Board Notice for 01/21/99
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HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM
REGULAR MEETING OF
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
MAY 27, 1999
Minutes
The Board of Trustees of the Houston Community College System held a Regular
Meeting on May 27, 1999 at the HCCS Administrative Center, Boardroom, 22 Waugh
Drive, Houston, Texas.
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT
Christopher W. Oliver, Chairman
Abel Davila, Vice Chairman
James R. Murphy, Secretary
Bruce A. Austin (arrived at 4:40 p.m.)
John Fonteno (arrived 4:49 pm)
M. James Henderson (arrived at 4:38 pm)
Carol Smith
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT
Herlinda Garcia
W. F. Russell
ADMINISTRATION
Ruth Burgos-Sasscer, Chancellor
Sue Cox, President, HCC-Southwest
Jack E. Daniels, President, HCC-Central
Margaret Forde, President, HCC-Northeast
Zachary Hodges, President, HCC-Northwest
R. Mark Tiller, Interim Vice Chancellor, Educational Development
Patricia Williamson, Vice Chancellor, Institutional Development
OTHERS PRESENT
Arturo Michel, Bracewell and Patterson
Other administrators, staff, representatives of the news media and interested citizens
CALL TO ORDER
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Mr. Oliver called the Meeting to order at 4:43 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. Oliver called upon Ms. Smith to offer the prayer and lead the audience in the Pledge
of Allegiance.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
There were no announcements.
MINUTES APPROVED
Motion No. 915 - Mr. Murphy moved to approve the Minutes from the Regular Meeting of
April
22, 1999 and the Special Facilities Plan Workshop Meeting of April 10, 1999. Mrs. Smith
seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0 (Mr. Austin and Mr. Fonteno had not yet
arrived).
AWARDS AND PRESENTATIONS
●
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Faculty Recognition Award - Mrs. Caprice Dodson, Department Chair for Health,
Physical Education and Physical Fitness, Central College received the Chancellor's
Medallion for excellence in teaching. Dr. Burgos highlighted Mrs. Dodson's
extensive experience as an instructor at HCCS in Personal Health, First Aid and
CPR training, also noting her work at the Law Enforcement Training Center
developing a fitness program for the cadets. The Chancellor noted that Mrs.
Dodson has contributed to the development of employees and students by
conducting an annual Health Fair each fall for Central College. Mrs. Dodson who
possesses Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Physical Education & Recreation, has
diligently continued her professional training, gaining numerous certifications in
such areas as Advanced American Red Cross Water Safety, American Red Cross
First Aid & CPR Instruction, and American Red Cross HIV Aids Instruction. She also
received Outstanding Teacher Award from HCC in 1995.
Resolution - The Board of Trustees honored Mrs. Elizabeth Spates in recognition of
her years of service on the HCCS board and for her lifelong devotion to the
community, seen in her many civic-minded activities. Mrs. Spates, a graduate of
the School of Occupational Therapy at HCCS, was the first certified occupational
therapist at the City of Houston and the first HCCS graduate to serve on the HCCS
Board of Trustees. Particularly concerned with enhancing educational opportunity
for all of Houston's citizens, Mrs. Spates also worked conscientiously to assure
governmental fiscal responsibility. In recognition of her service, the Board
presented to the Spates family a resolution honoring her and has created the
Elizabeth Spates Memorial Scholarship.
HEARING OF CITIZENS
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(No appearances)
APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA
Motion No. 916- Mr. Murphy moved approval of the consent agenda, with the exception
of items
A7, A8, C23, C24, C26 to be pulled for further discussion and B12 & B1 7 to be
discussed after
Closed Session. Ms. Smith seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-0. (Mr. Henderson
was
out of the room.) The following items were then approved:
I. Instructional Programs
●
Approved Health Careers Clinical Affiliation Agreements;
●
Approved 1998-99 State Agreements concerning Adult Literacy Program;
●
Approved 1998-99 NLA Agreements concerning Adult Literacy Program;
●
Approved Associate in Applied Science Degree in Juvenile Justice;
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Approved Associate in Applied Science Degree in Corrections;
●
Approved Associate in Applied Science Degree in Biotechnology;
●
Approved Revision of the Current Continuing Education Fee Structure;
II. Purchasing of Materials and Services
●
Approved payment to Bracewell and Patterson for Professional Services;
●
Approved payment to Feldman & Rogers, L.L.P. for Professional Services;
●
Approved purchase of GED Testing Books and Materials;
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Approved purchase of Lathe Machine & Accessories;
●
Approved purchase of Electronic Classroom Control Systems;
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Approved construction of Child Care Center, 3412 Crawford;
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Approved Classroom and Office Furniture Standards Program;
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Approved Diagnostic lmaging Equipment and Accessories for the Coleman Building;
●
Approved Appointment of System Architect;
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III. Lease or Construction
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Approved Renewal of Lease Agreement with Park Greenbriar, Ltd.;
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Approved Buildout of Northline Expansion Space;
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Approved Buildout of Town & Country Square Annex;
IV. Fiscal Matters
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Approved Investment Report for the Month of April, 1999
APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS
NO. A7 & A8
Motion No. 917 - Mr. Murphy moved approval of consent agenda items No. 7 & 8. Ms.
Smith
seconded the motion. After discussion, the motion carried 5-1. (Mr. Henderson was out
of the
room.)
Mr. Murphy questioned if surveys had been done focusing on comparable institutions to
determine what other students pay for similar courses and what salary ranges exist for
adjunct
faculty. In response, Mr. Tony Beckman, chair of the Computer Science department,
observed
that SMU, for instance, charges very high tuition to its students for these courses.
Similarly, rates
paid to its instructors are much higher than those put forward in the HCCS proposal.
These
proposed rates, he continued, would bring us close to North Harris Montgomery
Community
College. Mr. Beckman also noted that our student fees are much lower than those levied
by
private schools for such courses. Mr. Austin emphasized the need for these courses
because
HCCS must be competitive in anticipating the market demands for these highly technical
professions. Given this need, he wondered if this could be considered a model for future
programs. Dr. Cox, president of Southwest College, agreed that it could.
CONSENT AGENDA ITEM
NO. B23
Motion No. 918 - Mr. Murphy moved approval of consent agenda item No. 23. Mr. Davila
seconded the motion. After discussion, the motion carried 5-1-1. (Mr. Henderson was
out of the
room).
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Mr. Davila inquired as to the reason for the proposed purchase of 3100 Main. He said
that with
the urgent need to improve HCCS facilities to serve students, neither he nor constituents
could understand the administration's plan to build a lavish administrative facility. In
response.
Dr. Burgos stated that HCCS was already providing excellent facilities for its students
and was in
the process of improving these, with a number of new buildings coming on line this fall.
She also
observed that 3100 Main would make possible the consolidation of a number of
administrative
buildings now in use and would be cost-effective.
CONSENT AGENDA ITEM
NO. B24
Although Board members discussed this item and concluded with a vote of 5-1-1 in
favor of the
item, there was no Motion or Second preliminary to the discussion and vote.
NEW OR UNFINISHED BUSINESS
●
Mr. Davila raised issue of the Board's evaluation of the Chancellor. Mr. Oliver
noted that a review should have already been completed and this topic will be
discussed in Closed Session.
CHANCELLOR'S REPORT
●
●
Inmate Jail Program-Horticulture Class - Dr. Burgos acknowledged the floral
arrangements
on the board table, provided by students in the Horticulture Class in the Inmate
Jail Program,
a part of the Northwest College.
Financial Activity - Ms. Celia Gee, Executive Director of Business Affairs, presented
the
financial activity report for the period ending April 30,1999 stating that her report
would be
brief due to the prior presentation made by Mr. Fenninger, CFO, at the Joint
Finance &
Facilities Committee Meeting, on Thursday, May 20, 1999. She reported on the
addition of
two sections to the report which provide up-to-date summaries including all the
budget
amounts and forecasts by college as well as the actuals. She reported that HCCS
operations
for last eight months, ending in April, reflect a revenue surplus of $3,800,000,
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compared to
last year's revenue surplus of $17,000,000. This variance, she observed, was
attributable to
various projects we have underway this year, as well as the additional bond issue
last year.
Also, in the fund balance designation we have a cumulative undesignated fund
balance of
almost $10 million. Mrs. Gee noted that a status report of bond projects (facilities
construction
and purchase of instructional equipment) was also presented in the material
distributed to the
board.
Mr. Murphy pointed out that considering the completion dates on some projects, it
appears
that a lag in payments has occurred. Ms. Gee responded, saying that the slow
pace of
invoicing was causing this delay.
●
●
Graduation - Dr. Burgos commented that we had two highly successful graduation
ceremonies this year. She applauded Mr. Austin for the outstanding message he
delivered to
the GED graduates, observing that a large number of people had told her how
impressed
they had been by the address. Also, she continued, Councilman Roach was
inspirational in
his address to graduates in the afternoon ceremony. The Chancellor thanked
everyone who
contributed in any way to the graduation exercises.
EPA Award - Dr. Burgos lauded Southeast College for the national recognition it
garnered in receiving a $200,000.00 award from the Environmental Protection
Agency for developing a
program that will help students work on environmental issues. Southeast College
competing
nationally, received the top award, which is part of the Enterprise Activities of the
Empowerment Zone Initiative. The college's accomplishment was acknowledged in
a
meeting Dr. Burgos attended in Edinburgh where the President and Vice-President
of the
United States were in attendance.
CHAIRMAN'S REPORT
(No report)
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AD HOC COMMITTEE REPORTS
●
●
●
●
●
Bond Initiative Committee - Mr. Henderson reported that the committee has not
met.
Capital Improvements Committee - Mr. Davila stated that at the CIP meeting, Mr.
Fonteno made some excellent recommendations. He also noted that a
recommendation came out of the Special Board Meeting, Tuesday, May 25, for the
approval of the HCCS System Architect--Hermes-Reed. Mr. Davila thanked the
COO's and Board members for their participation and diligence on this committee.
Facilities Committee - Mr. Murphy commented on the significance of the Board's
adoption of
a prioritized plan of ten projects, with whose completion HCCS will gain an
increased
capacity to serve 8,000 new students over the next few years. This new Facilities
Plan,
which identifies existing deficiencies as well as the need for new structures, will
make
possible more efficient utilization of space and will give to HCCS the collegiate
facilities
necessary for it to accomplish more fully its mission as an educational institution.
Mr.
Murphy commended fellow Board members for their contributions over past year
to this
effort.
Finance Committee - Mr. Oliver noted that Mr. Russell, the chair, was not present.
Legal Committee - Mr. Austin stated that a report would be forthcoming next
month.
ADJOURNMENT TO CLOSED OR EXECUTIVE SESSION
Mr. Oliver adjourned the meeting to Executive Session at 5:50 p.m., notice having been
previously given, and reiterated by him in accordance with the Open Meetings Law. He
stated
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. Mr. Oliver reconvened the meeting in
Open
Session at 7:08 p.m., and entertained motions on matters pending.
PERSONNEL AGENDA APPROVED
Motion No. 919- Mr. Henderson moved to approve the personnel agenda. Mr. Austin
seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0.
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APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEM B1 2
Motion No. 920 - Mr. Murphy moved approval of payment to the Soliz Law Firm, P.L.L.C.
for
Professional Services subject to counsel's review. Mr. Fonteno seconded the motion.
Motion carried 7-0.
APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEM D26
Motion No. 921- Mr. Austin moved approval of Authorizing Preliminary Steps for
Revenue Bond
Issuance for Construction and/or Refurbishment of Facilities at the 288 Campus and the
3100
Main Site. Mr. Henderson seconded. Mr. Davila stated his objections against D26. Motion
carried 6-1.
APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEM B17
Motion No. 922 - Mr. Henderson moved approval of payment to Moseley Associates, Inc.,
Architects. Mr. Murphy seconded. Motion carried 7-0.
ESTABLISHMENT OF NEXT REGULAR MEETING
The next Regular Board Meeting will be held on Thursday, June 24, 1999, at 4:00 p.m.
It will be
held at the Administrative Center Boardroom, at 22 Waugh Drive, Houston, Texas.
ADJOURNMENT
With no further business to come before the Board, the Meeting was adjourned by Mr.
Oliver at 7:11 p.m.
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