The Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College Board of Trustees convened a meeting on Monday, October 5, 2020, at 3:00 p.m. in the Brumit Center for Culinary Arts and Hospitality. John Parham, Chair, presided.
The following members of the Board were also present: Nian Avery, Theresa Banks, Joe Brumit, Judy Lewis, Roger Metcalf, Max Queen, and Frances Ramsey. Trustee Cheyane Verran participated via Zoom.
Others present for the meeting included: John Gossett, President; Terry Brasier, Vice President Student Services; Shanna Chambers, Executive Director of Human Resources; Kerri Glover; Executive Director of Community Relations and Marketing; Beth Stewart, Vice President Instructional Services; Brian Willis, Vice President Information Technology/CIO; Dirk Wilmoth, Vice President Business and Finance/CFO; Deborah Wright, Vice President Work Force Development and Continuing Education; Kevin Kimrey, Director, Economic and Workforce Development; Chris Campbell, College Attorney; and Carolyn Rice, Secretary to the Board. Amanda Edwards, Director of the Foundation participated via Zoom.
Call To Order
Chair Parham read the ethics statement. No conflicts of interest were reported. Ms. Rice called the roll, a quorum was present.
Swearing In
At 3:08 p.m., the Honorable Alan Z. Thornburg swore in new Trustees Mr. Nian Avery and Mr. Max Queen, and reappointed Trustee Mr. Joe Brumit to the Board, en masse.
Consent Agenda
Chair Parham asked for a motion to approve the Consent Agenda.
Dr. Metcalf moved to approve Consent Agenda items: 1. A. August 3, 2020 Board Meeting Minutes, and 1. B. Personnel Actions.
The motion to approve the Consent Agenda was seconded by Mr. Brumit. The motion was passed by unanimous consent.
Resolution/Action Items
2. A. Ms. Deborah Wright informed the Board that the State Board of Community Colleges mandates the review of programs provided to ensure that occupational training is relevant to the workforce, responsive to training needs, and responsible for the use of state resources. The Economic and Workforce Development/Continuing Education Internal Program Accountability Plan has been adopted based on a statewide accountability model and must be monitored and reviewed for approval every three years by the Board of Trustees. The College will achieve the goals and objectives outlined in the Accountability Plan.
Mr. Queen moved to approve the Economic and Workforce Development/Continuing Education Internal Program Accountability Plan. The motion was seconded by Dr. Metcalf. The motion was passed by unanimous consent.
2. B. Dr. Wilmoth stated that annually, the College is required to submit its budget to the Board for approval. The College’s budget is composed of multiple parts, including funding streams from the State of North Carolina, Buncombe County Commissioners, and Madison County Commissioners. The budget is constructed in alignment with the College’s Strategic Plan.
Mr. Brumit moved to approve the 2020-2021 Budget Approval Resolution. The motion was seconded by Ms. Lewis. The motion was passed by unanimous consent.
2. C. Dr. Wilmoth discussed the Negative Fund Balance Report with the Board. Negative balances occur when financial aid is disbursed to a student who subsequently withdraws, and the College must repay the funding source. There is ample institutional cash to offset these unplanned negative fund balances, thereby ensuring unfettered institutional operations.
Dr. Metcalf moved to acknowledge the receipt and review of the Negative Fund Balance Report as of June 30, 2020. The motion was seconded by Mr. Queen. The motion was passed by unanimous consent.
2. D. Dr. Wilmoth discussed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Buncombe County regarding Photovoltaic Panels with the Board. The project is now under contract, and Buncombe County is asking for an MOU as to the locations for panel installations as well as the means for paying for the project. The sources of funding will be energy rebates from Duke Energy, which accrue to the College, as well as the electrical energy savings from the electricity that will be generated at these locations.
The Trustees discussed installation locations on campus and the need for indemnity for panel installations on the rooftops of campus buildings.
Ms. Lewis moved to approve the MOU with Buncombe County regarding the installation of Photovoltaic Panels on-campus buildings. The motion was seconded by Dr. Metcalf. The motion was passed by unanimous consent.
2. E. Dr. Wilmoth explained that in June, the Board approved a budget of $400,000 to replace the flooring in the Coman gym and renovate part of the Coman dining facilities to accommodate a larger kitchen. However, the Community College system office has advised us that the kitchen modifications cannot be undertaken with Connect NC funds, since the third-party operator would benefit from the improvements. Therefore, we have removed the kitchen renovation from the project, and the amended budget is decreased from $150,000 to $250,000.
Dr. Metcalf moved to approve the Amendments to the Connect NC Bond Referendum project. The motion was seconded by Mr. Brumit. The motion was passed by unanimous consent.
Trustee Business
3. A. Dr. Parham asked the Board for their comments and feedback on the September 24 Board Retreat. Several Trustees commented that the Retreat was time well spent and appreciated the level of engagement from fellow Board members. Dr. Parham asked the Board to identify solutions on how to engage students and specifically minority students at a younger age. It was suggested that in addition to the traditional “Career Day” with high school students, and the annual luncheon for student counselors, the College should also focus on elementary-aged students and have a “Career Day” for third graders to show them what the College offers that would benefit their future.
President's Report
Dr. Gossett shared the following information with the Board:
- He has met and spent time with elected officials, other College and University Presidents, the Asheville Chamber, the Workforce Development Board, the Economic Development Coalition, the new Executive Director of Eblen Charities, Reverend Scott Rogers of ABCCM, Mr. Derek Edwards, Principal of Asheville High School, former Board Chair and State Board member Mary Ann Rice, Buncombe County Sheriff Miller, as well as several Foundation Board members.
- The pandemic and Covid-19 continue to be a daily focus for the College, and our faculty, staff, and students are under a lot of stress. The RISE initiative (Respect, Integrity, and Support for Everyone) has been very appropriate during this time and we are focusing on being gracious, kind, and patient with our students and each other.
- He participated in a Zoom question and answer session with employees and discussed what the College can do about race issues both on campus and in the community, among other topics. The most important thing the College can do is to work on our processes and while he does not believe that things are done on purpose, unintended barriers have been created for our students. He has asked for an expert from Dogwood Trust to look at how the College can reduce barriers for Hispanic and African-American students.
- We are in the process of creating a new Strategic Plan for the next three years and are involving employees in the process who have growth potential in their areas and are influential on campus.
- We continue to work to increase our scores on the statewide Performance Measures.
- Finally, the College has learned how to go forward during the Pandemic, and is now in a growth mode, which is exciting!
Closed Session
At 3:55 p.m., Dr. Metcalf moved that the Board of Trustees go into closed session pursuant to G.S. 143-318.11 subsection (a) (3) and (a) (4) to discuss matters covered by the attorney-client privilege. Ms. Ramsey seconded the motion.
On a motion properly made, the Board returned to Open Session at 5:27 p.m.
Open Session
Mr. Brumit moved to authorize the President to negotiate with Dominion Energy and to accept $131,200 from Dominion Energy for easements over the Fee Simple tract owned by the College; to authorize the acceptance of $94,000 from Dominion Energy for the easement over the leased tract owned by BASF contingent upon a) a split of the award with BASF of at least 50 percent going to the College, and b) Dominion Energy’s agreement to indemnify the College regarding hazardous waste issues; and to authorize submission of the easements to the State Board of Community Colleges for approval once the above items are resolved. The motion was seconded by Dr. Metcalf. The motion was passed by unanimous consent.
The Board meets again on November 2 in case circumstances change and/or Dominion Energy makes a counter offer.
Handouts
Chair Parham mentioned the State and County Budget Report as of August 31, 2020, the September Tracking Measures Scorecard for 2020-2021, the Capital Project Status as of September 18, 2020, and information on Trustee Insurance Coverage were in the handouts.
Adjourn
On a motion made by Mr. Brumit, seconded by Dr. Banks, the meeting adjourned at 5:31 p.m. by unanimous consent.
Respectfully submitted,
Carolyn H. Rice
Board Secretary