CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 5:34 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Present: Canady,
Heywood, Holden, Jeffries, Mason, Pelleran
Absent: Rasmusson
Additions/Deletions
to the Agenda
There were no additions or deletions to the
agenda.
Limited
Public Comment Regarding Agenda Items
Chris Laverty - Good evening.
My name is Chris Laverty. I'm
the UAW Training Technology Representative of Local 652, but also have
the pleasure being the chair of the Lansing Community College
Foundation for the last two years.
And I come tonight to speak on behalf of a contract you are
going to be reviewing later on this evening for the McCormick Group.
We have worked with Dan McCormick actually for several months
through the Foundation and this was as a result of our developing a
strategic plan last year with all of our Board members working many
hours on it. And we've
been working with Dan to try to get that strategic plan implemented
and also to take a look at our staffing and all of this as a goal to
try to basically raise more money.
And we want to become self sustaining as a foundation.
We currently have about $4 million in assets.
We have for the last several years gave out at least 200
scholarships per year to needy students in the area. We
rise in support, and I'm speaking on behalf of the entire
Foundation, in favor of this particular contract.
Dan has worked with some of the largest charities and
foundations in the entire country. We are fortunate to have him
(inaudible) he?s a resident of Williamston and I have a lot of
respect for him. I'm
sure that anybody who's met him would?I find him to be a very
favorable asset for our Foundation to get us off to a good start.
Monday the 24th, we have a new executive director
starting and we've been without one since last spring.
And part of Dan?s job will also be to work with her to get
her off to a really good start here.
Thank you for your support.
Barry Stearns - Hi, I'm Barry Stearns, Vice
President of the faculty association.
Last semester as I was the acting President I brought a report
to you or made comments at this point dealing with human resources and
the hiring process and I?d like to just give you an update on that.
I received a copy from HR of the full-time temporary faculty
that are current for this semester although I came up with three names
that weren?t there. So,
we think it's fairly accurate, however.
If there are 42 full-time temporary faculty members currently
out of roughly 222 faculty positions, that figures out to be 18.92%,
roughly 19%. One out of
five our full-time faculty are on temporary contracts.
I find that that is?borders on being abusive of the policy
that we've agreed to on the use of full-time temporary faculty.
There are very legitimate reasons why we would need to use
temporary full-time faculty in various functions and they bring some
very valuable things to our institution.
We do believe this number is excessive and we encourage the
Board to take a look at that and consider moving some of those
temporary employees to permanent positions as soon as possible.
I have copies for each of you. (Mr. Stearns distributed a
report to the Board. It is
on file with the official Board materials.)
Chairperson
and Board Member Reports
Chairperson
The Chairperson did not have a report.
Board
Members
Trustee
Marylou Mason - Lucero Kickoff Celebration
Trustee Mason reported on the Lucero Kickoff
Celebration held on February 7, 2003.
She said that it was very well attended by not only community
members, but also students. She
asked several students regarding how they felt about the program.
The students are very enthusiastic about the program and
looking forwarding to it growing.
Trustee
Olga Holden - MCCA Winter In-service Workshop
Trustee Holden reported on the MCCA Winter
In-service workshop. She
stated that both Trustees Mason and Heywood attended and asked them to
add any additional information. Trustee
Holden said that over 60 Trustees and Presidents were in attendance.
The tone of the conversation was the existent budget crisis and
the various ways to handle it. Trustee
Holden stated that there was some optimism, however, in opportunities
that were there particularly through technology.
She said that President Cunningham was introducing Governor
Granholm for another function that same day and brought the Governor
to speak with the Trustees and Presidents.
Some of the things the Governor spoke about were her support of
community college education and the work they are doing.
She said that Governor Granholm also addressed the budget
crisis that everyone is going through for this year and next.
President's
Report
Informational
Human
Resources
Appointments
Administrative?
Joan E. Bauer,
Foundation Director, Executive Office
John F. Imeson,
Director, Public Safety, Administrative Services
Action
Items
Approval of
Minutes - January 21, 2003 Regular Meeting; January 24, 2003 Special
Meeting; February 4, 2003
Special Meeting
President Cunningham presented the meeting
minutes for the Board's review.
Trustee Mason had the following corrections on
the January 24, 2003 meeting minutes:
on page 3, Palms should be changed to Fobbs, and on page 6 it
should be two years, not three.
Cost
Savings Measures
President Cunningham asked for authorization from
the Board of Trustees to begin discussions with representatives from
the College bargaining units regarding the implementation of an early
retirement incentive program. She
reminded the Board that this was discussed in closed session at the
last meeting and the College is in the process of negotiating with the
unions regarding an early retirement incentive.
Bank
Resolutions
President Cunningham presented the bank
resolution which changes the authorization from former Chief Financial
Officer, Barbara Larson, to Glenn Cerny and Susan Maloney to make
transactions and sign checks for the College.
The resolution also gives authorization to Barbara Farr, Blair
Svendsen, and Ngao Phiri, who were always on the accounts, to only
make transactions through electronic means.
President Cunningham stated that both Mr. Bill Danhof, the
College's legal counsel, and Mr. Bruce Dunn, from Maner, Costerisan,
and Ellis, have reviewed these resolutions.
Finance
Approval of Bids?
There were three bids presented for the Board's
approval.
The first bid was for Oracle Database Support and
Applications Development. The
College received 31 proposals, and the successful vendor was Efficient
Computing out of San Francisco, CA as their proposal was deemed the
most advantageous to the College.
The second bid was for Mass Grading of the MTEC/TTC
facilities. The College
received 11 proposals, and the successful vendor was B&V
Construction from Wixom, MI, which was the lowest bid and was deemed
the most advantageous to the College.
The third bid was for the LCC Foundation Resource
Development Services. This
is a sole source bid awarded to the McCormick Group.
This program will redefine the administrative functions of the
Foundation, provide expert leadership to new fund raising programs and
counsel to the new Director.
Trustee Canady recommended that item number two,
Cost Savings Measures, be voted on separately.
IT WAS MOVED by Trustee Canady and supported by
Trustee Heywood to approve the President's report, with exception of
the Cost Savings Measures.
Ayes: Canady,
Heywood, Holden, Jeffries, Mason, Pelleran
Nays: None
Absent: Rasmusson
Motion carried.
Trustee Canady stated that he has had experience
with early retirement incentive programs, and he is a little gun shy.
He has had several questions and the administration has
answered them. However, he
was concerned with the efficacy of the program considering this would
be the third early retirement program in ten years. Trustee Canady was
concerned with the possibility of losing 25% of the administration,
25% of faculty, which is how he understands it considering that is the
percentage that is eligible and asked if that was correct.
Mr. David Davidson clarified that it is projected
that 25% of the 44 administrators that are eligible may take part in
the early retirement program.
Trustee Canady responded that all 44
administrators could possibly take part in the early retirement
program and that is what he is getting at.
If they decide to take it, the results could be devastating.
He said that he is nervous about the program particularly with
what the College is getting ready to do with the M-TEC, Health Careers
facility, and other expansion plans.
Trustee Canady expressed his concerns especially with having
seen how unintended consequences may arise.
President Cunningham stated that some of the
retirements will be phased in. Those
employees wishing to partake in the early retirement program will have
to work with their supervisor to determine their exit date.
In cases where there is a tremendous need, the hiring process
would begin earlier so there is a smooth transition.
Trustee Canady expressed that he would probably
feel more comfortable if the M-TEC and Health Careers facilities were
up and running. He felt
that the College is taking on all of these things and at the same time
encouraging people to leave, and he doesn?t have the level of
comfort to support it.
Chairperson Jeffries asked, regarding the
information that was provided earlier in the day to Trustee Canady, if
there are limitations in rehiring those that will choose to partake in
the early retirement incentive program.
Mr. Davidson responded that in 1996, 29 people
partook in the early retirement program.
Of those 29 only 3 people returned to the College to work
part-time. He said that of
the 29 no one returned on a full-time basis or as a consultant.
Mr. Davidson stated that there is a prohibition that does not
allow any retired employee to return on a full-time basis for one
year. After one year, they
can compete for any job opening at the College.
Trustee Canady asked if MPSERS is investing in
the stock market, at some point will the College have to increase
their contributions significantly.
In terms of long-term planning, he stated that we should
probably expect a significant increase in the contributions from the
College to MPSERS to cover the early retirement plan.
Chairperson Jeffries asked what the projected
increase is.
Mr. Davidson stated the projected increases have
not been shared with the College, but whatever the forecast is, the
College is currently contributing 12.1%.
Whatever early retirement model is selected, the payout is
reduced. For example, if a
$77,000 faculty member is replaced with a $47,000 faculty member that
is going to cost the College less.
If the percentage is increased, the payout will be less.
Trustee Holden asked if the 25% projection is
based on prior early retirement plans.
President Cunningham responded that was correct.
Trustee Holden asked what the replacement plan
was.
President Cunningham responded that for every two
administrators a maximum of one will be replaced, for every faculty
member that is impacted they will be replaced, and for every two
support staff a maximum of one will be replaced.
Trustee Holden asked what has been the pattern of
increases over the years regarding contributions to MPSERS.
Mr. Davidson responded that last year it was
increased to 12.1%; however, prior to that for the past three years it
had stayed steady at the high 11?s.
Trustee Holden stated that if the College is able
to run effectively and efficiently, and she trusts that the President
and staff have considered this, with the possibility of less
administrators, then she would support the early retirement incentive
program.
Trustee Canady asked if there was an estimate of
how many employees would be retiring regardless of an early retirement
incentive program.
Mr. Davidson responded that in reviewing the past
three years, four to eight employees retired each year.
IT WAS MOVED by Trustee Heywood and supported by
Trustee Mason to authorize the administration to enter into
negotiations with the bargaining units regarding implementation of an
early retirement incentive program.
Roll call vote:
Ayes: Heywood, Holden,
Jeffries, Mason, Pelleran
Nays: Canady
Absent: Rasmusson
Motion carried.
Public
Comment
Bill Petry - The People for Positive Social
Change Club would like to make a proposal that the Board have a
resolution against war with Iraq, basically.
We have not worded one up for the Board of Trustees at this
time, but we would like to urge that the Board do to take up the
matter at its earliest convenience. If
you would like us to send a proposal, we?d be glad to write one up
for the Board.
Trustee Heywood - I would certainly be willing
to entertain putting a motion on the table to condemn possible action.
Is that something we can
do at this meeting?
Chairperson Jeffries - Well, I?d rather not,
it's not been on our agenda. But
if you can get something to us maybe we can consider it at our next
meeting, which will be in two weeks.
Trustee Canady - I don't have anything
against considering it. I
do question whether it's LCC business.
Chairperson Jeffries - Can you bring us
something and then we?ll take a peek at it?
And we?ll have a discussion.
President Cunningham - I?d just like to say
hello to all of the student leadership academy students here.
Thank you.
Trustee Heywood - I wanted to note the passing
of Anne Tracy who was a founder in the Gay community she passed away
on Friday from liver cancer after a two year struggle and she?ll be
a great loss not only to the MSU community, the greater Lansing
community, but also here at LCC where she?s come in and talked to
the diversity classes on a regular basis.
So, her loss is going to be felt in the community.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 6:04 p.m.
