Part XI: The Plot Sickens with CCC Scandals. Thornburg to use Shelby Star Report as Basis for Lawsuit against Cleveland Community College Board of Trustees!!! Stupid Board’s Delay in Firing Thornburg for Cause Backfires on Board!!! Information relayed to public by Robert A. Williams

Editor’s Note Folks, you gotta read the following email I just received from a trusted confidential source. The email is hot off the press and has not been altered or revised one bit. Also, scroll on back and read the several articles written about the ineffective CCC Board of Trustees. The Board’s stupidity and delays as well as an article in the Shelby Star have allowed CCC President Dr. L. Steve Thornburg enough wiggle room to hire a lawyer and threaten the Board, CCC and of course the taxpayers with a lawsuit. Also, stay tuned for my article about the June 6, 2017 CCC Board of Trustees meeting with ALL the juicy details. FYI: Greg Melton is the Acting Chairman of the CCC Board of Trustees.

From: “Greg Melton”

Date: June 8, 2017 at 1:11:02 PM EDT

To: “‘Alan Norman'” , “‘Bill J. Turpish'” , “‘Chris Turner'” , “‘Gordon G. Hamrick'” , “‘Greg Melton'” , “‘H. Allen Langley'” , “‘H. Allen Langley'” , “‘Jason Falls'” , “‘June Yarboro'” , “‘Larry Hamrick, Jr.'” , “‘Rev. Lamont Littlejohn'” , “‘Wayne King'” , “‘Wes Westmoreland'”

Subject: FW: Term of Dr. Thornburg

Fellow Board Members,

Below is an email I received from board atourney, Ralph Meekins. He called me this morning after being contacted by Dr. Thornburg’s atourney, Bob Yelton. If we have a called meeting before July 11th , I plan to have Mr. Meekins on the agenda to discuss some of his concerns with the board. Pending the schedule of the special committee and their report to the board, we would need to have the meeting one of the following dates for Mr. Meekins to be in attendance:

June 19-21st
June 26-30th

Alan Langley, please let me know if any of these dates will work with the special committee’s schedule. If it is too soon to know, I understand and will wait to schedule the meeting when you have a definite day in mind.

Thank you,

Greg Melton

From: Ralph Meekins [mailto:rmeekins@teddyandmeekins.com]

Sent: Thursday, June 08, 2017 12:50 PM

To: greg@h-harchitects.com

Subject: Term of Dr. Thornburg

I am writing this email, at your request, to address the subject matter that appeared in the Shelby Star this week about the retirement of Dr. Thornburg at CCC. As you know, while I am the CCC attorney, and glad to continue in that role, my involvement in the day to day activity of CCC and its board, is very limited. I have not been asked to attend the meetings, and have very little contact with any of the board members. (You did ask me to attend a recent meeting a few weeks ago, but, I was unable to attend due to a Court appearance) I had written a previous email, at your request, advising the Board members that if Dr. Thornburg had agreed to resign, that it would be logical for the CCC board to formally accept his resignation. It is my understanding that when voting to do so, a substitute motion was made to accept the resignation, but, that if a new President, or an interim President were to be found prior to the end of the year, that Dr. Thornburg would be relieved of his duties at that time, even if it were before his stated date of retirement. I understand that this substitute motion passed.

I called you this morning because I received a phone call from Bob Yelton in my capacity as CCC attorney advising me that he was Steve Thornburg’s attorney, and that Mr. Thornburg was concerned about the news article and the action that the Board was considering. Mr. Yelton wanted me to be aware that Dr. Thornburg was still willing to retire at the end of the year, but, that he would not be at all agreeable to resign any earlier. He specifically wanted to have notice of any special meetings on the subject, and stated that Dr. Thornburg would want to attend any meetings addressing his position at CCC. He advised that Dr. Thornburg would be out of town next week.

In our phone conversation this morning, I expressed concern about forcing Dr. Thornburg to retire earlier than his stated date of retirement. This action would be considered a termination. It appears clear to me, that if the Board were to terminate Dr. Thornburg prior to his stated date of retirement, CCC would have to pay him under his contract through the end of the year, and perhaps for the additional two years under his contract. The only way around this, would be to terminate Dr. Thornburg for cause, and follow the provisions of paragraph 12 of the contract of employment, listed below. This would require a vote of the Board to terminate Dr. Thornburg for cause and a Hearing, which Dr. Thornburg has the right to attend. This process could be quite lengthy, and costly, and comes with the risk that CCC could lose, and be responsible for paying Dr. Thornburg 2 1/2 years of salary, plus attorney fees, etc.

If the Board were to take such action, the provisions of the contract would need to be followed. The portion of the contract that pertains to Discharge for Cause states as follows:

12. Discharge for Cause

The Board rnay discharge Thornburg during the term of this

contract for cause. Cause for removal of Thornburg includes, but

is not necessarily limited to, immoral or disreputable conduct;

insubordination; conviction of a felony or serious misdemeanor; and

failure or refusal to perform the duties of his office as required

by law and this contract. Thornburg shall be entitled to receive

a notice of the charges in writing and a hearing before the Board.

He shall have the right to be present at the hearing, to be

represented by counsel, and to have a transcript made of the

hearing. The hearing shall be conducted in executive session. If

Thornburg elects to appeal the decision of the Board, he shall be

entitled to receive a transcript of the hearing at no charge.

I have not been provided with any of the specific details of any behavior of Dr. Thornburg that might give rise to a Discharge for Cause, and I have not been asked to provide an opinion as to whether any particular conduct would likely be deemed to justify a firing of Dr. Thornburg for cause. I did mention to you, that I had heard from someone unaffiliated with CCC, about an issue involving Dr. Thornburg’s password on his CCC account, but, that I was not aware of any of the specifics. It is my understanding that the sentiment of the Board was to not invoke this provision, and to allow Dr. Thornburg to retire at the end of the year. This seemed to me to be a reasonable approach, that would benefit both parties.

You have asked me to attend the next meeting of the Board to be available to answer any questions and to provide legal advice on issues that may arise. I am out of town next week, and will not be available on July 11, 2017. I have provided you with some dates that I would be available. and I would be glad to attend the meeting if given proper notice. Please let me know if I can be of further service.

Thank you.

Ralph Meekins