REGULAR MEETING
OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE
February 25, 2010
Minutes
The Board of Trustees of Houston Community College held a Regular Meeting on
Thursday, February 25, 2010 the HCC Administration Building, Second Floor
Auditorium, 3100 Main, Houston, Texas.
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT
Dr. Michael P. Williams, Chair
Neeta Sane, Vice Chair
Sandie Meyers, Secretary
Bruce A. Austin
Yolanda Navarro Flores
Eva Loredo
Christopher W. Oliver
Mary Ann Perez
Richard Schechter
ADMINISTRATION
Mary Spangler, Chancellor
Art Tyler, Deputy Chancellor/COO
Renee Byas, General Counsel
Doretha Eason, Executive Assistant to the Chancellor
Feryl Prestage for William Carter, Vice Chancellor, Information Technology
Charles Cook, Vice Chancellor, Instruction
Diana Pino, Vice Chancellor, Student Services
Daniel Seymour, Vice Chancellor, Planning and Institutional Effectiveness
Margaret Ford Fisher, President, Northeast College
Fena Garza, President, Southwest College
William Harmon, President, Central College
Zachary Hodges, President, Northwest College
Irene Porcarello, President, Southeast College
Betty Young, President, Coleman College
Willie Williams, Chief Human Resources Officer
OTHERS PRESENT
Jarvis Hollingsworth, System Counsel, Bracewell & Giuliani
Bennie Ables, President, Faculty Senate
Other administrators, citizens and representatives from the news media
Houston Community College
Regular Meeting – February 25, 2010 – Page 2
CALL TO ORDER
Dr. Williams, Chair, called the meeting to order at 4:13 p.m. and declared the Board
convened to consider matters pertaining to Houston Community College as listed on the
duly posted Meeting Notice.
PRAYER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mrs. Meyers led the prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Approval of Minutes from Special Meeting of January 7, 2010, Committee of the Whole
of January 21, 2010, Special Meeting of January 21, 2010, Special Meeting of January
22, 2010, Special Meeting of January 23, 2010, and Regular Meeting of January 28,
2010.
Motion – Mrs. Sane moved and Mrs. Meyers seconded. The motion passed with a vote
of 7-0.
HEARING OF CITIZENS
The following citizens requested to speak before the Board:
•
David Lopez (Closed Session)
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
Dr. Williams informed that the Department of Justice has given preclearance approval
for the annexation of Alief. Dr. Williams apprised that the official letter will be forwarded
to the Board.
CHANCELLOR’S REPORT
Dr. Spangler provided the following information and recognitions:
(Mrs. Flores arrived at 4:21 p.m.)
•
Black History Gala - The Black History Gala will be held on February 26, 2010 at
6:00 p.m. at the Hilton Americas Hotel with Film Director and Producer Spike Lee
as the keynote speaker.
•
Challenge Early High School – US News and World Report ranks Challenge
Early High School (ECHS) as one of America’s best high schools in 2010. ECHS
is ranked in the silver category, which means that students perform better than
the state average for the least advantaged students.
•
Legislative Appropriations – The National Legislative Summit has been
rescheduled. HCC will submit Federal Appropriations request for 2011 which
include the Minority Emergency Medical Technician, Design Engineering,
Accelerated Nursing and Minority Male Initiative programs.
Houston Community College
Regular Meeting – February 25, 2010 – Page 3
•
HCC Foundation – CASE, which is one of the world’s largest non-profit education
organizations dedicated to the advancement of professionals, recognized the
HCC Foundation as a leader in community college foundations in the most recent
issue of Currents.
•
American Leadership Forum and Houston A+ Challenge – On March 26,
Central College will host the American Leadership Forum and Houston A+
Challenge all day forum to present Preparing Kids for the Future, Global Trends,
Local Action and The 6th Biennial Convocation on Public Education.
•
Notable Visitors to HCC – A delegation from China visited to review our
operational and administrative organization. Michael Reardon, head of Technical
Association of Further Education of Australia, visited HCC while in America on
Fullbright Scholarship studying American Community Colleges. Michael Crowe,
President of Arizona State University, visited HCC with his team and met with
Trustees, senior administrators, faculty and gave two presentations.
•
Faculty Senate Report – Dr. Ables extended an open invitation to the Board for
the next Phi Beta Kappa event on Friday, March 26, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. in the
Auditorium at West Loop campus. She also noted that faculty is working hard
and classrooms are full; however, she noted that there are concerns.
CONSENT AGENDA
Motion – Mrs. Flores moved and Mr. Austin seconded to approve the consent agenda
with the exception of item(s) B .5, B.6, B.7, and B.8. The motion passed with a vote of
8-0. The following items were approved:
•
Honorary Degrees for 2010
•
Interior Plant Installation and Services (Project #10-04)
•
Coastal and Kipling Jones & Co. added to the List of Qualified Brokers,
Investment Advisors and Banks
•
Investment Report for the month of December 2009
•
Monthly Finance Report for January 2010
JOB ORDERING CONTRACT (JOC) FOR FACILITIES MODIFICATIONS OR REPAIR
(PROJECT #10-06)
Motion – Mrs. Flores moved and Mr. Austin seconded.
Mr. Austin requested to discuss in closed session.
Mrs. Flores withdrew the motion and Mr. Austin withdrew the second.
Houston Community College
Regular Meeting – February 25, 2010 – Page 4
MONTHLY FINANCE REPORT FOR JANUARY 2010
Motion – Mr. Schechter moved and Mrs. Sane seconded.
Mrs. Sane referenced page IV and requested the breakdown of the fund balance
regarding the reserve as it relates to the Alief project. Dr. Tyler noted that a resolution
was approved by the Board to reimburse the fund balance from cash. He noted that a
workshop is being scheduled to discuss funding options for the reimbursement.
Mr. Austin noted that he has requested for several years the development of a
symmetric model to include forecasting in hiring teachers and space utilization. He
asked if a forecast has been conducted regarding the growth of student enrollment. Dr.
Tyler noted that it has been projected that state funding will possibly continue to
decrease.
Mr. Austin noted that possible actions from a policy standpoint may need to be taken
into consideration. Dr. Tyler noted that staff is currently preparing a series of “what ifs”
for the Board to review.
(Mr. Oliver arrived at 4:39 p.m.)
Dr. Tyler noted that state appropriations only affect the instructional and student
services components.
Dr. Williams apprised that a meeting will be held to discuss the budget concerns.
Mr. Austin apprised that Association of Governing Boards (AGB) has material on
financial training on interpreting and understanding financial statements.
Mr. Schechter referenced page 2 regarding state appropriations and asked for
clarification regarding the Governor’s request for a payback. Dr. Tyler noted that it is
uncertain when a decision will be made regarding the rebate.
Mr. Schechter suggested that administration develop a plan to address employee
compensation. He mentioned that consideration should be given to holding the money
in escrow.
Mr. Schechter referenced the ad valorem taxes on page 2 noting that current collections
are over the projections. Dr. Tyler noted that collections are significantly ahead of the
projections. He noted that a better view will be available mid March.
Mr. Oliver noted that a workshop to discuss financial options is needed to discuss
budgeting concerns.
Dr. Williams apprised that the discussion is scheduled to take place at a Committee of
the Whole meeting since Facilities and Finance fall under the Committee of the Whole.
Houston Community College
Regular Meeting – February 25, 2010 – Page 5
Mr. Austin recommended that an economist is included in the financial discussion as it
relates to possible forecast models to give a better picture of the economy.
Mr. Schechter noted that state appropriations are down and asked Dr. Tyler to
elaborate. Dr. Tyler noted that some stimulus funds were supplanted in funding.
Mr. Schechter inquired if the increased tuition and fees revenue and increased taxes
have been factored into the reserve calculation. Dr. Tyler answered that it is factored in
as of January 31.
Mr. Austin recommended establishing a think-tank committee for the college.
Mr. Schechter asked about the unexpended cash funds and cash position as it relates
to deferred maintenance debt. Dr. Tyler apprised that the master planner has
completed the first part of the assessment; the recommendation is to split the corrective
action into four years at about $26 - $27million per year.
Mrs. Flores asked for the final enrollment growth for 2009 and its effect on revenue. Dr.
Tyler noted that it was 10.9 percent. Dr. Tyler noted that the net revenue increase was
approximately $7 million. He noted that tuition and fees was approximately $11 million.
Vote – The motion passed with a vote of 9-0.
ADJOURNED TO CLOSED SESSION
Dr. Williams adjourned the meeting to Executive Session at 5:13 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. Dr. Williams stated that any final action, vote
or decision on any item discussed in Executive Session would be taken up in Open
Session or in a subsequent Public Meeting.
Dr. Williams reconvened the meeting in Open Session at 6:45 p.m. and entertained
motions on pending matters.
(Present: Trustees Austin, Meyers, Oliver, Sane, Schechter, and Dr. Williams)
PURCHASE OF REAL PROPERTY NEAR THE COLEMAN CAMPUS
Motion - Mr. Schechter moved to approve the purchase of real property near the
Coleman Campus and Mr. Oliver seconded. Motion passed with vote of 5-1 with Mrs.
Meyers opposing.
PURCHASE OF REAL PROPERTY NEAR THE SOUTHEAST CAMPUS
Motion – Mrs. Sane moved to approve the purchase of real property near the Southeast
Campus and Mr. Oliver seconded. Motion passed with vote of 5-1 with Mrs. Meyers
opposing.
Houston Community College
Regular Meeting – February 25, 2010 – Page 6
JOB ORDERING CONTRACT (JOC) FOR FACILITIES MODIFICATIONS OR REPAIR
(PROJECT #10-06)
Mr. Oliver apprised that he would recuse from taking action on the item.
(Mr. Oliver stepped out at 6:42 p.m.)
Motion – Mrs. Sane moved to approve and Mrs. Meyers seconded.
(Trustees Perez, Flores, and Loredo returned to the meeting at 6:43 p.m.)
Dr. Williams recessed the meeting recessed at 6:43 p.m.
Dr. Williams reconvened the meeting at 6:44 p.m.
Proposed amendment – Mr. Schechter proposed to amend the amount for the JOC
contracts to return the amount to $500,000. Mrs. Flores seconded.
Vote on amendment – The motion on the amendment passed with a vote of 8-0.
Mr. Schechter noted that the motion was different than the recommendation and noted
that rather than picking among the vendors under consideration, he urged the Board to
reconsider and possibly select the best vendor with the lowest price.
Mrs. Flores recommended that administration establish a standard coefficient for all the
Job Order Contracts.
Mrs. Meyers apprised that she based her decision on the fact that Kellogg Brown &
Root Services, Inc. was not located in Houston. Mr. Schechter noted that information
was pulled to clarify that the company is actually located in Houston.
Dr. Williams noted that Mr. Schechter does not want to give the impression that the
Board is legally bound by the rankings; the law allows the Board to make decisions
based on a wide spectrum of concerns.
Vote on Original motion – The motion passed with vote of 6-2 with Trustees Austin and
Schechter opposing.
ADJOURNMENT
With no further business coming before the Board, the meeting adjourned at 6:54 p.m.
Minutes recorded, transcribed & submitted by:
Sharon Wright, Executive Administrative Assistant, Board Services
Minutes Approved as Submitted: