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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 20011011APPROVED 1/16/2002 MINUTES Joint Meeting of the Durham Technical Community College And Orange County Commissioners October 11, 2441 Skills Development Center, Chapel Hill North Carolina The Orange County Board of Commissioners met by invitation with Durham Technical Community College representatives at 6:44 p.m. at the Skills Development Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Stephen H. Halkiotis and Commissioners Margaret W. Brown, Moses Carey, Jr., Alice M. Gordon and Barry Jacobs COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager John M. Link, Jr., Assistant County Manager Rod Visser, Finance Director Ken Chavious, Budget Director Donna Dean and Director of Purchasing and Central Services Pam Jones. COMMUNITY COLLEGE REPRESENTATIVES: President Phail Wynn, Vice-President Barbara Baker, Trustees Jesse Anglin, Ann Barnes and Mary Ann Peter NOTE: ALL DOCUMENTS REFERRED TO IN THESE MINUTES ARE IN THE PERMANENT AGENDA FILE IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE. Chair Halkiotis called the dinner meeting to order and requested that those present take a moment of silence in honor of Jim Gibson, one of Orange County's most active volunteers, who died on Thursday, October 11, 2441. Hobgoods, Hillsborough North Carolina, served dinner. It was noted that Sam Hobgood was a Community College graduate. Overview by Dr. Phail Wynn Dr. Wynn spoke briefly about the following topics: • The historically good and cooperative relationship that Orange County. • Noted that Orange and Durham County residents held evidenced by their high rate of approval of the bonds f Durham Tech has had with schools in Community College in high regard as ~r Community Colleges passed in 1997 (83°l0}. Noted that 22% of the students in credit courses at Durham Tech are Orange County residents. Dr. Wynn distributed a booklet entitled "Community College Laws of North Carolina" to County Commissioners. His comments for the next several minutes referred to various sections of the book in an effort to clarify the following: Board of Trustee membership. Dr. Wynn indicated that pursuant to G.S. 115D-12 {a} -Group Two, two {2} members may be elected to the Board of Trustees from those counties in which a satellite facility is located. This would raise the current Board of Trustee membership from 12 to 14. Commissioner Halkiotis noted that only one of the two Trustees from Orange County could be a Commissioner. Property Ownership. Pursuant to GS 115D-14, Dr. Wynn painted out the relationship between the County and the Community College system as it relates to the ownership of property. This section indicates that the Boards of Trustees for Community Colleges will hold title to all real and personal property that is purchased with funds provided by the tax-levying authorities of the respective institutions. The title to equipment furnished by the State shall remain the property of the Community College system, however, should the satellite facility cease to operate, the real and/ar personal property purchased with Orange County funds would revert back to County ownership. * State's financial support responsibilities. Dr. Wynn referred the group to GS 115D-31, which outlines the State's responsibility for financial support of the community college. He indicated that there was hope for additional operational funding in support of satellite or off-campus centers, however, the State's budget maladies were likely to preclude such action this year. • Orange Caunty's financial support responsibilities. Dr. Wynn briefly discussed the local financial support responsibilities for a satellite campus. He indicated that there could be limited opportunities to share staff between the Durham and Orange campuses, citing pro-rating costs far salaries, benefits etc. of building maintenance personnel as an example. A full iteration of local responsibilities is depicted in G.S. 115D-32. • Site selection. Durham Tech Trustees believe that this is County Commissioner responsibility and will look to them to develop a process whereby the selection is made. Dr. Wynn referred to sites of no less than 20 acres and accessible to major highways as favorable. Each of the Trustees indicated a willingness to work with the Orange County Commissioners to develop the satellite campus. Jesse Anglin indicated that the Trustees were there in a supportive role not one to dictate what is presented at the facility. Dr. Phail Wynn commented that the Community College has much autonomy in its offerings contingent upon community demands. He indicated that a needs assessment would be conducted to determine what programming should be offered at the satellite campus. Further, he indicated that he envisioned the possibility that the Orange and Durham campuses could work together jointly in offering degree programs, thereby allowing Orange County students to stay in the county for much of their program. He offered as examples the Law Enforcement and Fire Protection programs, where Orange County students could receive basic courses the first year in Orange County and then make the short commute to the Northern Durham Center where the specialty classes are held to finish their degree. Capital Expenditure Requirements With the overview by Durham Tech concluded, the discussion migrated toward the capital expenditures, specifically the $4 million in State bond money that is available for new construction of the Orange Campus. The County would be expected to match with $4 million in capital funding ar in-kind contributions. Commissioner Carey asked for clarification of the time frame in which band funds must be spent and the process for claiming them. Dr. Wynn said that bonds are sold over asix-year period with 65% sold during the last three years. He told them that a resolution announcing the Commissioners intent to match the State funds far construction of a satellite campus must be forwarded to the State. The State would then issue a number far the project, which allows funds to be drawn against the project account on a reimbursement basis. Commissioners questioned the basis of matching the State funds. Dr. Wynn indicated that in addition to construction costs and equipment that is the local responsibility, the value of land could be used against the match. The question regarding the use of the Skills Development Center as a partial match was raised since its primary function is for Durham Tech classes. Although the new campus cost will likely exceed the $4 million match required of the County, the Skills Center could potentially be held as an over-match and applied against future match requirements as they may arise. Dr. Wynn will check to determine the possibility of the Skills Center being considered for match purposes. Chair Halkiotis remarked that a satellite campus could be compared to having a third school district in the County. Operating expenses will became part of the budget. Further, he stated that regardless of how the match was determined, the County should support the effort and produce a quality facility far the community college function. He encouraged the group to have a broad vision of the project. Dr. Wynn indicated that while he does not advocate the approach, the fact is that some communities have gone to their legislators to have the match appropriated for them. Former House Representative and now Trustee Ann Barnes indicated that while that was true, it was primarily for some of the poorer Counties where the match would have been impossible without the intervention of the legislators. She gave dim hope of Orange County's chances to receive funds in that manner. Dr. Wynn clarified that the County's full match obligations must be fulfilled by the end of the project, which must fall prior to November 2006. In answer to a question by Commissioner Gordon, Dr. Wynn indicated that the County would only be required to match funds in the instance of State bond funds. There is no match requirement for special appropriations by the State. He further noted, however, that Durham Tech would make annual capital requests to the Board of Commissioners, which is an issue separate from the match. Barbara Baker noted that State participation in capital funds for construction was begun in 1993. Prior to that time the responsibility lay entirely with the taxing authority. Environmental Issues Both Commissioners Brown and Jacobs strongly encouraged the use of environmentally sensitive and energy efficient construction methods when constructing the satellite campus. Durham Tech representatives indicated that it was entirely within the discretion of the taxing authority to make this type of decision. High School Students at Durham Tech Commissioner Carey asked about the status of legislation regarding high school students enrolled in Durham Tech classes. Dr. Wynn indicated that the Board of Trustees would consider procedures during their meeting on October 23, 2001. Barbara Baker pointed out that same high school students are already part of Durham Tech classes and noted relevant updated numbers provided in the handout distributed at the meeting. She indicated that it is preferable to have some age restrictions concerning how young the students can be, since most of the Durham Tech students are mature adults. Durham Tech's Involvement at Northern Human Services Center Commissioner Brawn Hated that Durham Tech is contributing to the program at the Northern Human Services Center through the implementation of computer classes this fall. Class offerings will be expanded at the site to meet other needs, among them ESL (English as a Second Language}. Barbara Baker noted that approximately 3100 hours of ESL were offered in Chapel Hill last year and believes the Northern Human Services Center offerings should be well received. Next Steps The Board requested that the County Manager and the President draft a process for review by the County Commissioners and the Board of Trustees to: ^ Develop a process and criteria for siting the facility; ^ Establish a suggested timetable by which the project should move forward, including the timing for funding; ^ C7utline a process by which to conduct the feasibility study/needs assessment for the facility. The Board requested that this information be developed in a fairly short time frame. Commissioner Jacobs requested that the process also outline how far the plan may proceed without the selection of a specific site. The Commissioners also reviewed their previous discussions on April 25 concerning Durham Tech. The approved minutes of the April 25, 2001 meeting show that the Board "endorsed in principle the siting and future development of the grange County Satellite Campus of Durham Technical Community College." The Board discussed the merits of having a public hearing on establishing a satellite campus before the Board proceeds with a formal resolution of intent which would commit the Board to spending money far the campus. Commissioner Gordon noted that the Board customarily holds hearings on important matters. Commissioner Jacobs agreed that we should hold a hearing and noted that it would be a good opportunity to educate the public. The Board decided to hold a public hearing before adopting the formal resolution of Intent to Proceed with the satellite campus. This resolution is required by the State to begin the process. The staff will incorporate a hearing into the suggested timetable referenced above. ADJOURNMENT Following closing comments by members of the Board and the Board of Trustees, the meeting was adjourned at approximately 8:30 p.m. Stephen H. Halkiatis, Chair Beverly A. Blythe, CMC