The minutes went on to say that “Mr. Wayne King was elected as Vice-Chairman by the majority, with one nay.” This is a terrible historical record mistake as the Board of Trustee who voted “nay” (Mrs. Betty Carrigan) was never identified in the minutes. Such historical records as official minutes of meetings for governmental agencies should always be clear and correct in identifying the voting record for any action and all actions taken in the meeting. Especially on who voted for or against what and any discussion regarding that vote.
3. Under the “Approval of Minutes” section of the November 17, 2017 CCC BoT meeting minutes it was stated:
Chairman Westmoreland called for a motion to approve the minutes from the
October 17, 2017 meeting. Allen Langley made the motion to accept the
minutes with the following additions or corrections: Adding that “Brendan
LeGrand spoke to the Board of Trustees during the Public Comments section
on October 17, 2017. Ms. LeGrand stated her concerns were regarding certain
management practices at Cleveland Community College. She reiterated her
comments regarding full disclosure about recent events at the College. The
Board took the comments under advisement. In turn, Dale Guffey, instructor at
Cleveland Community College, addressed the Board. She informed the Board
that she was making a presentation at the state-wide meeting in South
Carolina. While Dr. Guffey’s presentation was centered around Developmental
Education, she anticipated being asked about the current situation at CCC.
Without full disclosure, it would be difficult to inform the group that we are
moving toward change.” Mr. Langley recommended this amendment be added
to the minutes, as the public is concerned. It was his hope that the Board would
consider adding this to the minutes and then moving forward, continue with the
addition of information under the public comments section. Larry Hamrick, Jr.
seconded, and the amended minutes were approved.
This section was full of mistakes, omissions and Board Directions that were not followed in drafting subsequent meeting minutes.
In particular:
Ms. LeGrand stated her concerns were regarding certain management practices at Cleveland Community College. She reiterated her comments regarding full disclosure about recent events at the College. The “certain management practices” were never described in the minutes. Neither were the comments that Mrs. LeGrand reiterated.
The Board took the comments under advisement. No record or minutes of any meeting shows the Board took anything under advisement regarding Mrs. LeGrand’s comments or concerns.
Dr. Dale Guffey stated “Without full disclosure, it would be difficult to inform the group that we are moving toward change.” Then the minutes stated ” Mr. Langley recommended this amendment be added to the minutes, as the public is concerned. It was his hope that the Board would consider adding this to the minutes and then moving forward, continue with the addition of information under the public comments section. Larry Hamrick, Jr. seconded, and the amended minutes were approved.
And these items were selected (from many )for their simplicity and ease of understanding.
So, Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury, the BoTs voted to approve Mr. Langley’s “hopes” that the Board would “consider” the notion that the Board would move forward with minutes that conform to North Carolina law that official Board Minutes fairly and accurately describe what transpires in CCC BoT meetings? That they will consider obeying the law, yet at their very first meeting afterwards they fall illegally short of following the law as described in detail above?
The law doesn’t work that way. The law requires that every CCC BoT meeting be fairly and accurately recorded to describe what actually transpired during the meeting. Then, when approved, the documents (minutes) become legal and historical records as well as public records. We have just noted several examples of simple mistakes that are continued mistakes in record keeping that has been well identified to the BoT on numerous occasions. Yet the BoT continuously refuses to obey the law that simply states that CCC Board Minutes fairly and accurately describe what transpired in BoT meetings.
The pattern is clear. The BoT continues to refuse to uphold their sworn duty to obey and uphold the law. If the BoT refuses to obey the law on the most simple of things such as keeping fair and accurate records, how can they be trusted to conduct any other business within the confines of the law and ethical behavior?
Not only that, the CCC BoT continues to refuse to recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States. This can be shown by the January 9, 2018 meeting agenda that does not include the Pledge. How can any CCC BoT member continue to hold their meetings without saying the Pledge that every other governmental agency in Cleveland County uses at the start of their meetings to show respect of out Country and the laws thereof.
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury, the evidence is overwhelming. Every BoT member, by their actions or in-actions alone are guilty of being dishonest and untrustworthy. Please adjourn to the Jury Room and cast you vote as “guilty as charged” or Not Guilty.
All BoT members are invited to tell their side of the story in the comments section at the end of this article.
Folks, I hope you found this exercise helpful in understanding what is going on at CCC and why problems are not being solved. Only covered up–of which phony and dishonest meeting minutes are a part.. The Cleveland County Board of Trustees are legally required to provide top level leadership at CCC and to ensure that laws and policies are being strictly followed. Yet every scandal at CCC can be traced to a Board of individual Trustees that have failed to do their individual jobs.
Also, stay tuned for articles that describe other things that transpired at the January 9, 2018 CCC BoT meeting. This article was just a drill. You ain’t heard nothing yet.
In the meantime, you might consider calling the Governor, the CCS School Board and the County Commissioners to complain about the dishonest and untrustworthy Board of Trustee members that they have appointed to the CCC Board of Trustees. Perhaps they should recall them all. JMO.