REGULAR MEETING
OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM
March 26, 2007
Minutes
The Board of Trustees of the Houston Community College System held a Regular Meeting on
Monday, March 26, 2007 at the System Administration Building, Second Floor Auditorium,
3100 Main, Houston, Texas.
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT
Christopher Oliver, Chairman
Yolanda Navarro Flores, Vice Chairman
Diane Olmos Guzman, Secretary
Mills Worsham, Deputy Secretary
Bruce Austin
Abel Davila
ADMINISTRATION
Mary Spangler, Chancellor
Doretha Eason, Executive Assistant to the Chancellor
Miles LeBlanc, General Counsel
William Carter, Vice Chancellor, Information Technology
Charles Cook, Vice Chancellor for Instruction
Irene Porcarello, Vice Chancellor, Student Success
Gloria Walker, Vice Chancellor, Finance and Administration
Winston Dahse, Interim President, Southwest College
Margaret Ford, President, Northeast College
William Harmon, President, Central College
Zachary Hodges, President, Northwest College
Marsal Stoll, President, Coleman College of Health Science
Willie Williams, Associate Vice Chancellor, Human Resources
Kelley Zuniga, Executive Director, HCC Foundation
Mike Kyme, Executive Director, Purchasing and Procurement
Remmele Young, Executive Director, Government Relations
OTHERS PRESENT
Jarvis Hollingsworth, System Counsel, Bracewell & Giuliani
Suewan Johnson, Bond Counsel, Vinson & Elkins
Dwight Boykins, Federal Consultant, dBoykins
David Ross, President, Faculty Association
Other administrators, citizens and representatives from the news media
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Regular Meeting – March 26, 2007 – Page 2
CALL TO ORDER
Mr. Oliver, Chair, called the meeting to order at 4:31 p.m. and declared the Board convened to
consider matters pertaining to the Houston Community College System as listed on the duly
posted meeting notice.
PRAYER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mr. Austin led the prayer and pledge of allegiance to the flag.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Approval of Minutes from the Special Meeting of February 2, 2007, Technology Committee of
February 16, 2007, Committee of the Whole Meeting of February 16 2007, Regular Board
Meeting of February 22, 2007, and Athletic Committee Meeting of February 26, 2007
Motion – Mr. Davila moved approval of the minutes as presented. Mr. Austin seconded the
motion. The motion carried 6-0.
HEARING OF CITIZENS
Mr. Oliver gave preface to the Hearing of Citizens and asked if there were any registered
speakers to come forward.
There were no citizens to come before the Board.
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
• Mr. Oliver reminded the Board to submit their nominations for consideration of HCC
Honorary Degrees
•
Mr. Oliver informed that HCC received an award from the Acres Home Citizen
Chamber of Commerce, the African American Chamber of Commerce of Greater
Houston, and the Acres Home Center for Business Development in recognition of
HCC’s continued partnership with the Chamber. The award was presented at the 18th
Annual Awards Banquet held on Friday, March 9, 2007
Mrs. Flores apprised that she attended the event and requested that the art award be
placed on display along with other art work given to the College.
•
Mr. Oliver announced that the welcoming reception for Dr. Mary Spangler is
scheduled for Thursday, April 5, 2007 at 5:00 p.m. at the System Administration
Building, 3100 Main, 2nd Floor Auditorium
CHANCELLOR’S REPORT
Dr. Spangler announced that she was elated to be a part of the HCC family and looked forward
to working with everyone. She thanked the Board for the opportunity to serve as Chancellor
and apprised that she has been meeting with the Presidents, Vice Chancellors, and other direct
reports. She noted that she will be meeting with the Board in the upcoming weeks to discuss
their various districts.
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Regular Meeting – March 26, 2007 – Page 3
CONSENT AGENDA AND TOPIC FOR DISCUSSION
Motion – Mrs. Flores motioned to approve the agenda items with the exception of items A.1 and
A.2. Mrs. Guzman seconded the motion. The motion passed with a vote of 6-0.
The following items were approved:
•
Approve Payment to Bracewell & Giuliani LLP for Professional Services (February
2007)
•
Approve Personnel Agenda for March 2007
ADOPT AN INTERIM POLICY FOR TRUSTEES TESTIFYING BEFORE ANY
STATE LEGISLATIVE BODY
Motion - Mr. Austin moved to approve. Mr. Davila seconded the motion.
Mr. Austin moved that the language “state legislative body” is deleted and replaced with “any
legislative body”. Mr. Austin requested comments from the Legislative Committee Chairman
on the recommended revision.
Mr. Worsham, Chair of Legislative Committee, provided an overview of the proposed policy
and noted that the subject was presented as a result of requests for members of the Board to
testify before the state legislative. He explained that the policy addresses the issue of a Trustee
giving notification that they have been requested to testify before any legislative committee at
the request of a legislator and noted that the policy could extend to possible request(s) for
testimonies on a national level in Washington. Mr. Worsham further stated that the purpose of
the notification would be to give full disclosure of the testimony from a personal standpoint
representing themselves as a citizen or as a member of the Board. He stated that the Committee
acknowledged the need to extinguish between reasons for the testimony.
Mr. Davila stated that the policy does not state that the Board member would have to come
before the Legal/Legislative Committee and asked if the member could provide a five-minute
notice before testifying. Mr. Worsham noted that the reason the Committee concluded with
notifying just the Committee Chair was that time constraints would often prohibit the meeting
with the full Board and noted that this procedure would provide the notification that the member
is providing testimony.
Mr. Davila also recommended revising the policy to state that notification should be given to
the Legal/Legislative Committee Chairman and Chancellor so that the Chancellor is also aware
of the request(s).
Mr. Worsham noted that further consideration must be given to the policy and informed that the
purpose of the interim policy implement a procedure that would provide a full disclosure to the
Board and provide an opportunity for all interested Board members to testify, if necessary.
Mrs. Guzman informed that the policy was an interim procedure and informed that it was
recommended that the item be submitted to the Communications Committee for discussion as a
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Regular Meeting – March 26, 2007 – Page 4
part of the protocol development policy. She noted that the policy can be amended as
necessary.
Mrs. Flores asked what would be the next step once a Trustee has provided the proper
notification that they have been contacted to testify or that an opportunity to testify before a
legislative committee has been presented. Mr. Worsham advised that discussion is welcomed
on the process. Mrs. Flores recommended that the entire Board should be notified so that all
members will have the opportunity to testify, if necessary.
Mr. Austin apprised that there are times when decorum is needed in communicating the request
for a member to testify. He also conferred with Trustee Davila that the issue is also a matter of
ethics and trust among the Board.
Mr. Oliver stated that it has been his experience that prior to testifying, there is a notification
given which should provide enough time to disclose the request to testify. Mr. Austin apprised
that the request to testify on a certain bill often comes with suspending the five-day notice rule.
Mr. Oliver also requested that the Board Policy and Procedures Committee review the
possibility developing a protocol writing columns for newspapers with the purpose of being
unified. He commented that such a policy would allow for a review and give the Chancellor an
opportunity to review and determine whether it’s something that should be released at the time.
Mr. Oliver recommended that the item be referred to the Board Policy and Procedures
Committee.
Mrs. Guzman commented that the policy would need to be developed under communications
protocol and noted that the policy would possibly be a sub-part of protocol to be referred to the
Board Policy and Procedures Committee once it is developed.
Mrs. Flores requested clarity on the procedure that is being adopted as well as the recommended
amendments and restated the procedure under consideration as follows:
The Interim Procedure for Trustees Testifying Before Legislative Board:
When notice is given or a Trustee is invited to testify before any legislative
body, prior notice should be given to the Legal/Legislative Committee Chair
and Chancellor.
Mr. Worsham elaborated that there was discussion in the Legal/Legislative Committee on such
items as opt-ed pieces, request for media interviews, etc. He noted that the determination was to
refer the discussion on those items to the Communications Committee and informed that the
reason for interim procedure is to adopt an interim mechanism for dealing specifically with the
legislative session.
Motion on Amendment - Mr. Austin motioned to amend the procedure to include the language
“any legislative body” and “notice should be given to the Committee Chair and Chancellor”.
Mr. Davila seconded the motion. The motion passed with a vote of 6-0.
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Regular Meeting – March 26, 2007 – Page 5
Motion to Approve – Austin moved that the Board adopt the interim procedure for Trustees
testifying before any legislative body. Mr. Davila seconded the motion. The motion passed 6-0.
APPROVE RECOMMENDATION TO PURSUE FEDERAL SPECIAL ITEMS
FUNDING FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2007-2008
Motion - Mr. Davila motioned to approve and Mr. Austin seconded.
Mr. Davila recommended that the projects are specified and requested funding for the Milby
Bus Barn (Drennan Property) project is also included as one of the special item funding projects
since the College is building a campus in the East-End areas which is also an empowerment
zone area.
Mr. Austin noted that HUD has two environmental projects for which proposals are due in May.
Mrs. Flores mentioned that emphasis should be placed on seeking Community Development
Block Grant (CDBG) Funds which will bring some of those federal funds to Houston. Mrs.
Guzman stated that Houston has the Enhanced Enterprise Community designation which is
second to the Empowerment Zone and noted that grant funds are available especially HUD,
Brownsville, and Economic Development. Mr. Austin apprised that 65 percent of the inter-city
is predominantly minority and stated that a compendium of funding possibilities from the point
of the System functioning and supporting the colleges and activities of the entire District should
be completed.
Mr. Oliver commended the Legislative Committee for their diligence on the two items
presented for approval. He also noted that the process of discussing the items in Committee and
then presenting for the entire Board to consider should be followed for other committees as
well.
Amended motion - Mrs. Flores motioned to amend the item to include seeking funds for the
support and development of the Drennan Street Project and other funding possibilities to
support the College as a whole with a focus Community Development Block Grant (CDBG),
Empowerment Zones, Small Business Administration (SBA), Housing and Urban Development
(HUD). Mr. Davila seconded the motion. The motion carried with a vote of 6-0.
Motion – Mr. Oliver moved and Davila seconded approval of the recommendation to pursue
Federal Special Items Funding for the fiscal year 2007-2008 as an amendment. The motion
passed with a vote of 6-0.
Mr. Davila requested that the Board is provided with an update on the projects from State and
Federal Advisors.
ADJOURNED TO CLOSED SESSION
Mr. Oliver adjourned the meeting to Executive Session at 5:04 p.m., notice having previously
been given and reiterated in accordance with Sections 551.071, 551.072, and/or 551.074 of the
Open Meetings Law. Mr. Oliver stated that any final action, vote or decision on any item
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Regular Meeting – March 26, 2007 – Page 6
discussed in Executive Session would be taken up in Open Session or in a subsequent Public
Meeting.
Mr. Oliver reconvened the meeting in Open Session at 6:39 p.m. and entertained motions on
pending matters.
(Present: Trustees Austin, Davila, Flores, Guzman, Oliver, and Worsham)
ADJOURNMENT
With no further business coming before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 6:39 p.m.
DINNER
Following adjournment, the Board of Trustees met for dinner in the Chancellor’s Conference
Room on the 12th floor, where they may discuss System business but will not take action on
such business.
Minutes recorded, transcribed & submitted by:
Sharon Wright, Executive Administrative Assistant, Board Services
Minutes Approved as Submitted:
April 26, 2007