Adopted Meeting Minutes
November 21, 2005
Regular Meeting

Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 6:07 p.m.

Roll Call

Present: Brannan, Laverty, Pelleran, Proctor, Rasmusson, Smith
Absent: Canady
Trustee Canady arrived at 6:10 p.m.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Trustee Brannan led the pledge of allegiance.

Chairperson Laverty requested that everyone remain standing to observe a moment of silence in recognition of civil rights activist Ms. Rosa Parks.

Additions/Deletions to the Agenda

IT WAS MOVED by Trustee Pelleran and supported by Trustee Brannan to delete from the President's Report, action item #2, Human Resources - Administrative Appointments and Terminations.

There was no discussion.

Roll call vote:
Ayes: Brannan, Laverty, Pelleran, Proctor, Rasmusson, Smith
Nays: None
Absent: Canady

Motion carried.

Limited Public Comment Regarding Agenda Items

Joe Warren - I'm Joe Warren with the Department of Humanities and Performing Arts. Been here?this is my 37^th - year. Three quick points for the Board to consider. The Board is getting packets from various faculty about the hostile working environment. Where Deans and some department chairs have created very nasty working conditions to create a culture of compliance, of shall we say, bureaucratic rules that would bring tears to the eyes of Confucius. Coupled with a lack of a vision of what this institution could be where we could build a very powerful academic institution to serve the mid-Michigan area. That coupled with rock-bottom salaries makes it extremely difficult to recruit good, competent faculty and staff to build and fill up these programs. So, what I am requesting of the Board is to send an absolutely clear and unequivocal commitment to excellence by re-establishing parameters to allow this college to become competitive with other colleges with respect to salaries and benefits. By setting those negotiation parameters where we can really recruit top-notch faculty. Thank you very much.

Beckie Beard - Hello, I'm Beckie Beard, Director of Purchasing and this is under the finance part of the agenda tonight. And in 1995 the National Purchasing Institute established a program designed to recognize organizational excellence in public procurement. The Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award is awarded annually to county, city, state, and higher education organizations that demonstrate excellence in innovation, professionalism, productivity, and leadership. In addition to the National Purchasing Institute several other national organizations are recognizing this award and Lansing Community College was recognized with its third achievement of excellence award at the November 14^th meeting. And, this award is for the Board and for President Cunningham and we've received it three years in a row, and so, I want to give it to you tonight.

President Cunningham - Thank you. I?d just like to add - she?s being very gracious. There is no one in this country that's better at Purchasing than Beckie Beard and her wonderful staff. So, this is for them.

Chairperson Laverty - Thank you, Beckie. We know where the credit lies.

MAHE Budget Presentation

Sally Pierce - Thank you very much. I asked to be placed on the agenda tonight because my team wanted me to come and talk to you and we weren?t sure we could fit it into a couple of minutes. I'm going to try to be brief, but, here goes. Good evening Trustees, President Cunningham, LCC faculty, staff, and community members, I'm Sally Pierce, President of the LCC Faculty Association and I'm here tonight as the chief spokesperson of the faculty negotiations team. My team asked me to ask for time tonight on the Board agenda. A privilege guaranteed to us in Article V, Section H of our contract. Thank you for respecting that privilege and placing me on your agenda. The topic I wish to address is the LCC budget as it affects contract negotiations. And I know I must choose my words carefully tonight because we don't believe it's in labor?s or management?s best interest to bargain publicly. Yet, because we are distressed that we haven?t yet reached agreements on healthcare or salary and over 1,260 faculty are anxious for settlement. I must tell you and the public of that anxiety. We need you to think with us tonight about budget priorities for LCC and as I said, I'm going to try to keep this very brief. I thought about bringing in more comparables, more whatever. I don't think you need that, but if you do, I?d be happy to supply that to you. We believe salary and benefits for faculty must be a high priority for you as you address the LCC budget. You?ve seen the demonstration tonight in support of the Healthcare Task Force?s last proposal for healthcare. And I would like to thank all those union members, friends, family members, and tax payers who came out to support Labor?s wellness plan tonight. I would ask that the Board ask to see the Coalition?s last proposal on healthcare which we gave to management on November 16^th, 2005. Ask them to cost it out for you. The proposal management countered with costs slightly less, but shifts costs to employees and would force us to change providers and accept less coverage. These costs shifts aren?t necessary and they are based on a bid which we expect and suspect will be changed by the vendor as soon as they legally can. The costs of the Task Force?s proposal are reasonable and fair. Healthcare is a necessity for working people and our families and the faculty at LCC believe that we deserve high-quality healthcare. we're willing to pay part of the premium co-pay even when faculty at other institutions pay less because we know our managers believe that employees should not be blind to the costs of healthcare. We aren?t willing to switch carriers at this point. Disrupt the lives of our members or shift still more costs to them in the form of higher drug co-pays and other coverage losses. We don't believe that LCC's budget suggests that this is necessary and we are angered by suggestions that we should be satisfied with adequate healthcare. Last year?s budget was $103 million. That figure is unaudited, but we believe that it is accurate and expect auditors to confirm it. We've had discussions with management about that number, so we believe that's an accurate number. MAHE?s health costs are about half of LCC's represented labor?s costs. And we suggest that you look at the percent of the budget expended by LCC for employee healthcare. Particularly from the Labor Coalition?s perspective we ask that you study the percent of the budget expended for labor?s healthcare. We believe that you will find little change in that percentage between this year and next, if you accept our current proposal. We also ask that you study this year?s projected total budget. Particularly in light of the settlement before you tonight concerning Lansing Township and the Downtown Development Authority and LCC. We believe that the total projected budget figure for 05/06 is low. LCC's budget officers cautiously projected $102.5 million, but MAHE believes that is a low projection. We believe that you actually have more money than that to fund salaries and benefits. I intended to bring back the posters you saw before because those are the numbers we keep staring at, but in the hustle and bustle of getting ready for today and getting ready to teach, I didn?t end up bringing my foam board things, but part of that is on the back of this shirt, so if you forget we can generate that for you too. we're asking for more money for part-time healthcare for our members. We remind you that the $80,000 currently expended for part-time faculty benefits was paid for by all part-time faculty. MAHE bargained that figure as a part of a total compensation package for part-time faculty during the last contract. It works out to less than $80 per part-time faculty member for each part-time faculty member who's an LCC employee. What we're currently working on is we're trying to bring healthcare to all part-time employees here on campus. We know well that not all part-time faculty members use this benefit, but we bargain for all of us and believe that it is right to ask LCC to help fund the healthcare needs of its largest group of faculty. The current offer from the healthcare coalition would improve things for part-time faculty and other part-time employees. And we believe it's the right thing to do. Furthermore, we believe that our proposal protects the institution from unforeseen risks of extending benefits to this large pool of part-time workers. Finally, MAHE asks you to look at all budget priorities and consider expanding the negotiation parameters for the faculty contract. How do your current parameters fit with President Cunningham?s stated desire to bring faculty wages in line with other institution?s wages? we're not willing to accept creating internal inequities within our unit by giving more money to those at the top of the schedule only in order to make our maximums look more competitive while actually decreasing wages for those members in the steps or by giving money only to classroom faculty. You must help our institution to do better for all LCC faculty. we're willing to help you. And the negotiators working on salary tell me that they?ve had productive discussions with management?s team about many of these issues, but so far we've not found solutions. we're here to commit to find more time to work on the remaining salary issues. We need to settle the faculty contract now or very soon. Help us by examining the budget. Don?t justify not finding the money by talking to us about one-time expenditures or revenue streams. Look at the total unallocated budget. We believe faculty must become a budget priority prior to more buildings, prior to landscaping projects, prior to middle and upper management expansion. We teach and support the students who are the reason for the existence for this institution and the reason why we're all here. Our classes generate the tuition dollars and fees and justify the state revenue sharing and the grant money given to this non-profit institution. Our classes are one reason many members had to come late to the picket or could not attend this meeting. Study LCC's budget. Find the money to help settle this contract. We don't want mediation and we don't need labor unrest as an institution. We want and deserve a fair settlement for all of our contract issues. Find the money for salaries and benefits and encourage your bargainers to find more time in their schedules to meet with us in the next month and a half. We?ll be proposing more times to them tomorrow. Thank you for your time tonight. I know you have many issues to consider and please reconsider LCC's budget priorities in light of a commitment to faculty. that's it.

Chairperson and Board Member Reports

Chairperson Laverty

Bylaws Discussion

Chairperson Laverty distributed information regarding the bylaw changes that were made at the October 17 meeting. This information is intended to provide clarification on the questions received from the College. He read the document aloud (it is on file with the official Board materials.

IT WAS MOVED by Trustee Pelleran and supported by Trustee Brannan for the document to be entered into the record in its entirety.

Chairperson?s Bylaw Discussion

At the previous LCC Board of Trustees meeting, October 17, 2005, certain bylaw changes were presented and approved unanimously by those Board members present. Questions and requests for clarification have been forwarded to the Board since the last meeting:

Emergencies

Some concerns are addressed by referring to the Purchasing Policy. Under III-D-2 a process is in place in emergency situations. It says, ?In cases where delaying a purchase until the next regularly scheduled Board meeting or until a special meeting is called would result in an undue expense or in cases of an emergency, the President will inform the Board Chairperson or his/her alternate of the need to proceed with a purchase and request his/her approval. A special meeting of the Board will be called if reasonably possible. If a special meeting cannot be scheduled, because of the urgency of the situation, every effort will be made to contact all Board members to seek their input prior to final approval being given by the Board Chair or his/her alternate. Members of the Board shall be notified of the final disposition of the purchase and its approval immediately.

Consultant Contracts

A request was made by the Chair for a list of the names of consultants/instructors that had been used by LCC so that the Board could review with the intent of providing approval for their services.

A list of 133 consultants/instructors used through BCI, with their area of expertise and what services they offer, was provided to the Board on November 7. The Board reviewed the list and has notified the College of those approved until further notice.

Evaluations

The Board, with assistance from the College and its Labor Coalition will develop a 360 degree evaluation process. The Board will not abrogate any contractual provision pertaining to evaluations or due process. The Board will examine evaluations conducted by college personnel (the direct reports and peers) who will now have responsibility for assessing the performance of those persons occupying positions identified in the bylaw amendment.

Terminations

The Board does not seek to review or approve student employee or voluntary quit types of terminations.

When an employee is fired, the Board is ultimately named in any subsequent lawsuit and then has the responsibility to determine how best to settle. Often this may entail the pay out of significant College funds. However, previously the Board was not made aware of such case, normally, until it reaches arbitration. The Board expects to be informed at the earliest possible point in the process.

For personnel on a contract of employment, the board wants to be informed of the reasons for not continuing or renewing a contract.

Hiring Process

The Board will be reviewing various issues surrounding the current staffing policy and hiring. It is the intent of the Board to seek input from the College, its Labor Coalition and the community.

Presentations/Planned Travel

LCC personnel will not be participating in any presentations regarding the Oracle Collaboration Suite until assured that it is viable and the risk has been fully explored.

Contracts/Bids

Grand Rapids and Jackson Community College also use Policy Governance. The Board would like to explore their notification and approval format process in the future for our contracts and bids.

Legal Services

The college has a General Counsel, Mr. Tim Zeller, Esq. He has been authorized, until further notice, to secure legal counsel, if and when necessary, in order to respond to a lawsuit in a timely manner. The college has been asked to provide a list of legal services firms that they have used and the board may have further discussion on this.

Health and Human Services

The bylaws enacted have no negative effect upon contracting or selection of clinical sites.

Diversity/ADA

The bylaws enacted have no negative effect upon the College or Board's goals of diversity initiatives or on the American Disabilities Act.

It is not the Board's intent to create any negative impact upon the college as a result of these bylaws. The Board will uphold its responsibilities to the community.

Trustee Smith was not concerned about the changes made to the bylaws, but the approach to the changes that have been offered. She said when an organization seeks to bring about change, it's not always easy, but it is something that both sides will have to work toward. She stated that concerns should not only be brought to the Board regarding the bylaws, but also the Board needs to receive recommendations from staff as to how to navigate with the changes that the Board is striving for. Trustee Smith asked that staff be creative and innovative in thinking in a new way and how we govern ourselves. The Carver model is a philosophy of this Board, but the Carver model is to be a tool and not to be the guide. She believes the Board is seeking out help not just from staff, but also other colleges that are using forms of shared governance to work well with staff and with this Board. The changes that have been brought forth are not intended to impede the College from handling its business, but to do business in a whole new way.

Roll cal vote:
Ayes: Brannan, Canady, Laverty, Pelleran, Proctor, Rasmusson, Smith
Nays: None
Absent: None

Motion carried.

Information and Announcements

Chairperson Laverty made the following announcements:

?At the June District 11 American Welding Society meeting the section officers elected Lansing Community College professor William Eggleston to represent its district at the National Leadership Symposium held annually in July in Miami, Florida. Chairperson Laverty shared Mr. Eggleston service history with the American Welding Society. He offered congratulations to Mr. Eggleston. Chairperson Laverty shared that the College will be training the welders at General Motors in how to weld 8 10 inch diameter steam pipes, which is a very critical and extremely important craft.

?He attended a performance art event and a basketball game last month.

?He thanked President Cunningham for the Veterans? Day Ceremony on November 11. He shared that Trustees Proctor, Pelleran, and Smith also attended.

?On November 2 House Bill 5400 was introduced which is the bill for the reorganization of community colleges. He shared that in 1993 this bill was introduced and it passed the House and failed the Senate. After the College's experience with the St. Johns community expansion of services ballot proposal, the administration introduced this legislation to the Michigan Community College Association (MCCA) last spring. The MCCA supported this and it now has been introduced in the legislature.

?He attended the LCC East Open House on November 10. He was very impressed with the facility. The entire top floor is housed by Lansing Community College and the first floor is being remodeled in anticipation of future growth.

President Cunningham announced that an open house for the community is being planned in January.

Board Members

Trustee Proctor - Workforce Development Board

Trustee Proctor reported that the College was one of four applicants seeking approval for funding from the Capital Area Michigan Works! Workforce Development Board for the High School Youth Completion Program. The College was successful in its application and will be receiving approximately $280,000. He recognized the efforts of President Cunningham and Chairperson Laverty with respect to that initiative. He shared that in the past three years there were two attempts to begin a similar program; however, it was not until President Cunningham and Chairperson Laverty became involved in this effort that it moved forward.

Chairperson Laverty recognized Vice President Rich Howard, Dr. Stanley Chase, Ms. Toni Glasscoe and others from Lansing Community College. He also recognized those from the Ingham Intermediate School District and the Lansing School District that worked on this initiative.

President Cunningham thanked everyone who worked on this. The need is critical and she hopes it is a business we grow out of soon. She hopes that one day in the future we will not have high school dropouts. Somebody has to step up and do something for the 1,300 students without a high school degree in the Lansing area.

Trustee Rasmusson - Ad Hoc Committee Inquiry Report & Financial and Budget Matters

Ad Hoc Committee Inquiry Report?

Trustee Rasmusson reported that the Ad Hoc Committee has been reviewing why there were registration and financial aid difficulties in the summer and fall. On November 4 the Committee advised Chairperson Laverty that there were over 2,000 documents to study and collate and possibly another 100,000 more to review. The Committee would need to have legal counsel and paralegal type services and have Sungard Collegis do an evaluation to see what can be done to straighten out the situation. They?ve also consulted with BDO Seidman Auditors.

IT WAS MOVED by Trustee Rasmusson and supported by Trustee Smith to authorize the Chairperson to secure the services of BDO Seidman; a consultant from Sungard Collegis; services of Foster, Swift, Collins and Smith; Ms. Jan Lazar, CFP and the Mercer Group; and a paralegal.

Trustee Smith asked for clarification regarding the Oracle situation. It was her understanding that there was not a problem with the procurement of the system, but the Committee is looking into how the system has been administered and managed.

Trustee Rasmusson responded that there isn?t a slightest doubt of what Ms. Beckie Beard did, but the Committee is trying to figure out how to get out of this, what it needs and where the problem came from.

Roll call vote:
Ayes: Brannan, Canady, Laverty, Pelleran, Proctor, Rasmusson, Smith
Nays: None
Absent: None

Motion carried.

Financial and Budget Matters?

Trustee Rasmusson reported that the Audit Committee received the Year-end Financial Audit and there were some questions that needed to be answered.

IT WAS MOVED by Trustee Rasmusson and supported by Trustee Pelleran that the following resolution be adopted:

Resolved, that:

1. The Budget shall be the sole authority for expenditures. Michigan Community College Act.

2. The President shall provide to the Board not later than its December, 2005 meeting, a list of all vendors paid over $100,000 in FY 2004 and all vendors paid over $100,000 in FY 2005. The list shall indicate dates of payment, a description of services or goods and if payment was pursuant to a Board approved contract, the date of that approval.

3. The President shall identify for the Board not later than its December, 2005 meeting every budget line item that has been exceeded in FY 2004 or FY 2005 and any budget line transfers. Further indicate date of Board approval, if any.

4. The President shall advise the Board not later than its December, 2005 meeting of the balances in all funds, reserves, sinking funds, and accounts set up for capital items or maintenance, as of November 30, 2005.

5. The President shall provide the Board not later than its December, 2005 meeting, a list including dollar amounts, of all funds received by the College to date in this fiscal year which have been, or are to be, passed on, or transferred or paid over, in whole or in part, to outside entities for instructional services, such as truck driving instruction, and heavy equipment instruction, school districts, intermediate school districts, dance instruction, aviation and any other entities or persons whatsoever, whether public or private, profit or non-profit.

6. The following shall be posted on the college website on the Board page: ?Persons wishing to communicate directly to the Board of Trustees, or offer suggestions to the Board, may do so confidentially by email to BOT@michlaw.org and the Board will have a person in a fiduciary capacity to the Board endeavor to remove identifying information before sharing the communication with the Board. If it is not possible to conceal the sender?s identity, the communication will be shown only to the Board chair and person approved by him/her.?

7. The President shall provide the Board not later than its December, 2005 meeting, CDs in Word Format or other usable medium, copies of the complete FY 2006 line item budget. Copies shall also be furnished to attorneys Foster, Swift, Collins & Smith, P.C. and Bev Baligad.

Trustee Smith asked President Cunningham how she feels this request may impact the staff adversely or not at all and if it is a realistic deadline.

President Cunningham responded that a lot of this information has already been sent to the Board; however, she asked Vice President Barbara Larson to further address Trustee Smith?s question.

Vice President Larson responded that some of the information requested was provided last week. However, the remaining requests will take some time to gather and they can certainly provide it.

Roll call vote:
Ayes: Brannan, Canady, Laverty, Pelleran, Proctor, Rasmusson, Smith
Nays: None
Absent: None

Motion carried.

Trustee Smith - Foundation Board

Trustee Smith clarified that she was not at the College's Veteran?s Day Ceremony, but attended a ceremony at her children?s school. Her father is a veteran and was honored at that ceremony.

She gave the following highlights of the Foundation Board of Directors meeting she attended:

?Two scholarship students attended the meeting and shared how these dollars have impacted their lives and not just their educational experience.

? To date $2,060,781 has been raised for the Capital Campaign and the goal is $3.5 million. Dr. Evans, Chairperson of the Foundation Board of Directors, asked for 100% contribution from all of the Foundation Board members.

?The total market value for the Foundation has increased to over $7 million.

?The Financial Committee is working on the policy to receive and accept gifts and on the management and fundraising policy.

?The Distinguished Alumni Committee is accepting nominations through mid-January. The alumni giving has increased to 69% over the past three years.

?The Foundation Holiday Open House is scheduled on December 8 from 5 to 7 p.m.

She encouraged all of the Trustees to contribute to the Capital Campaign. She announced that she will be purchasing her share tonight.

Trustee Brannan

IT WAS MOVED by Trustee Brannan and supported by Trustee Pelleran to engage Sungard Collegis to perform an external review of Lansing Community College's IT hardware infrastructure, software support and training. Noting that this will be done free of charge to the College and that Collegis will provide a comprehensive report to the Board with findings and recommendations. The Board will expect full cooperation from those who are asked to meet with Collegis representatives.

Trustee Smith asked if Sungard Collegis is currently doing business with Lansing Community College.

Trustee Brannan responded that they are not.

Trustee Smith asked if they are seeking to do business with the College in the future based upon what they will be doing.

Trustee Brannan responded potentially.

Trustee Pelleran shared that was explicit in the questions that Sungard Collegis asked of the Committee. She stated that was upfront and they're not trying to hide anything.

Roll call vote:
Ayes: Brannan, Canady, Laverty, Pelleran, Proctor, Rasmusson, Smith
Nays: None
Absent: None

Motion carried.

President's REPORT

Informational Items

College Spotlight - Enterprise Resource Development

President Cunningham introduced Mr. Dan McCormick, Senior Advisor, Resource and Enterprise Development. She shared his background that included CEO and Founder of the McCormick Group; he taught at Lansing Community College and the Lansing School District; received a Bachelors degree from Florence State University and his Masters degree from Michigan State University; he is the author of Creating Foundations in America?s Schools and Non-Profit Mergers: The Power of Successful Partnerships; he is recognized as the nation?s leading consultant in foundation establishment and structural development; and his work has been recognized in publications such as The New York Times and USA Today.

Mr. McCormick gave a PowerPoint presentation on the work being done in the Enterprise and Resource Development office (it is on file with the official Board materials.)

There was a question and answer period after the presentation.

Financial Aid Update

President Cunningham introduced Ms. Nancy Sinsabaugh, the Interim Financial Aid Director, and shared her educational and work experience which included Director of Student Financial Services at Harvard University; consultant to the Office of the Registrar at the University of Minnesota; and she received her Bachelors and Masters degrees from Harvard University. Two weeks ago the 2,000 students who experienced challenges with financial aid were invited to a special registration session. She felt that we are turning the corner on this issue. President Cunningham thanked everyone who has worked so diligently and around the clock in the Student and Academic Support Division and in Information Services and College Development. The audit reports have shown that there were a multitude of issues and not in only one area.

Ms. Sinsabaugh thanked President Cunningham and Dean Judith Cardenas for inviting her to help the College in the financial aid area. Ms. Sinsabaugh stated that when she arrived at the end of October, they quickly identified a two prong strategy to work on the financial aid issues. First, they needed to serve the students and get the financial aid accurate. Second, they needed to relieve the staff. She admires the financial aid and student services staff because they have done a tremendous job under difficult circumstances. Currently, they are working on responding to student concerns. The level of counter activity is steady, but is no longer overwhelming. Ms. Sinsabaugh shared that they are working very hard at resolving outstanding loan issues, waivers, grant, and scholarship issues. They have engaged Financial Aid Services, which is a company out of Atlanta, Georgia to help with processing, so staff can devote time in answering student questions. Her leadership role is helping to take the load off the staff. The search for the Financial Aid Director position is underway and the search committee is actively working on filling that position. They are working on getting the spring financial aid process off to a timely start. She reported that they?ve done the packaging and the simulations look good. Award letters will be going out next week.

Trustee Smith asked if she believed all failures in the system have been identified.

Ms. Sinsabaugh responded that she would not term the system issues as failures, but she is not sure that all issues have been identified. She has worked on a number of challenging financial aid system implementations and this is not the worst she has seen. Ms. Sinsabaugh compared financial aid to an onion. As we peel away pieces of the ?onion? we find other things. She stated that we are ?peeling? away the loan, scholarship, and waiver pieces. As she understands it the 2,000 students that were affected this semester were students who had the scholarships and waivers. When those issues are fixed, then the loan issues will be resolved. There are other problems that have come up, but those are small numbers of students and they are working on resolving them. Ms. Sinsabaugh believes there are no major outstanding issues.

Trustee Smith asked if Ms. Sinsabaugh does not see these issues as failures, how would she characterize them.

Ms. Sinsabaugh responded that she characterizes it as a challenging implementation and there were a series of issues involving manual work. Having spoken with others at the College, as early as last May it would have been clear that the waivers and scholarships would have to be a manual process. Had she been the director last May she would have arranged for enough staffing to ensure that the 2,000 waivers were entered manually. Ms. Sinsabaugh shared that the ability to do this in an automated fashion is coming in the next software release. She explained that it wasn't that something was delivered and it didn?t work. The issue was that the financial aid leadership didn?t recognize that this was a process that would require a manual work around that would be labor intensive and time consuming.

President Cunningham asked Ms. Sinsabaugh to elaborate on her experience with other financial aid implementations.

Ms. Sinsabaugh shared that her business is to help student service implementations and help universities to digest integrated student services packages. She has a lot of experience working on PeopleSoft implementations in financial aid. In 1999 at the University of Minnesota, the PeopleSoft software did fail. They could not deliver one cent of $100 million of financial aid to 30,000 students. that's a worse situation. Ms. Sinsabaugh stated that typically there are problems with financial aid implementations because everybody underestimates how difficult financial aid is. For example, there are 14 different aid programs at the College. Many of the students are in all or a large number of those programs. If one variable is changed, that changes all 14 programs and they are interrelated. For example, if a student drops a course. Software developers underestimate how difficult that is.

Action Items

Approval of Minutes - October 17, 2005 Regular Meeting

President Cunningham presented the October 17, 2005 meeting minutes for the Board's review.

There were no changes from the Board.

Human Resources - Administrative Appointments and Terminations

This item was deleted.

Facilities Master Plan

Vice President Larson reviewed the facilities master plan update which was provided to the Board last month and was included in the Board packet. She reminded the Board that this annual submission is required by the State and this is our window of opportunity to identify a high priority instructional facility need for consideration in the capitol outlay process.

There was brief discussion about the facilities master plan update and whether students would be utilized for the campus beautification project. It was clarified that they have consulted with Horticulture faculty, and staff was asked to make a priority of using students for this project.

Trustee Smith felt conflicted on the plan considering a settlement hasn?t been reached with labor.

President Cunningham agreed with Trustee Smith. When she met with the Labor Coalition, she shared it is unlikely that we will get these dollars; however, the College must submit an updated facilities mater plan as required by the State. President Cunningham stated that the items in the facilities master plan are needed; however, it is understood that this not the College's highest priority. The work with Human Resources is the highest priority.

Lansing Township DDA Settlement

President Cunningham presented the Lansing Township Downtown Development Authority settlement, which was included in the Board packet. She recognized Mr. Tim Zeller and the attorneys at Miller Canfield for their diligence in pursuing the College's best interests.

Finance - Approval of Consulting Services

The following consulting services were presented for the Board's approval:

1. Business & Community Institute in the amount of $6,120. The recommendation is to award the project to Anthony Juliano of Lansing, Michigan.

2. Technical Careers in the amount of $24,460. The recommendation is to award the project to Immersive Engineering of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.

3. Technical Careers in the amount of $110,000. The recommendation is to award the project to Metz Consulting of Brighton, Michigan.

4. Human Resources in the amount of $200 per hour. The recommendation is to award the project to Mediation Training & Consultation Institute; Zena Zumeta.

There was discussion about the consulting services.

Trustee Proctor referred to the Human Resources project. He recommended exploring the Center for Dispute Resolution of Central Michigan which may offer the services for free.

Trustee Pelleran agreed with Trustee Proctor?s recommendation and she would not be supporting that transmittal.

President Cunningham asked the Board to keep in mind that this process is new to staff. We would like to understand what the Board would like in terms of these requests.

Trustee Smith recommended that staff indicate how long the range of services will last.

IT WAS MOVED by Trustee Pelleran and supported by Trustee Brannan to separate the President's Report action items and vote on action items one, three, and four and vote on the consulting services separately.

Ayes: Brannan, Canady, Laverty, Pelleran, Proctor, Rasmusson, Smith
Nays: None
Absent: None

Motion carried.

IT WAS MOVED BY Trustee Pelleran and supported by Trustee Brannan to approve action items one, three, and four of the President's Report.

Roll call vote:
Ayes: Brannan, Canady, Laverty, Pelleran, Proctor, Rasmusson, Smith
Nays: None
Absent: None

Motion carried.

IT WAS MOVED by Trustee Canady to approve the contract for Mr. Anthony Juliano for the Business & Community Institute.

The motion failed due to lack of support.

IT WAS MOVED by Trustee Rasmusson and supported by Trustee Canady to table the consulting services and authorize the Chairperson to acquire more information and if he is satisfied with the information received, he may approve the contracts on behalf of the Board.

Trustee Smith was unclear where all the Board members were are on the bids.

Trustee Canady felt it was unnecessary to table the contracts because he felt they were routine and this may hamper the administration from conducting the normal course of business at the College and supported Trustee Rasmusson?s recommendation.

Trustee Pelleran felt the Board was ready to vote on the consulting service contracts.

Trustee Smith agreed.

Roll call vote:
Ayes: Brannan, Canady, Proctor, Rasmusson
Nays: Laverty, Pelleran, Smith
Absent: None

Motion carried.

CLOSED SESSION

IT WAS MOVED by Trustee Pelleran and supported by Trustee Canady for the Board to go into closed session for the purpose of dealing with contract negotiations.

Roll call vote:
Ayes: Brannan, Canady, Laverty, Pelleran, Proctor, Rasmusson, Smith
Nays: None
Absent: None

Motion carried.

Board entered into closed session at 8:22 p.m.

IT WAS MOVED by Trustee Canady and supported by Trustee Smith to return to open session.

Roll call vote:
Ayes: Brannan, Canady, Laverty, Pelleran, Proctor, Rasmusson, Smith
Nays: None
Absent: None

Motion carried.

The Board returned to open session at 9:15 p.m.

PUBLIC COMMENT

There were no comments from the public.

ADJOURNMENT

IT WAS MOVED by Trustee Smith and supported by Trustee Canady for the meeting to adjourn.

Ayes: Brannan, Canady, Laverty, Pelleran, Proctor, Rasmusson, Smith
Nays: None
Absent: None

Motion carried.

The meeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m.