent: Canady
Motion carried.
Chairperson Jeffries stated that the amendment to
the bylaw would be brought back to the Board in two weeks at their
next meeting.
Board
Members
Trustee
Olga Holden - Foundation Board and Work Force Development
Board-Sponsored Seminar on Employment Trends
Trustee Holden reported that the Foundation Board
meeting was held earlier this month.
She was pleased to report that there is great progress.
She said that the McCormick Group is working closely to
implement the strategic plan, and Ms. Joan Bauer?s leadership will
continue to help the Foundation. Trustee
Holden reported that in March the Foundation had $51,000 in revenue.
She said that it is important for the Board to realize that the
thinking is being expanded beyond scholarships, not to minimize their
importance, but the Foundation is thinking about additional funding.
Trustee Holden announced that the Foundation
Scholarship Breakfast will be on May 9.
This breakfast gives the opportunity to meet the recipients of
the Trustee scholarship as well as the other recipients.
She reported that the Bob Baldwin Vietnam Veteran?s Golf
Benefit will be on June 5. She
asked the Board to contribute to a full page advertisement, and to
forward their contributions to Ms.
Norma Mendez
.
Trustee Holden also reported on a Workforce
Development Board sponsored seminar on employment trends.
She said that this area has a relatively low unemployment rate
compared to other parts of the state.
Even though it may not feel like it right now,
Lansing
will have to face a skilled worker shortage within a year or two.
Trustee
Todd Heywood - Special Populations Recognition Ceremony
Trustee Heywood reported that he attended the
Special Populations Recognition Ceremony on April 2.
He said that the ceremony reminded him of what the College is
all about, why we're here, and what our job is.
Chairperson Jeffries announced that Trustee Mason
will be honored next week in
Washington
,
DC
by the National Association of Legislative Women for receiving the
Hispanic Woman of the Year Award.
President's
Report
Informational
Budget
Update
President Cunningham reminded the Board that at
their special meeting on May 6 they will be reviewing the reconciled
budget in detail, and hopefully adopting it on May 19. The
proposed 2003-2004 budget will tentatively be presented on May 19 and
adoption in June.
President Cunningham addressed the comments that
were made during public comment. She
said that Trustee Heywood forwarded the communication he received from
Mr. Vossler to the President's office last week.
She stated that the administration had not received this
communication from Mr. Vossler, and appreciated Trustee Heywood
referring it to the administration for them to perform the appropriate
follow-up. A meeting will
be scheduled with Mr. Vossler and in addition, she met with him for
over an hour today. President
Cunningham said that they are dealing with this issue in terms of full
communication and disclosure and answering their questions.
She expressed her appreciation to Trustee Heywood for referring
questions to the administration for them to handle.
Action
Items
Approval of
Minutes -
Month="3" Day="17" Year="2003">
March 17, 2003
Regular Meeting;
Month="4" Day="1" Year="2003">
April 1, 2003
Special Meeting
President Cunningham presented the
March 17, 2003
and
April 1, 2003
meeting minutes to the Board.
Trustee Heywood requested that the
April 1, 2003
meeting minutes be amended to reflect the question and answer period
during the Aviation spotlight.
Finance
Approval of Bids?
President Cunningham presented five bids for the
Board's approval.
The first bid was for the fiber network services
in the amount of $316,000, which was a sole source bid with Waypoint.
President Cunningham reminded the Board that in February 2002,
the College contracted with Waypoint to purchase two strands of fiber
that surrounds the City and will connect the main campus to the M-TEC
and
Technology
Training
Center
at the Delta site. She
said that this is an important bid because this will assure a backup
loop in order to not lose all of the services if something were to
happen to one of the fibers.
The second bid was for the health and
administration buildings construction management in the amount of
$913,820. Three proposals
were received. The
evaluation committee recommended that the award be made to Clark
Construction, which was the lowest bid and was deemed the most
advantageous to the College. President
Cunningham asked that the minutes reflect a correction in the bid on
page two. The Christman
Construction bid should be $994,367 not $944,367.
The third bid was for the M-TEC/Technical
Training Center concrete foundations.
Bids were received from six suppliers.
The evaluation committee recommended that the award be made to
Grand River Construction from
Hudsonville
,
MI
for $714,000, which was the lowest bid, and was deemed the most
advantageous to the College.
The fourth bid was for parking structure
restoration services. President
Cunningham stated that this is a preventive project.
Annually, the College schedules preventive maintenance on the
parking structure to help keep it in good condition.
Some of the work that the bid includes is the total replacement
of the third level?s expansion joint, which was originally installed
in 1976; the total replacement of the 2nd level?s helix
expansion; and 1st level?s concrete surface repairs.
Western Waterproofing of Livonia, MI is the low bidder in the
amount of $128,890.
Chairperson Jeffries asked how this would affect
Common Ground.
President Cunningham responded that the College
is trying to work around those dates and asked Ms.
Ruth Borger, Director of Public Relations and Governmental Affairs, to further
address Chairperson Jeffries? question.
Ms. Borger responded that the third level will be
accessible given good construction weather.
The third level expansion joint project will be the first
project with the intent that it will be completed by June 30.
The fifth bid was for the GVT metal roof
replacement services in the amount of $427,900.
Bids were received from six qualified bidders.
The successful supplier and lowest bidder was CEI Roofing from Howell,
MI.
Trustee Heywood stated that there have been
problems in the past with the replacing the roof and Turner House with
tar causing fumes that really overcome the actors.
He asked if this would be an issue this year.
President Cunningham asked Dean Bill Darr to
respond.
Dean Darr responded that they will try to
minimize that. He said
that they will try to schedule work around the festivals.
Trustee Heywood asked if the work on the parking
structure was put off this year, would it be an issue.
President Cunningham responded, yes.
It is a safety issue in knowing that there is an area that
needs to be fixed and not doing that can increase the College's
liability if something were to happen.
Dean Darr stated that this is part of the
continuing effort to maintain the parking ramp.
Ramps are difficult in terms of salt and corrosion and it is
important to keep them maintained.
Trustee Pelleran said that the College entered
into a labor agreement with Clark Construction regarding the M-TEC and
some of the proceeds go to fund the HOPE scholarship.
She asked how the labor agreement was working out and is it
planned to enter into similar labor agreements for the health and
administration buildings.
President Cunningham responded to Trustee
Pelleran?s first question. She
said that there are people who are not part of the union and are upset
with the College for entering into a labor agreement because there was
no opportunity to bid on that project.
However, the individuals participating in the labor agreement
like it because they think it has worked out very well.
Overall it has worked out well for the College.
President Cunningham responded to Trustee Pelleran?s second
question. She said that
labor agreements for the health and administration buildings are
uncertain at this point due to the timing.
There will be discussions to assess that.
Trustee Pelleran stated that during the
purchasing review process it was recommended that people be informed
when audits would be performed on the College's projects so they
know up front that they are going to adhere to the College's wage
and hour standards. She
asked if those discussions are taking place.
President Cunningham responded that having the
labor agreements negates the need for audits.
Trustee Holden asked for clarification on the
role of the construction manager?s job.
President Cunningham responded that the
construction manager?s job will be to oversee the construction of
the buildings along with Dean Darr.
IT WAS MOVED by Trustee Pelleran and Trustee
Mason to approve the meeting minutes and the bids as presented.
Roll call vote:
Ayes: Heywood, Holden,
Jeffries, Mason, Pelleran, Rasmusson
Nays: None
Absent: Canady
Motion carried.
Chairperson Jeffries announced that Trustee
Heywood received the catalyst award from the Triangle Foundation for
his work with the College and other groups as it relates to domestic
partner benefits.
IT WAS MOVED by Trustee Heywood and supported by
Trustee Holden to go into closed session for the purpose of discussing
an attorney client privileged communication.
Roll call vote:
Ayes: Heywood, Holden,
Jeffries, Mason, Pelleran, Rasmusson
Nays: None
Absent: Canady
Motion carried.
The Board entered into closed session at
6:08 p.m.
The Board returned to open session at
6:15 p.m.
IT WAS MOVED By Trustee Heywood and supported by
Trustee Mason for the Board to return open session.
Roll call vote:
Ayes: Heywood,
Holden, Jeffries, Mason, Pelleran, Rasmusson
Nays: None
Absent: Canady
Motion carried.
Public
Comment
There were no comments from the public.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at
6:15 p.m.
