1 2 3 4 SUFFOLK COMMUNITY COLLEGE 5 6 BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING 7 8 Eastern Campus Peconic Building 9 Riverhead, New York 11901 10 May 15, 2008 9:15 a.m. 11 12 13 BOARD MEMBERS: 14 SHIRLEY PIPPINS, Ph.D., SCC President WILLIAM D. MOORE, Chairman 15 JERRY KANE 16 ERNESTO MATTACE, JR. BELINDA ALVAREZ-GRONEMAN 17 WALTER C. HAZLITT DAVID OCHOA 18 AVETTE D. WARE 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 2 1 2 THE CHAIRMAN: I'd like to call our meeting 3 to order. This is the May 15th meeting. I've finally 4 arrived. Dave, would you lead us in the pledge? 5 (Recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance) 6 THE CHAIRMAN: I do apologize. Nice to see 7 everybody. Welcome. Guests and friends, nice to have 8 you with us. Right ahead to a special recognition. 9 DR. PIPPINS: We have a special recognition 10 this morning. Dr. Kaneth will share the specifics, 11 please. 12 DR. KANETH: I'm very proud this morning to 13 be able to tell the Board of Directors and the community 14 that we have -- one of our members has received a very 15 distinguished award from the State University of New 16 York. Two years ago, the community colleges were asked 17 to participate in a distinguished service award that is 18 given by the state university. Up until that point, 19 this award was only part of the four year colleges and 20 universities in the SUNY system, so it was opened up to 21 community colleges. 22 Unfortunately, the first year that it was 23 opened up we did not have enough time to get a 24 nomination in. However, this year, we did put in a 25 nomination. It is a very rigorous process. We had one 3 1 2 person nominated -- two persons nominated, one person 3 recommended. But when it gets to the state university, 4 it is an equally rigorous process, goes through an 5 Academic Affairs Committee, ultimately approved by the 6 Chancellor and Board of Trustees. 7 The Board of Trustees yesterday made its 8 choice. It is my pleasure to say to you, Professor 9 Arthur Lundahl, professor of counseling at the Grant 10 Campus, has been awarded the distinguished professorship 11 for community service. He has graciously, over the last 12 ten years, served in the SUNY council, attends meetings 13 in Albany and very visible for Suffolk Community 14 College, and has been a very visible force for change in 15 policy that affect community colleges. He has really 16 done a yoeman's job. 17 He also does all our coordination and training 18 for our OS-15 freshman seminar. He is truly someone who 19 gives above and beyond what he is required to do, and I 20 am very happy that he has been recognized. Thank you. 21 (Applause) 22 DR. PIPPINS: You shall go down in history as 23 our first. 24 MR. LUNDAHL: Only the first. I trust many 25 many will follow. 4 1 2 THE CHAIRMAN: That is wonderful. 3 Congratulations on a personal recognition for yourself, 4 and obviously it reflects so favorably on the college 5 and we thank you for that. 6 Let us turn to Item D, approval of the minutes 7 from the April 17th meeting. 8 MR. MATTACE: So move. 9 MR. HAZLITT: Second. 10 THE CHAIRMAN: All in favor. Aye. At this 11 time we have a presentation from Vice Present Araneo, 12 MS. ARANEO: Mary Lou Araneo, Vice President 13 for Institutional Advancement. At the last meeting of 14 the Board of Trustees, I was asked to provide the Board 15 with a copy of what currently is on in the bylaws for 16 the foundation as regarding naming rights. That was 17 forwarded to you in your packet. The discussion, I 18 guess, can begin with the thought that conceptually and 19 philosophically we had discussed the concept of naming 20 rights and the fact that it's a philanthropic venture 21 that inures to the benefit of the foundation and to the 22 college. 23 Within the policy, for additional structure, 24 we had taken the stand that we would include the 25 guidelines that are put forth through SUNY. You will 5 1 2 see that they are also included in the copy that was 3 sent to you. I'm here if you have any other questions. 4 The question was to see what was currently in existence, 5 and that is what was sent ahead of time. 6 THE CHAIRMAN: Does the Board have any 7 questions with the foundation's policy? 8 MR. KANE: If I may, please. We have 9 operated for fifty years in this college naming rights 10 the way we have always operated. We have had campuses 11 named, we had different things named and we operated out 12 of the trustees. We have had that power. Now, if you 13 will answer a question for me, was this fifty years 14 suddenly interrupted to thwart an attempt on the part of 15 one of the trustees to name a college? 16 THE CHAIRMAN: I'll answer that question and 17 say no. 18 MR. KANE: Please, Bill. 19 MS. ARANEO: If you recall, this goes back to 20 when I initially arrived at the college, which was 2004. 21 There was an ongoing discussion about the naming of the 22 fieldhouse or the Health and Education Building at the 23 Grant Campus. At the time there were county resolutions 24 that impacted our ability to address the philosophical 25 conversation about naming rights; that is, that they are 6 1 2 philanthropy, they are meant to generate funds as a 3 college. We have a limited number of buildings and 4 opportunities for naming, so they should be treated 5 gentlemanly when they're distributed with names. 6 We went through several correspondences to 7 talk about the fact that it's really not something that 8 is entered into through an RFP process. That there was 9 a letter, which I did take from the files that says, you 10 know, it was our hope that the legislature would review 11 our documentation and agree that this was something that 12 could be done through the foundation for the benefit of 13 the college at that point in time. 14 In looking back with what we had in our 15 records from a foundation perspective, we have had this 16 policy. This policy predates me. So I can't really 17 speak to what happened before that. I can only speak to 18 what I know. 19 MR. KANE: I'm going to repeat my question to 20 you, Mary Lou. Is this a coincidence or was this 21 brought about because of a meeting that I had with the 22 executive committee for the naming of this campus? 23 MS. ARANEO: I will answer that and say to 24 it -- 25 DR. PIPPINS: Mary Lou reports to me and I 7 1 2 will answer the question. The answer is no, Jerry. 3 MR. KANE: Madam President, it's going to 4 require me to explain exactly the set of circumstances 5 to find out if everybody else thinks it's coincidental. 6 Two months ago I had lunch with the Executive Committee, 7 Walter and Bill. For an hour and a half we discussed 8 the naming of this campus, which has gone unamed for 9 thirty-two years. We had a nice discussion; we talked 10 about it, ba-boom, ba-boom. 11 Bill said to me, well, I think you should 12 probably get in touch with the president, which I did. 13 Our conversation is confidential. I was going to come 14 before the board and make this proposal and suddenly 15 conincidentally, after fifty years, somebody finds an 16 arcane thing. 17 Number one, Walter did we have a 18 conversation? 19 MR. HAZLITT: Yeah. 20 MR. KANE: Bill, did we have a conversation? 21 THE CHAIRMAN: Sure. 22 MR. KANE: Okay. Is it a coincidence then 23 that this occurred sixty days -- or perhaps there are 24 people who don't like the person that was I was going to 25 propose. 8 1 2 THE CHAIRMAN: May I comment? 3 MR. KANE: Now Bill, suddenly we're going to 4 take the power away from the trustees and give it to the 5 foundation. 6 THE CHAIRMAN: My turn to comment. 7 MR. KANE: Go ahead. 8 THE CHAIRMAN: I asked you that and we had 9 this discussion. I would encourage you not to try and 10 focus it on a personality. That would be a grave 11 mistake. That is just my side comment. Let me finish 12 now. I asked you to speak to the president and you 13 did. You have acknowledged that. 14 What came to my attention was, and I did not 15 know about this, a letter written back in 2004 by 16 Dr. Pippins to then presiding officer Legislator Joe 17 Caracappa talking about what Mary Lou said with regard 18 to how naming rights should be done, and we should take 19 it off an RFP type commercial venture, which is how the 20 county and Board of Trustees looked at specifically that 21 building at the Grant Campus. And the foundation worked 22 up, and you guys can speak to this, a naming rights 23 policy back in 2004 of which this board was not the 24 least bit aware. 25 MS. ARANEO: Actually, Bill, I'm sorry, but 9 1 2 that naming rights policy was before then. Ernie can 3 talk to that. 4 MR. MATTACE: Let him finish. 5 THE CHAIRMAN: A naming rights policy to sit 6 on the foundation level. In all honestly, there were 7 some people on the foundation, I will speak bluntly, had 8 their noses out of joint over many years over the notion 9 that the Board of Trustees was going to toss out names. 10 I only became aware of it when this issue came up. 11 MR. KANE: The issue meaning the person that 12 I proposed? 13 THE CHAIRMAN: The desire to name a campus at 14 that time, a time when we are engaging in a major gifts 15 campaign when there is a lack of communication between 16 the foundation. Dr. Pippins' letter was never copied to 17 the board. When we had our lunch, I had absolutely no 18 awareness of this going on, but I had talked to her and 19 this information then came back. 20 I'm sorry that you're choosing to link it to a 21 particular individual. 22 MR. KANE: Unfortunately, that is fact of 23 life, Bill. I told Mary Lou at the beginning if you 24 just said yes to me I wouldn't even proceed with this; 25 isn't that right? Just say yes or no to the question. 10 1 2 I got the wrong answer. 3 MR. MATTACE: Bill, may I? 4 THE CHAIRMAN: Certainly. 5 MR. MATTACE: Going back many years, I can't 6 go back that many years to the foundation, but I can go 7 back to 1989 at St. John's when we created it. We 8 needed a depository for the money. Being on the board 9 and being its chairman, we were looking at very diverse 10 issues, and one of the issues was getting money for this 11 school for the students that we had give-back 12 scholarships and other areas. 13 One of the many topics we talked about over 14 and over again was getting literally large amounts of 15 money for specific items, including naming rights. This 16 didn't happen yesterday. I'm not sitting here saying 17 that it should be taken away from the trustees, I'm 18 looking at the procedure that had been established based 19 on the foundation and working it across. Forgetting who 20 we're talking about, we're looking at the procedure. 21 That is what I have to defend. 22 MR. KANE: Ernie, the person -- just one 23 more -- the person I'm talking about, this was brought 24 up to me too, and they said well, perhaps the person 25 that you're talking about, the foundation would like to 11 1 2 get some money for naming rights. I said that's very 3 nice. They looked at me like I was crazy. They said, 4 said has this person ever raised any money? The person 5 looked across the table at me and I said this person is 6 responsible for raising seven hundred million dollars 7 for Suffolk County Community College, and that is 8 probably a low figure. Can you top that, Ernie? 9 MR. MATTACE: No, I can't. 10 MR. OCHOA: Mr. Chairman, I would like to 11 address this issue from a different perspective. As I 12 received this document, mailed to my home, policy, it 13 reminded me on previous occasions I have driven on 14 campus and seen names on buildings, NFL building. I 15 thought maybe it was contribution from the National 16 Football League or something. 17 As I researched buildings on this campus and 18 other places, I couldn't find a sense of rhythm of how 19 that occurred, how much money -- I speak as a trustee 20 and a philanthropist -- that person contributed. What 21 did that name do. In some cases, my assumptions were 22 that it was probably a person who was a political 23 person, because for many years, too many years, this 24 campus has had the stench, the odor of political 25 relationships that I had seen to be unhealthy. That we 12 1 2 are changing and making a shift. 3 I think it's for the better good and I think 4 we are enhancing our credibility as an institution. We 5 are becoming poised, I believe, to do good things in 6 terms of fundraising and capital campaigns. I think the 7 leadership of this institution has made that major shift 8 and it's something that I applaud. 9 However, as you know, I do have a major 10 hang-up on matters related to governance. I am 11 concerned about perceptions and the matter of suing the 12 county to go to court to affirm, not because the 13 accrediting body said so, because a law mandates it. 14 Those progressives, we need to defend them and advocate 15 for them, Mr. Chairman. 16 As I read this document, I felt a sense of 17 appalled as I read it and interpreted it. If we want to 18 name a facility on this campus, it appears to me in 19 reading it that it is a responsibility that we have 20 delegated to another body. I'm bothered by that. If 21 that is true, I'm appalled by it. My impression is, 22 Mr. Chairman, it's the policy, as I read it, gives that 23 responsibility in very meaningful ways, and it's 24 outsourced. 25 I believe that that responsibility belongs to 13 1 2 a board of trustees, reflecting the governance, and in 3 my limited experience in higher education, as a former 4 tenured professor, as a colleague in the academic 5 community, as a philanthropist, if that is true, that is 6 the first time that I've seen this significant 7 responsibility delegated and outsourced to someone 8 else. If that is the case, I believe we should examine 9 the policy and I would recommend that that be changed. 10 So my impression, Mr. Chairman if this is that 11 policy, that it does indeed outsource it. 12 THE CHAIRMAN: The policy, as I understand 13 it, correct me if I'm wrong, is the existing policy of 14 the foundation. The foundation is operated under the 15 assumption that it had this right to do this and at 16 times went to the Board of Trustees. I disagree with 17 that. I fully concur with your understanding or opinion 18 that the naming rights and the control of the properties 19 sits at this table. 20 MR. KANE: Absolutely. 21 THE CHAIRMAN: There is no disagreement. 22 That being said, one of two things can happen. Either 23 this board can delegate that and propose the resolution 24 to delegate that, knowing that is the policy by which 25 the foundation would operate. Option two is for this 14 1 2 board to adopt a policy that there is some logic and 3 coherence to and not an add hoc process. If this is a 4 good policy for this board to adopt, it can choose to do 5 so and use the foundation as a resource. 6 Part of the concept is that you have something 7 of value and the foundation provides the 501(c)(3) 8 venue by which the donor gets the benefit they expect to 9 get. We didn't get Delta Airlines or anything 10 responding to give us a corporate name. That was 11 Dr. Pippins' approach. It's a more philanthropic way to 12 do it. Let's do it this way. 13 I agree with you, it rides with us. That is 14 why I thought we needed to have a resolution here and 15 board policy here. Whether we pass it down the pike to 16 the foundation to operate under guidelines that we 17 accept or do it here, I agree. 18 MR. OCHOA: For the moment, Mr. Chairman, if 19 I were to make a motion before this body to rename an 20 existing named building because I felt that there was 21 compelling reasons to do so, under this guideline, I 22 believe that would go to the foundation to do that or 23 would it come here? 24 MS. ARANEO: May I interject? If you look at 25 the policy that currently sits at the foundation, it 15 1 2 speaks to a collaborative discussion between this board 3 and the Board of Directors of the foundation. This 4 board has two representatives who are very active 5 members of the foundation's Board of Directors. 6 If you want to see this policy in action as it 7 currently stands, the only example where it's actually 8 been implemented at the Culinary Arts Institute, at that 9 time, if you recall, presentations were made to this 10 board where we stated we have individuals who we 11 approached. We have a brochure. Here is what it looks 12 like. Here are the dollars we determined to be 13 appropriate for the naming opportunities. Here are the 14 names of the organizations that are going to have the 15 naming right there. 16 To me, it's been a collaboration. That is all 17 that we have known as far as I've been here. 18 MR. KANE: In answer to Ernie, I have a great 19 respect for the foundation. They work very hard and do 20 a very nice job. My answer to a person unnamed, when 21 they're talking about money and they say the foundation 22 would like to see if they can raise some money, if I 23 propose a name, somebody who is so big and has been so 24 active for thirty-two years, probably this wasn't told 25 to you Ernie, perhaps the foundation can work with this 16 1 2 person for additional moneys. 3 You have a lot of bright people on the 4 foundation. You can use this person. If they're that 5 well known, you can use them to raise more money. There 6 is a possibility of -- it's just a coincidence. Maybe I 7 felt that the goal posts were being moved in the last 8 couple of weeks. 9 DR. PIPPINS: I'm not even sure. I would 10 love to go back and read the minutes from years ago. 11 I'm not convinced that this discussion was never had 12 before. 13 MR. KANE: I've been here seven years, 14 Shirley. We have never had this discussion. 15 DR. PIPPINS: I'll wait and see. I don't 16 know about that discussion, that correspondence with 17 Caracappa during that period of time would have 18 something that would have been on the radar screen, but 19 I will reserve judgment. 20 THE CHAIRMAN: I have a bad memory, but I 21 will tell you that I do recall the letter that was sent 22 to Joe was not copied to the board. That was in the 23 sense that -- 24 DR. PIPPINS: (Interposing) Not in a letter. 25 There was a whole discussion about what was happening 17 1 2 there because there was pressure from the county to deal 3 with the RFP process, and we were discussing that in the 4 board. That is what I'm talking about. 5 MR. HAZLITT: I've been listening to this 6 conversation. Just to correct one thing, NFL building 7 is Norman L. Lechtractor. The reason it's the NFL 8 building is because it's too long. 9 I think we ought to be pragmatic. We have 10 been kicking around naming rights on the Grant 11 Campus building for as long as the building has been in 12 existence. Really, the ultimate responsibility of what 13 transpires with regard to that is right here at this 14 table; nobody else. Certainly the help of the 15 foundation, they have access to people that we do not 16 have access to. 17 I often talk about Plattsburgh Community 18 College. They name everything, rooms, water fountains, 19 bathroom, everything. I think we better start being 20 realistic as far as naming rights are concerned. The 21 economy is not what would you like it to be. The 22 opportunity for an individual who is in a position to 23 donate a lot of money is certainly very remote. So I 24 think our approach should be we both ought to address 25 the problem, but the ultimate decision ought to be 18 1 2 here. 3 MR. OCHOA: Thank you. 4 MR. HAZLITT: You're welcome. 5 MR. OCHOA: I also have some bad news, 6 Mr. Chairman, on this conversation. My perspective of 7 governance and being a member of this board indicates, 8 for me at least, that one of the primary 9 responsibilities that we have as members of this board 10 is to be diligent in our efforts to advocate to the 11 college, especially in areas of fundraising. The chief 12 source of contacts in this community are you, are us. 13 We should be at the front end of fundraising. We should 14 be at the front end of making calls with the president. 15 We should be at the front end of connecting business, 16 commercial, personal relationship for philanthropy on 17 behalf of the school. That you cannot outsource. That 18 is a primary responsibility. 19 As we face the future, which begins tomorrow, 20 we are about to launch a capital campaign. How we 21 conduct ourselves and engage ourselves, are taking our 22 responsibilities serious. I don't like making calls. I 23 still get the calls from the president, get your car 24 ready because we're going to hit the road. That is part 25 of the expectation of us. The foundation is a critical 19 1 2 partner of that relationship. But the lead role is us. 3 It isn't the tail wagging the dog, it's us. We're in 4 partnership with the foundation. It's a critical 5 relationship, but it's a primary responsibility that we 6 have. 7 In the coming period we're going to have the 8 opportunity go to Albany and go to the City and all 9 parts of the Island and accompany the staff and 10 president in developing relationships so we can be part 11 of the fundraising process. That is the other side of 12 the coin, to assert the governance responsibilities in 13 terms of naming rights. 14 MR. MATTACE: I agree with you as far as 15 responsibility, but you hit a key word, talking about 16 partnership and procedure. That is what I'm arguing 17 about right now, based on past history and going forward 18 and working together to the benefit of this community 19 college. Walter, it's not that far and few between. If 20 you recall a couple of months ago we got five million 21 dollars out of no place. I have to credit that to 22 Dr. Pippins and how this community college moved forward 23 and shown the world who we are. 24 I think that is the only the beginning. I 25 would like to see someone come forward and give us 20 1 2 another five million dollars and they can put it their 3 name on anything they like. 4 MR. HAZLITT: I'm thinking about it. 5 MR. KANE: Actually at the meeting, we had 6 that discussion that we name this campus "anonymous," 7 but we didn't think it was such a good idea. 8 MR. MATTACE: We have to concentrate on the 9 idea of partnership. The foundation has come a long 10 way. When we first started, the majority was 11 administrators. Little by little we got the community 12 back involved and we are going back out there to get the 13 dollars back to this college. It has to be. Walter and 14 I go back and forth between the two, but there has to be 15 communication between the two of us. You're absolutely 16 right, the final responsibility rests with this Board. 17 MR. KANE: The person that I have to propose, 18 I would turn over to the foundation -- I'm sure the 19 foundation knows him very well -- would help you people 20 raise as much money as your target is. 21 MR. OCHOA: Mr. Chairman, I was at a 22 reception in Albany on Monday. I share it only to 23 illustrate the opportunities that we have that are 24 immense. I was up there to see a client, work-related, 25 and I was invited to a reception to honor my own Senator 21 1 2 Trunzo, who is a good friend and advocate. I had the 3 opportunity to thank him for support of the college. I 4 had the opportunity to thank Senator Ken LaValle and 5 Senator Joe Bruno and I thanked them for being so 6 supportive in higher education, in general, but the 7 Suffolk board in particular. 8 Mr. LaValle and Senator Bruno responded that 9 very few times do they hear from the district or anyone 10 coming up to say thank you. It's just a role that you 11 have for advocacy, and I think an example that each of 12 us has in our homes, churches and community life to 13 become engaged. We're off to a major task. If you're 14 dazzled by the five million, you ain't seen nothing yet 15 in terms of the potential that we have with the board at 16 this table. To become engaged with the president and 17 the staff and to become active with the partnership and 18 foundation and take it to the next level, especially in 19 these economic difficult times, and there will be more 20 in the future, we need to have that nest egg available 21 in enhanced endowment. 22 DR. PIPPINS: Just a couple of points, maybe 23 only slightly connected. One would be that there might 24 be parallels between the conversation we're having and 25 the conversation that we had with the county about the 22 1 2 fact that people have their representatives on a board 3 who should represent them when they speak. If you look 4 at our foundation board, all our foundation board are 5 representatives of this board. When they sit on this 6 board, they don't sit there to represent themselves, 7 they sit there representing this board. 8 So my expectation would be, if the analogy is 9 correct, that they would be representing you in the 10 decision making process that that foundation board might 11 make about whose name is even moved forward for review 12 at the end, so you have input during that process. 13 In terms of looking at who we are, where we 14 are and where we want to be as an institution, part of 15 that movement and part of what we're working on in the 16 early communications with Caracappa was to move us for a 17 philanthropic role in terms of naming. I think the idea 18 even with the board retaining ultimate, both with the 19 representatives on the board and the final approval 20 here, the process is important. The process is 21 important in terms of the message we want to send to the 22 community in terms of how we do business here. I think 23 they're important even though they're not connected. 24 MR. KANE: I think I have to go back to my 25 original. I was going to let you off with a yes or no. 23 1 2 Is this is not coincidental. This took place sixty days 3 after the conversation that we had. I will make the 4 presentation that I was going to make that I think 5 obviously some people didn't want me to make. That is 6 pretty obvious. I will make the presentation. You can 7 let it lie on the table and you can do whatever you want 8 to do with it. How does that sound to everyone? 9 DR. PIPPINS: I would like to say, I think that 10 everything that you experienced, Jerry, since we worked 11 together is I'm a woman of my word. I'm going to say to 12 you again, this is my understanding from the very 13 beginning and from the very moment the topic was 14 presented to me. You may proceed with that 15 understanding, but I would think there has been nothing 16 in my behavior since I have been here as president, 17 nothing in my past interactions to you would lead you to 18 believe that I would mislead you about something that 19 happened. 20 MR. KANE: I'm not saying that. 21 DR. PIPPINS: But you are leading me to 22 believe that. 23 MR. KANE: I'm your strongest supporter; you 24 know that. 25 DR. PIPPINS: I know that. 24 1 2 THE CHAIRMAN: I suggest we table Item 3, 3 that the comments that we have shared at the table have 4 been heard by counsel and that she help us draft a 5 proposal. That we acknowledge, I think we have all 6 agreed that the naming rights issue with this board. 7 That we work -- we are working towards the same end. 8 MR. KANE: Absolutely. 9 THE CHAIRMAN: It's for the advancement of 10 this institution in is comprehensive logical, not ad hoc 11 way. Let's be formulaic about it and logical. 12 Dr. Pippins makes a point, that we have representation 13 there, we have voices on that board, so there is a 14 vetting process that goes through this and hey, it's 15 going to work. I ask you to consider holding back on 16 your presentation at this point. 17 MR. KANE: If you want me to hold back on it, 18 I'll hold back on it. On the other hand, Bill, I must 19 say I have a great deal of respect for the people on 20 this board and their intelligence. I don't know why an 21 idea can't either fail or succeed in the marketplace of 22 the people at this table. I have a great respect of the 23 people and I worked for most of them for a long time. 24 Why would we be afraid of discussing something at this 25 table; that is my point. 25 1 2 THE CHAIRMAN: I'll be candid. There were 3 times, by putting an idea out there, is an attempt to 4 make it a fait accompli and make it a done deal. 5 MR. KANE: I don't know that anybody at the 6 table is going to rubber stamp anyone. If I put a name 7 on the table and Belinda says Jerry, I don't feel 8 comfortable with that, that's fine. 9 DR. PIPPINS: You might want to desire to 10 clarify the process by which the names would come 11 forward before you put the name of some person on the 12 table. 13 MR. KANE: I don't understand how that would 14 affect the thinking at the table. I'm really not sure, 15 Shirley. 16 DR. PIPPINS: You need to decide how you do 17 it before you move forward with doing it because the way 18 you do it may violate the procedure that you ultimately 19 decide is best for bringing forth the names. What is 20 the position of this board in terms of how names will 21 come forward for buildings or campuses or whatever. 22 Once something comes forward, it should be in 23 the context of the broader understanding of the board in 24 terms of how that takes -- should take place. 25 MR. OCHOA: In terms of process, 26 1 2 Mr. Chairman, were there minutes of that executive 3 meeting that occurred two months ago? 4 THE CHAIRMAN: No. 5 MR. OCHOA: I'm a member of the board. I'm 6 absolutely unfamiliar that there was a meeting two 7 months ago. I'm absolutely unfamiliar with what the 8 discussions were. I believe that you should be up to 9 that task to inform the board that you had an executive 10 committee meeting and the outcomes of the 11 conversation. I'm not sure. 12 MR. KANE: I'm not particularly comfortable 13 with that, David. Since I've been on the board with 14 different presidents and so on, there have been 15 individual executive meetings. I'm not sure I feel 16 comfortable with that. 17 MR. OCHOA: How do you inform the 18 colleagues? 19 MR. KANE: In this particular case, since we 20 had this meeting, I'm bringing it back to the table. 21 MR. OCHOA: I believe you have a 22 responsibility to share those conversations either by 23 e-mail or phone call. I got neither. Two, I want to 24 encourage you to continue the conversation. I'm 25 interested in what you guys did. Half the people in the 27 1 2 room don't have a clue about what occurred. 3 MR. KANE: Let me take a poll at the table. 4 I'm familiar with it, Ernie, you're familiar with it, 5 Bill, you're familiar with it. Belinda, are you 6 familiar with it? 7 MS. ALVAREZ GRONEMAN: No. 8 MR. HAZLITT: David, you're not familiar with 9 it. Avette, you were not familiar with it. People were 10 not informed. Do you feel uncomfortable with 11 informing -- 12 THE CHAIRMAN: (Interposing) I feel 13 uncomfortable with it. 14 MR. KANE: Why? 15 THE CHAIRMAN: I have no desire to embarrass 16 anyone. I think we can have a conversation about if we 17 acknowledge a process, as Dr. Pippins said, of how we 18 will embrace it and go with it in terms of dropping it 19 in the middle and scrambling around that and let's see 20 if the process works. 21 MR. KANE: What if David wants to put a name 22 on the table; how does that work? 23 MR. MATTACE: We're talking about a 24 partnership. How do we do it? Like everything else. 25 Look at the foundation as a committee of this board. I 28 1 2 hate using that word. Go before the committee and say 3 this is my proposal. This is where we have come from. 4 There is the potential that we can go. What are your 5 feelings. You shake it around then bring it back to the 6 board. 7 MR. OCHOA: I recall it could have been this 8 year or late last year, I came to a meeting, we voted, 9 but we were informed that a certain building was named 10 on this campus. Of course you know, don't you, David, 11 what the Native American terms are. That is why we 12 named those buildings or tree whatever it was. I don't 13 have a clue how we do the deal. It's not much of a 14 partnership to me as a trustee to come and I don't have 15 a clue how the hell we got here. That is how I feel 16 today. 17 Mr. Chairman, perhaps in light of your 18 comments or concern for not embarrassing anyone, I don't 19 know what you mean, I move that we go to executive 20 session for the purposes of discussing and reviewing 21 your conversations, and whatever you suggested. 22 MR. KANE: I'm looking around the table and 23 saying to myself it must be frustrating for Belinda here 24 not knowing what we're talking about. It's not your 25 fault. Maybe in the future we ought to do something 29 1 2 about the executive committee getting and discussing 3 things. 4 MR. OCHOA: Is my motion appropriate? 5 THE CHAIRMAN: Do we want to do this at this 6 particular moment? 7 MR. HAZLITT: I would urge that we do so. 8 THE CHAIRMAN: Motion for executive session? 9 MR. MATTACE: So move. 10 THE CHAIRMAN: All in favor? 11 MS. ALVAREZ-GRONEMAN: Aye. 12 (The board met in executive session at 9:53 13 a.m. The meeting resumed at 11:00 a.m.) 14 THE CHAIRMAN: We're back. Item F on our 15 agenda. You have a pink sheet in your packet. It's 16 actually listed as Item 4, so it's already in your 17 packet. I'll entertain a motion. We're going to table 18 Item 3, 2008.35. We're going to work on that some more. 19 I'll entertain a motion to approve 000.33, 34 and 36. 20 MR. OCHOA: So move. 21 THE CHAIRMAN: All in favor? College finance 22 report. 23 MR. STEIN: In your packet you have the 24 finance report as of April 30, 2008. As you can see, 25 there was a slight improvement over last month. Our 30 1 2 estimated revenue over the adopted budget is five 3 hundred sixteen thousand three hundred forty-two 4 dollars. Our estimated expenditures below budget are 5 about five hundred eighty-eight thousand dollars. When 6 we take into account the imbalance, as the budget was 7 adopted at the beginning of the year, we have an 8 estimated year-end reserve balance of a positive three 9 hundred forty-four thousand four hundred ten dollars. 10 Any questions, I'd be happy to answer them. 11 MR. OCHOA: Mr. Chairman? 12 THE CHAIRMAN: Please. 13 MR. OCHOA: In our packet that we received 14 today, we received a document from you dated May 14th. 15 Is that part of your report? 16 MR. STEIN: This is just notification to the 17 Board of Trustees, notifying you that we have awarded a 18 contract for the waste water treatment plant upgrade. 19 MR. OCHOA: Thank you. No questions. 20 THE CHAIRMAN: Thank you, Chuck any other 21 questions? (No response) I have one item. I have 22 more. In the interest of time I'll nip it down to one 23 thing. I'll not be able to be with you June 12th, which 24 is our next scheduled meeting. There was a discussion 25 with counsel, as far as the wisdom of moving it to June 31 1 2 26th, because the next meeting will not be until August. 3 Any interest in moving it? 4 MR. OCHOA: Can you attend the June 26th 5 meeting? 6 THE CHAIRMAN: I can do that. Everybody okay 7 with that? Thank you. Any other topics or information 8 that you want to share with the group for Item I? 9 MS. WARE: There is going to be, for the 10 Suffolk Center on Human Understanding, there is actually 11 going to be posting for the Embracing Our Differences 12 Long Island, an art exhibit, and they are requesting 13 anybody that would like to enter and submit any type of 14 artwork. I would love to pass around these pamphlets. 15 They're asking for anyone that would like to contribute. 16 The deadline is June 2nd. 17 By way of quick report, there has been an 18 issue that has taken care of. There has been vandalism 19 on the Grant Campus. What happened was something was 20 removed. We got a letter or e-mail regarding Public 21 Safety responding on the Grant Campus to vandalization 22 of a case that included some different reproductions and 23 there was an investigation taken. I'd like to happily 24 say there was an arrest made and everything has been 25 taken in regard to that. Initially there was concern 32 1 2 that there was -- it seemed to be that when all was 3 said and done, it was taken care of. 4 THE CHAIRMAN: Thank you. 5 MR. MATTACE: I don't know if it's 6 appropriate at this time, but a committee on the 7 evaluation to update the form; we have completed it. I 8 would like to thank Belinda and David, especially 9 Belinda. She just did a super job. She really kind of 10 gave me some inspiration. We sat down, put it together 11 and the next thing I know boom, hello, did you go to 12 sleep. We took suggestions from responses that we had 13 from last year and we also took material from the 14 different conferences that we went to. It was all put 15 into it. 16 This is the new one for your perusal. This is 17 the copy of the old one. I would like to get it okayed 18 so we can get it put out. 19 THE CHAIRMAN: Process-wise? 20 MR. MATTACE: I don't know. The last time 21 they put it together and kind of sent it out. 22 THE CHAIRMAN: You guys put it together and 23 should we distribute it? We don't need to take a formal 24 action. 25 THE FLOOR: The old form was adopted by the 33 1 2 board. If you use the new form, we need a resolution to 3 use the new form. 4 THE CHAIRMAN: We have a process in place. 5 We will make it happen. 6 MR. MATTACE: As soon as that is taken care 7 of, we will get it sent out. 8 DR. PIPPINS: Part of the process, I hope, 9 the person that is going to be evaluating it will get a 10 chance to see it and give you some feedback. 11 MS. ALVAREZ-GRONEMAN: I think you will be 12 very happy with the final product. 13 DR. PIPPINS: I'm just asking about the 14 formal process. 15 THE CHAIRMAN: Did you receive it? 16 DR. PIPPINS: Yes. 17 THE CHAIRMAN: The record reflects that 18 Shirley has received the packet. 19 MR. OCHOA: Mr. Chairman, I assume that both 20 of those documents will be disseminated to members on 21 the board. 22 THE CHAIRMAN: Is there a resolution at the 23 June meeting to a prove the new one? 24 MR. MATTACE: Make sure that you get a copy 25 of the old and new one so you will. 34 1 2 THE CHAIRMAN: Anything else for the good of 3 the group in response to Dr. Pippins Item J? 4 DR. PIPPINS: We have a report on the green 5 initiatives from Executive Director Cooper and 6 Vice-President Braxton. 7 MR. WALTERS: Good morning. I'd like to give 8 you a quick snapshot of some of the initiatives we have 9 at East. We have a lot of initiatives that we have done 10 for the last couple of years. Before giving you a 11 snapshot, I would like to acknowledge one professional 12 on the campus who has taken the initiative and 13 leadership and spearheaded what I think is a 14 collaborative spirit, Mr. Nick Columbo. 15 A lot of initiatives that we have done have 16 really encompassed faculty students and staff. 17 Particularly, you will see that some of the initiatives 18 from the faculty have been reflected on what we call an 19 environment committee, which essentially, as one of the 20 charges, it looks at research and various initiatives 21 aimed at protecting the environment. Our students have 22 been also active through various mediums, particularly 23 with service learning activities, either through PTK, 24 collaborative activities with the Student Activities 25 Office or the plant operations facility. 35 1 2 Quick snapshot, we have a robust recycling 3 program. The bins are strategically placed all over the 4 campus. It's set up in a fashion, not only are we 5 making it accessible for each staff member and student, 6 but it's done in a fashion where it's clearly monitored 7 and attended to by our plant operations team. 8 This initiative, again out of a response that 9 the county, I think in 2003, set forward in terms of 10 eliminating pesticide and herbicide use. I think it's 11 important to highlight in attending to this initiative 12 the plant operations team has done a tremendous amount 13 of work to ensure that we're able to meet this 14 objective. As we work hard, we are also creative. What 15 is highlighted here addresses a particular problem that 16 occurs typically, I think during the summertime period 17 here on campus. 18 We also have what is called zero emissions 19 vehicles. We have actually four on the campus. It's 20 really the primary transportation mechanism that the 21 plant operation team uses in terms of really navigating 22 and attending to a host of projects here on the campus. 23 And quickly here, with the lighting initiative, here 24 it's another project that has been spearheaded by the 25 plant operations team that looks to address the issue of 36 1 2 what we call dark skies. Most of the light fixtures on 3 the campus are in the process of being replaced. More 4 globally for the campus, as we are getting ready to 5 build our library facility. 6 We're being guided by looking to have lead 7 certification. We consistently have ongoing 8 conversations with the Pine Barrens Commission and I 9 mentioned earlier the Environmental Committee is an 10 active group of faculty administrators. And this is 11 just a highlighting in terms of some things that the 12 plant operations unit has done and to highlight one of 13 the things here, they actually, use as a mechanism to 14 raise funds in terms of sending back some of the scrap 15 metals and getting a means of bringing in some sort of 16 revenue. 17 Finally the student -- finally, I should not 18 say "finally" -- the student initiatives are activity 19 involved. I high light the PTK group which worked 20 closely with the faculty and students and plant 21 operations team to try to get a global message out. 22 Finally, the Peconic Cafe. Here are three items that 23 have been ongoing in terms of them being sensitive of 24 the issue of becoming more green. This is my 25 presentation. 37 1 2 MR. OCHOA: I'm sorry, I don't know your 3 name. 4 MR. WALTERS: Evan Walters. 5 MR. OCHOA: Have we submitted any of these 6 initiatives for peer review or awards of any kind? 7 MR. WALTERS: Not to my knowledge. 8 MR. OCHOA: It's interesting that you have 9 these initiatives that you have included students, and 10 I'm impressed with what you're doing. You may want to 11 consider it. It's interesting that something that is 12 the wave of the future, we need to do those things now. 13 You may want to consider that you have folks receiving 14 or having grant applications to support these 15 initiatives. 16 MR. WALTERS: I think there have been some 17 smaller internal grant applications that have been done 18 in the past. I have to get the specific details. 19 MR. OCHOA: I assume that a lot of the 20 foundation and folks that award grants, that there is 21 probably a substantial opportunity. My understanding of 22 your committee and its linkage as to staff and faculty 23 and students, you're doing things that are doable. Its 24 common sense. You may want to consider that. 25 Thank you very much. I enjoyed your report. 38 1 2 MR. MATTACE: These groups that are out there 3 that are active, such as the Healthy Schools Initiative 4 out of New York City. That is perfect. It's a tie-in. 5 We're doing it as well as legislatively, as you know, by 6 passing the plastic bag recycling reuse resolution, 7 trying to get everybody not to use the plastic bags in 8 the market. We're returning the plastic bags. 9 MR. OCHOA: You remind me that Sustainable 10 Long Island is an ideal funding source for what these 11 folks are doing. Do we do this at the other campuses? 12 THE CHAIRMAN: We will get to this 13 momentarily. 14 MR. HAZLITT: For the record, those bags cost 15 ninety-nine cents apiece. 16 MR. MATTACE: That's right, but you can have 17 them for an eternity. 18 MR. HAZLITT: Eternity for me is not that 19 long. 20 MR. MATTACE: You can pass them down to your 21 grandchildren. 22 MR. CONNORS: I'm Bill Connors, as you know, 23 Executive Dean now at the Ammerman Campus. The whole 24 issue of environmental responsibility is very, very 25 important to the Ammerman Campus. Ed Bend, our director 39 1 2 of plant operations, was hired in 2005. I asked him to 3 develop a statement of environmental responsibility for 4 plant operations, which really permeates everything we 5 do on the campus. 6 It states that the campus is committed to 7 developing and maintaining a sustainable and 8 environmental mode of operation in the context of its 9 mission, physical restraints and responsibilities to 10 students, faculty and staff as well as the local 11 community. 12 Looking at some of the initiatives that are 13 already in place at the Ammerman Campus, we just started 14 a pilot recycling program for paper, bottles, cans and 15 plastics, which I will be discussing in a few moments. 16 Recycling of light bulbs and calculators, computer 17 monitors, hard drives, recycling of batteries, 18 construction metals and other metals. Recycling of 19 motor oil and tires. Recycling of ink and toner 20 cartridges. 21 In the past year, we are now using designated 22 green products and equipment for cleaning. I want to 23 emphasize, we have been doing it a little over a year. 24 It does have financial ramifications because these are 25 more expensive than the products we had used 40 1 2 previously. The use of energy efficient light bulbs and 3 ballasts, the use of a building management system to 4 control the environment within the campus buildings, the 5 use of light sensors to turn of lights when rooms are 6 not occupied. The use of energy efficient motors and 7 variable speed drives within our HVAC systems to save on 8 energy consumption. 9 Now we're working towards LEEDS and green 10 certifications on our new science technology building 11 which we're planning for the Ammerman Campus. We 12 started a pilot recycling program and the campus 13 encourages the faculty students and staff to reduce or 14 reuse solid waste by recycling whenever possible. Our 15 program works in construction with our custodial staff. 16 Recycling receptacles have been employed. 17 THE CHAIRMAN: This is part of recycling with 18 the carter? 19 MR. CONNORS: Yes, we just started this pilot 20 recycling program within the past week. It's been 21 implemented in a number of buildings in the Southampton 22 and Ammerman buildings for recycling of paper, bottles, 23 cans and plastic. Paper will be recycled in the 24 Huntington Library. I have to emphasize this is an 25 effort from our students. The students have been a 41 1 2 major player. I cannot emphasize that enough on our 3 campus. Student government, I worked with them for the 4 past year and a half. We are, I have to say in large 5 part, where we are because of the wonderful work that 6 they have been doing with us. 7 You can see the flier that they have been 8 sending out the past couple of weeks. This is all done 9 by them. In fact, the receptacles, the signage on the 10 receptacles have all been done by them. They're very 11 excited. I met with them on Monday. The current 12 student government and next year's student government 13 are all involved, and I thank them for what they have 14 done. That is what we've been doing on the Ammerman 15 Campus. 16 THE CHAIRMAN: Thank you. 17 MR. McKAY: I'll try to be brief and precise. 18 Shawn McKay from the Grant Campus. College-wide there 19 is an EG-73 course that focus on the literature that 20 investigates the humankind relationship with nature. At 21 the Grant Campus I want to thank Joe. We have turned 22 our attention to looking at green cleaning compounds. 23 We have low styrene floor finishes, cold water clean 24 products. All lawn care products must meet the 25 guidelines established by Cornell. Issue of graffiti on 42 1 2 the campus would go through the normal products of 3 chemicals to remove. We're using green products to 4 remove graffiti. 5 In-house training is very important. We 6 found that it's necessary to have all of the staff 7 members knowledgeable and trained to use the actual 8 products that we have now. There is a new machine that 9 we purchased at the campus that we purchased to clean 10 the bathrooms on the campus. We are using cleaning 11 products that are biorenewable. We are following New 12 York guidelines for green cleaning, for stripping and 13 cleaning of the floors. 14 Again, our vehicles, that as we go forward on 15 the campus level, our effort at the campus is to try to 16 get vehicles that are environmentally friendly. We have 17 two vehicles on the campus. As we go forward, we will 18 continue to move in this direction, recycling products. 19 The future on the campus, we are looking at moving into 20 possibly putting in a hygienic hand dryer that would cut 21 down on paper towels and everything else. This is cost 22 efficient. Also we felt an official way of switching 23 the focus on the campus level as well. 24 Greener week at Grant, we have an entire week 25 at the Grant Campus built right into an experience in 43 1 2 the Auxiliary Center. Our students had an entire week 3 where we cleaned the campus, showcased electric 4 vehicles, sales of energy efficient light bulbs. The 5 students saw Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth. They work 6 with the Town of Islip as well, the National Wildlife 7 Federation, and we had an event with the kids at the 8 kids' cottage through the sale of light bulbs. The 9 committee wishes to construct an outdoor sitting area. 10 Additional accomplishments. With the Greener 11 Grant week, we had students that the up twenty-one 12 thousand five hundred one pieces of litter, raised money 13 to support study space. We had involvement from 14 students and staff. This is a shot of one of the days 15 that we had the Greener Grant week. We have a total of 16 about eighty students participating in the events. This 17 is a snapshot of the type of trash that was picked up 18 during the four day period. There were cigarette butts, 19 ten thousand. 20 MR. MATTACE: Who was counting that? They 21 have to get a life. 22 MR. McKAY: We had honor students. They 23 wanted to send a statement as to what is happening in 24 the environment. That snapshot was part of a 25 competition where the students were going to guess how 44 1 2 many pieces of trash were in a corral. In the end they 3 posted the information. We had the students in the 4 kids' cottage. The trash was actually prepared for them 5 and they went through and participated in the whole 6 process as well. 7 Future plans, getting the high volume output 8 hand dryers, continue recycling program. Acquiring more 9 energy efficient vehicles. And have another Greener 10 Grant week, and develop a solar technology degree and 11 construct an ecological space on the campus. 12 THE CHAIRMAN: Thank you. Paul Cooper. 13 MR. COOPER: I'm Director of Facilities and I 14 would like to describe or summarize some of the energy 15 conservation efforts that we have done over the last 16 eight years or so. In about the year 2000, we requested 17 funding for capital projects to implement energy 18 conservation measures. The county did not fund it, but 19 recommended we enter into agreement with NYPA. NYPA 20 would fund the measures and we would pay them back 21 through savings through the years. The first NYPA 22 Phase 1 projects had many energy measures. This is a 23 list of some of them. The heart of the system is really 24 the energy management system, which is a Web-based 25 control system which connects to thousands of points on 45 1 2 all three campuses, controls monitors, reports alarms 3 the status of our HVAC system. It's so complex you 4 couldn't understand it in text. 5 We asked NYPA to make it idiot proof. They 6 said they couldn't because we keep making better idiots, 7 but I can operate it. It's Web-based, so I can view it 8 from home. That was Phase 1. These were the initial 9 estimates at the beginning of Phase 1, that this would 10 pay three hundred seventeen thousand dollars a year. 11 This was back when brass was seventy-three cents a 12 therm. It's gone up. This is a list we received from 13 NYPA. Energy therm curtailment from our ability to 14 curtail energy use on critical days. We receive things 15 from various other programs. Totaled seven hundred 16 thirty thousand dollars. 17 I have three other applications in which I 18 think will get about another hundred thousand dollars. 19 That is one benefit to the program. Second benefit is 20 we have had lots of old equipment that had to be 21 replaced anyway. Because NYPA was funding the project, 22 if there bass energy saving, NYPA would replace the 23 equipment if it met the buy-back guidelines. These are 24 chillers that would have cost nine hundred thousand 25 dollars. We paid nothing up front and put them back out 46 1 2 of the savings. We got about two million dollars of 3 motors, dampers, actuators that would have had to be 4 replaced anyway. 5 We are in the second phase, an energy study is 6 being completed now. You see things like boilers, which 7 would cost -- I'm not going to read them all these are 8 things being evaluated for Phase 2. LEED, it's an 9 Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. All the 10 buildings that we're putting up now are designed to LEED 11 standards. There is the Workforce Technology Building 12 that construction will be started in a couple of weeks. 13 This is a roof of the Smithtown Science Building. We 14 received these as part of a grant. We don't pay for 15 them. 16 It's basically a demonstration project. It's 17 the size of a system you would put on your home. You 18 put it on your house, you're electricity bill would be 19 zero. It's a demonstration project. We intend to have 20 a meter showing continuous saving and having literature 21 for anyone interested in doing this in their home. 22 People have electric cars, they're called zero emission 23 vehicles, they don't emit any pollution, but they're 24 powered by electricity which comes from a battery which 25 is recharged from a LIPA plant which is old and 47 1 2 insufficient. I found one that is not polluting at 3 all. 4 That is the next slide. The only problem that 5 we foresee is when we bring it in for an oil change. 6 MS. BRAXTON: First I wore green today for 7 this event. Joanne Braxton. You heard from my 8 colleagues in regard to what we're doing on the 9 campuses, but the college also has our Strategic 10 Planning Council. When you look at what you would like 11 to do in the future, we did an exhaustive research 12 literature review and we decided one of the things that 13 is visionary for the institution and being on the 14 cutting edge is what we would call our strategic plan. 15 That deals directly with sustainability. In the 16 2008-2012 goals, the one in red is academics, that will 17 deal with the issue of sustainability as we go forward 18 into the future. 19 As I said we looked at what we thought was 20 important for the institution as we went forward and 21 having sustainability and looking at it from what I call 22 the global perspective was very important to us, so 23 we're now going forth with a sustainability concept with 24 our strategic plan. 25 Goals will provide educational units with 21st 48 1 2 relevance to prepare students for the modern world. We 3 are doing activities in terms of our campuses, but we 4 must educate our students. They will be the future 5 architects, scientists, educators, so we thought it was 6 very important that we put this high on our agenda for 7 going forward with our strategic plan. 8 We put together an objective. Each one of 9 your plans, items, goals will have an objective action 10 plan and will have the moneys needed to support it. 11 Will have a person that is responsible as well as well 12 do an assessment for the objective dealing with 13 sustainability. By June 2010 Suffolk County Community 14 College will develop a comprehensive plan for educating 15 students about environmental energy and sustainability 16 issues. And these are some of the initiatives that 17 we're going to be putting forth within our strategic 18 plan. 19 By October 2008, Environmental Issues Task 20 Force will develop an operational definition for 21 sustainability within the institution overall. The 22 other action item is by December 2008 the task force 23 will review the educational offers what we currently 24 offer. In fact, Dean McKay indicated that we have a 25 course in that area, but we want to look at overall the 49 1 2 programs, the courses to determine about environmental 3 and energy sustainability issues. And the third is by 4 June of 2009, the task force, working with faculty 5 governance and with appropriate instructional student 6 affairs personnel, will make recommendations concerning 7 activities and the kinds of things that we should be 8 involved in as an institution of higher education. 9 And the lead person who is responsible, every 10 particular strategic goal item has a lead person, since 11 this is an academic program, we're looking to 12 incorporate this within our existing program, will be 13 vice-president for academic and student affairs, my 14 colleague, Dr. Jim Cannon. No institutions in modern 15 society are better equipped to catalyze the necessary 16 transition to a sustainable world than colleges and 17 university. They have access to the leaders of tomorrow 18 and the leaders of today. That is a quote from 19 professor David Orr. 20 Colleges and universities nationwide are 21 launching new or revamped academic programs in areas 22 such as renewable energy, global warming and 23 sustainability. Today few would argue that human action 24 has not had a profound impact on our planet in global 25 warming, pressures on natural resources, diminishing air 50 1 2 quality. These are just a few of the items that we're 3 faced with today. A truly sustainable campus can only 4 be achieved comprehensively. It must include 5 institution wide support. Suffolk County Community 6 College will be a college that will promote 7 sustainability, not just in terms of actions, but in 8 terms of your academic program. We are a college of 9 excellence. Thank you. 10 MR. HAZLITT: Not a dry eye in the house. 11 (Laughter) 12 DR. PIPPINS: Thank you. Vice President 13 Gatta, would you care to make a presentation? 14 MR. GATTA: I have no jokes and I have two 15 jobs. George Gatta, Executive Vice President. I want 16 to update the board on an issue that has come up over 17 the past few months. You may be aware from accounts in 18 the media that in March, the county executive proposed 19 retirement incentives for certain employees within the 20 county within the association of municipal employees, 21 both Bargaining Unit 2 and Bargaining Unit 6. The 22 county bill originally did not differentiate between the 23 county and the college. 24 When we saw the proposed legislation, we 25 requested some modifications to ensure that any 51 1 2 incentive, if it were to go forward with the college, 3 would be at the direction and approved by the trustees 4 and would be fashioned in a way that made sense 5 financially for the college. The county's window and 6 county's fiscal year is different from the college and 7 the way it's structured would not allow the college to 8 achieve savings. In addition, the county bill allowed 9 only a twenty percent backfill of positions that would 10 be vacated as a result of the retirement incentive. It 11 did not work for the college. 12 In a memo in early April, Dr. Pippins 13 requested modifications to the legislation. As a result 14 of that request, the legislature did not include the 15 requested changes, but excluded the college from the 16 retirement incentive. We subsequently looked at if we 17 were to adopt the retirement incentive from what the 18 impact would be at the institution. Given the different 19 staffing levels we have versus the county, some of them 20 extremely large, we wouldn't be able to achieve the 21 savings as outlined in the county proposal. We need the 22 backfill positions. We provided the analysis and 23 background information in your packet. 24 At this time, we are not recommending that the 25 college entertain a retirement incentive. It would not 52 1 2 work for the college on a financial or operational 3 level. 4 THE CHAIRMAN: Any questions of the board for 5 George? 6 MR. MATTACE: Mr. Chairman, we need to make a 7 couple of more change on the president evaluation form. 8 THE CHAIRMAN: I believe that concludes our 9 public session. I apologize in advance to keep our 10 comments brief. There are couple of matters for 11 executive session, I'm sure. 12 MR. HAZLITT: Do you anticipate any actions? 13 THE CHAIRMAN: Not any actions. We are done 14 with the public segment and no action will be taken 15 afterwards. 16 (TIME NOTED: 11:30 A.M.) 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 53 1 2 CERTIFICATION 3 4 STATE OF NEW YORK) 5 ) ss: 6 COUNTY OF SUFFOLK) 7 8 I, JUDI GALLOP, a Stenotype Reporter 9 and Notary Public for the State of New 10 York, do hereby certify: 11 THAT this is a true and accurate transcription 12 of the Suffolk Community College Board of Trustees 13 meeting held on May 15, 2008. 14 I further certify that I am not 15 related, either by blood or marriage, to 16 any of the parties in this action; and 17 I am in no way interested in the 18 outcome of this matter. 19 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my 20 hand this 17th day of June, 2008. 21 22 ________________________ JUDI GALLOP 23 24 25