McHenry County Blog

At Thursday night’s meeting, the hottest topic was McHenry County College President Vicky Smith’s assertion that pretty much all questions about the college from Trustees had to go through her.

She cited language in her contract that said she was the “conduit.”

The specific language is

“The Board acknowledges that the President is the preferred conduit through which all internal constituencies of the College communicates with the Board and the preferred conduit through which the Board communicates to those internal constituencies.”

It wasn’t until “Member Comments” that Board President Ron Parrish broached the subject.

“We need some clarification with respect to communications between the Trustees and the staff and faculty.”

He asked if there were any guidelines.

“The protocol of the Board has been whenever [there are questions] that the Trustees ask the President of the institution,” Smith replied.

“It’s been the protocol at all the institutions I’ve worked at.

“The conduit is through the President.

“That doesn’t mean that a Trustee can’t stop and talk about general things before the college or the Board,” she continued.

“In fact, I’ve talked to attorneys about that.”

“The President’s office also knows the workflow, former President Mary Miller pointed out.

“We could be interrupting something they’ve been working on.

“I filter it through Vicky…I think that’s the route it should go.

Cynthia Kisser was next.

“I email Dr. Smith and carbon Ms. Kriegermeier, if I just want expedited notes from my last meeting, so Dr. Smith immediately knows what I want.

“I do the same thing if I want something from another staff member.

“I’m sending maybe two or three a day.

“I think it’s better to overload you, [rather than] making [staff members] think they may have to drop everything because [I call].”

“I do like it’s one control place,” Linda Liddell added.

“I love than,” Molly Walsh said.

“What’s the purpose of that?” Tom Wilbeck interjected.

“I’m an elected official. If I want an objective conversation with an employee, I want to go directly.”

“I think it’s a matter of the policies and practices that the Board has established,” one of the two attorneys sitting at the front table said.

She pointed out that Smith’s contract “names her as a conduit…I do think it means a conduit both ways.”

“If looking for special information, then I email it to Dr. Smith,” repeated Kisser. “If she tells me to call [so and so], she’s not in on the telephone call.

“I don’t interpret that I can’t have a conversation.

“Just one brief example,” Wilbeck explained. “Two people today called to find out if it [the meeting] was going to be web broadcast. [I called Laura.]”

“If would have been better if you had called me because it wasn’t Laura; it was Al.”

“In the private sector it just doesn’t happen that way and it impedes communication,” was Wilbeck’s rejoinder.

“I don’t want to be restricted when I ask a quick question.”

Liddell, calling upon her private enterprise experience, said, “The difference is that we are the Board of Directors.”

She explained that in business communications from directors “went to the chairman.”

Wilbeck still was disturbed at the effect the President would impose by passing on his questions.

“We are not administrators,” Kisser stressed.

“When I was CEO of a not-profit, I ran that non-profit. I constantly want to do that [here, but] it’s a different role.

“If you want to find out about web streaming [maybe there are] others who want to know.

“This has been a learning experience for me, too. I found it frustrating.

“When you see the information has already come together in Ms. Smith’s head, you find out [the answer. Calling staff members] just gets [out of hand].

“Let me give you my perspective,” Parrish said.

“Frankly, I object to his.”

Both Liddell and Kisser tried to talk, but Parrish said, “Please, may I talk?

“One of the things we’ve [he and Smith] been able to do is meet on a weekly basis.

“I have two concerns.

“First, the President of the college has a lot of things on her plate. We can get those answers personally.”

“Second,” looking at the staff at the table, “You people are out friends. I have a responsibility for the continuing growth of the college and I can’t do that with[out communicating]. I do not want you my friends to be [indebted [?]].

“I really believe it’s our responsibility to maybe talk about an approach that would provide a little more openness and get back to you with a difference proposal.”

“The way we’ve been doing things has worked well over the last ten years,” former Board President Miller said. She reminded her colleagues it was in Dr. Smith’s contract.

“We need to wait for our Board retreat.”

“You object to my talking to Vicky?” Parrish asked rhetorically.

“I don’t think so.

“It means ignoring the public angst.

“The recent problems of communications, misconceptions, accusations we’ve had in the past year can be resolved with better communication,” Parrish concluded before moving to comments of other Trustees.

Below is the report upon which the old McHenry County College Board voted for 5-2.

Well, it’s not quite what the Board voted on.

The Board did not set President Vicky Smith’s compensation.

Read the report carefully.

Voting in favor were the two longest serving Board members who lost the election–Barbara Walters and Carol Larson. They were joined by holdovers Mary Miller, Linda Liddell and Cynthia Kisser.

Voting against extending MCC President Vicky Smith’s contract through the middle of 2015 were Ron Parrish and Dennis Adams. It was almost Adams’ last vote since he retired from the Board.

Do you see the problem?

Read the recommendation:

Recommendation

It is recommended that the Board of Trustees approves extending Dr. Smith’s contract through June 30, 2015 and to set compensation as discussed in Closed Session.

Do you note that the report does not tell the public the salary and benefits?

I surely did and was ready to file complaints with both the McHenry County State’s Attorney and the Illinois Attorney General about the seeming violation of the Open Meetings Act had the Board approved the report as presented in the Board Packet.

But the old members didn’t do that.

After the closed session, undoubtedly upon the advice of their attorneys, the Board considered a motion which excluded compensation

So, the outgoing Board got half of what it wanted.

Smith’s contract has been extended another twelve months after June 30. 2014, but her salary has not been set.

That will be up to the carryover Board members and those newly-elected and now sworn in:

• Molly Walsh
• Chris Jenner
• Tom Welbeck

A new Student Trustee named Michele Lambert was previously sworn in.

There was public comment from 6:30 to 7:45.  Again there was not enough room for the taxpaying public.  Overflow folks were directed to the auditorium way across campus.

But, there were almost a row and half out of the three rows of chairs reserved for MCC employees who certainly could have sat in chairs outside until their turn in the program came.

The commenters were divided into three parts:

• Those supporting an extension of Smith’s contract
• Those opposed to an extension of Smith’s contract
• Those supporting the theater program whose 80-seat Black Box Theater seems destined to become the location of a greatly expanded robotics program

I’d love to give you a blow-by-blow account of the comments, but the new Board didn’t adjourn until 12:10 Friday.

Suffice is to say that both Chris Jenner and Molly Walsh asked the old Board not to extend Smith’s contract.

Jenner pointed out that there were nearing three months for the holdover Board members to explain to the new Trustees why Smith deserved to have her contract extended.

“I don’t believe any of us have passed judgment on Dr. Smith.”

“I really feel strongly that the incoming Board should be making the decision on terms and working conditions,” Walsh added as the last one to provide public comment.

“An action tonight is really disregarding the new Board members.

“Lets work together.”

Their pleas were ignored.

Very shortly after the old Board took its last gasp by voting for Smith’s contract extension, the new Board was sworn in.  That was at 10:45 Thursday night.

Then, the tables were turned.

Jenner nominated Ron Parrish to be the new Board President.  Wilbeck provided the second.

Liddell nominated Kisser.  I believe Miller seconded that nomination.

Three to three.

The deciding vote seemed to belong to newcomer Walsh.

A secret ballot was taken and the vote came out 4-3 in favor of Parrish, who had been very much the minority member on the old Board.

For Vice Chair, it was Wilbeck vs. Liddell.

3-3 with, I presume, Walsh breaking the tie in favor of Liddell.

Wilbeck nominated Jenner for Secretary and no one else wanted the job so he got it.

I wish I had managed to make it to the McHenry County College Board meeting earlier.

From what Woodstock Advocate blogger Gus Philpott said in the public comment section of the meeting, the room was packed with college employees when he arrived.

No room for ordinary taxpayers to sit.

Philpott gave thanks to President Vicky Smith for convincing them to leave.  I guess they went to an “overflow” area in the huge front hall nearby.   That’s where I saw a screen set up on the way out.

Cynthia Kisser began the meeting by asking for the controversial item–the extension of Smith’s contract–be postponed until the Thursday after next.

“I completely agree,” Ron Parrish replied.

That was also met with agreement from fellow Board members.

That’s the last day Carol Larson, Barbara Walters and Dennis Adams will be in office.  Larson and Walters lost the election; Adams retired.

It was not clear whether that postponement was until the last meeting of the outgoing Board or the first meeting of the reconstituted Board after Molly Walsh, Chris Jenner and Tom Wilbeck are sworn in.

Then, it was on to public comment.

“Thank you very much for coming,” Board President Mary Miller said before the first person, Grafton Township Assessor-elect Al Zielinski spoke.

Zielinski urged Board members to act in a more business-like manner.

Philpott urged the Board to include that they were going to vote on a contract extension on the next agenda, if that were their intent.

Jane Collins, a fixture at MCC Board meetings, pointed out that if the “old Board” were to make the decision next week, “nothing has changed.”

She said that would be the same as saying, “We’re not going to respect the results of the election.”

“We don’t trust you to make informed decisions,” she continued.

Collins, it should be noted, was part of the group that put up signs supporting Molly Walsh, Chris Jenner and Tom Wilbeck.

Woodstock’s Molly Oakford said she “was here for the students.”

She urged the Board to show the “highest level of standards of excellence.”

Referring to what was on the agenda, she asserted, “The process is wrong.  The process does not [meet] standards of excellence…

“This meeting should never have been held.  It’s shameful.  It’s railroading.

“I want to see our Board conduct itself in a standard of excellence.”

Former MCC Trustee George Lowe then weighed in.

“I think it behooves you to give them [the new trustees] a chance to vote on the contract.

“If not, it’s a gotcha!”

Philosophy and Ethics Instructor James Gould also expressed disapproval.  He thanked Larson for her 24 years of being a “faithful advocate for the employees” and urged Board members to think about the good reputation and image of the college.

He called the effort to act on extending Smith’s contract “anti-democratic and, in effect, subvert[ing] the will of the public.

“I ask that decision be made by the new Board.”

The only person speaking in favor of the old Board extending Smith’s contract was Biology Instructor Marla Garrison.

She told of the “erosion of confidence” during “the four years of rapid turnover administration.”

“I don’t believe lame ducks.  This Board is an active Board and was elected by the community regardless of what happens next.

“For the past two years, I’ve felt energized…the status quo was no more.”

New Board member Chris Jenner spoke next.

He pointed that he had talked to no Board members about Smith and that the Board had seven weeks to act on her contract.

“There seems to be ample time,” he said, asking the current Board to allow its successor to make the decision.

I spoke next, pointing out I was the only one in the room who had been at the meeting called to form the college.  (Cal Skinner, Sr., called the meeting and served on the first board.)

I asked the members who would not be on the next Board to think of the harm they would do to the college’s reputation and their own if they acted on the contract extension before leaving office.

I also requested that the reports be made available to the public prior to the meeting.

Steve Wilson, just out of cataract surgery read a statement to the Board:

“This is a test, a test of integrity.

“A week ago 70% of the people who went to the polls voted AGAINST the incumbents.

“If Liddell, Kisser and Miller vote for this contract, it shows they have no respect for the voters and no respect for their new colleagues.

“And if Vicky Smith accepts a contract voted by this lame duck board, over the objection of the new trustees, it will prove she also has no respect for the new board, no integrity, and that she is simply looking for a big golden parachute on her way out the door, grabbing for a half million dollars of taxpayers’ money.”

A Wonder Lake poster on McHenry County Tea Party named Kelly Liebmann is urging taxpayers to email the McHenry County College Board in opposition to the Trustees’ plan to renew MCC President Vicky Smith’s contract on Tuesday night before three newly elected Board members are sworn in.

The email address is mcctrustees@mchenry.edu for those who wish to comment on the situation.

She also suggests calling two of the  holdover Trustees:

• Linda Liddell at 815-455-8060
• Cynthia Kisser at 815-728-1990

Steven Willson, who was intimately involved in the election campaigns for Tom Wilbeck and Chris Jenner sent this email:

“To Vicky Smith and the Trustees of McHenry County College:

“Dear Ms. Smith:

“Please make sure that my email reaches all the trustees, as they do not have individual email addresses on the McHenry County College web site, nor is your email listed on your web site.

“I am writing to express my outrage.

“That the board should consider offering, and that you should consider accepting, a contract where there has been no prior official board action or public notice that any negotiation was under way, is appalling.

“That you should accept a contract that is subject to approval at a special board meeting called with the minimum notice possible, posted after 5:00 p.m. on a Friday for the following Tuesday, is a travesty of the democratic process.

“That the board agenda permits no public comment, unlike the agenda for every other board meeting, shows utter contempt for the citizens of McHenry County.

“There is no emergency that requires action by the outgoing board.

“The only reason for the lame duck board to act now, to handcuff the new, incoming board, one week before they take office, is blatant fear that a new majority is emerging that does not support you.

“Do you really want to put yourself in such a position?

“Show some guts, show some class, and refuse the contract.”

Stephen Willson

The question of whether it is a conflict of interest for Power Wellness to be paid $50,000 to determine if a health club should be built at McHenry County College which Power Wellness might end up operating surfaced at Tuesday night’s Committee of the Whole meeting.

The impetus was a call from an unnamed Chicago Tribune reporter to Ron Parrish, the Board’s designated representative on a committee considering that idea, as well as two other related ones:

1. Health education
2. Clinical services center

Concerning how to finance the project, Parrish said, “Frankly, Vicki and I are on opposite ends of how we’re going to do it.”

Parrish did not enunciate his financing preference.

Parrish praised the two Northwest Herald articles the Sunday and Monday before last.

He called the “report well balanced.”

Most of the information seems to have come from MCC President Vicki Smith, MCC Board President Mary Miller and Parish’s having visited the Northwest Herald at its offices.

A discussion followed about whether there was a conflict of interest existed in the hiring of Power Wellness to do a feasibility study.

“Are you comfortable with that?” Parrish asked.

“I’ve only found good reports about Power Wellness[but] they might be soliciting proposals which they might be [competing] against.

Cynthia Kisser asked if there were other potential partners which were as good.

“[If so,] at that pint we’d have to have some other resource to help us evaluate [the proposals].

“I think that’s a bridge we’ll have to cross.

“We’re not in a conflict yet. It’s more their conflict than ours.”

“Right now we haven’t hired a partner,” President Miller observed. “For now I don’t see any conflict.”

“I’m prepared to step forward and stop it,” Parrish said.

At that point there was a chorus of “Oh no’s.”

Chairing the Committee of the Whole meeting was Dennis Adams who observed, “Right now we’re all nodding up and down.”

Summing up the attitude of most members, Carol Larson said, “I don’t know [that] the board has a concern right now. I don’t think anyone’s having a problem.

And to Parrish, “I know you do.”

“I do,” Parrish affirmed.

He then talked about a letter from “a concerned citizen.”

“I’ve only seen negative comments.”

“Are the letters you get signed?” Larson asked.

Yes,” replied Parrish.

“I get comments [that are] positive, but I don’t have it in writing,” the Alden Township resident observed.

Addressing one complaint was Kisser.

“We are not seeking to become a four-year institution,” she said referring to “a well written letter.”

Then Parrish moved into the question of public perception.

“I believe public perception is just as important as reality.”

“What are we doing to correct the record?” Adams asked, referring to what I think was a letter to the NWH which contained what he characterized as “misinformation.”

“It’s in print,” he stated, perhaps inadvertently showing the power of letters to the editor read by “everybody in this county.”

He referred to a “public relations lie, wrong data, wrong class utilization data. What do we do about that?”

“Maybe Dr. Smith could address those in her column,” Miller suggested.

“Building a fitness center is so far from the truth. That’s not the truth and it not [just] a fitness center,” pointing out that it would be used to train people for jobs.

And of the three additions being considered, Kisser said, “The fitne4ss center may not be there.”

Parrish observed that it was being explored because “there’s a funding mechanism.”

“It’s not like we’re going to be competing with HealthBridge,” Miller said.

Kisser mentioned physical therapy as a use for the fitness center.

In answer to the question of what the college was going to do to counter the bad publicity, Smith told the Trustees, “We do have a communications plan.”

She said, “They have FOIed [filed Freedom of Information request) and drawn their own conclusions [which] don’t have much relationship to what the data says.”

The 2012 Labor Report was referenced which shows health careers going up through 2015.

“What can we use besides the newspaper?” someone asked.

Parrish said, “Pushing forward a $42 million building–that, as I see it, is not on the table.

“We are looking to justify that.”

The new Vice President of Institutional Advancement Laura Brown gave some areas where she and her staff were “looking at what else we can do creatively.”

The internet was specifically referenced.

A press release from McHenry County College:

MCC BOARD WELCOMES NEW TRUSTEES

[May 2, 2011.Crystal Lake, IL] The McHenry County College Board of Trustees welcomed newly-elected trustees Cynthia Kisser of Wonder Lake, Linda Liddell of Crystal Lake and Dennis Adams of McHenry, as well as student trustee Taylor Irish Morrobel of Crystal Lake, at their monthly board meeting on April 27.

Ms. Kisser and Ms. Liddell both were elected to six-year terms. Mr. Adams, who was appointed to the board in November 2010, was elected to a two-year term. Mr. Morrobel was elected by student peers to a one-year term.

“McHenry County College impacts the lives of thousands of people daily, whether these people are students, faculty, staff, or members of the public who support and benefit from its services,” Kisser stated. “It is an honor to serve as trustee and to help MCC stay true to its mission.”

According to Liddell, “We are entering a time when community colleges will play a bigger role across the country. Enrollments are up nationwide, and MCC has an excellent staff and the right resources in place to move forward and support community and workforce needs. I am excited to be part of the College’s growth and look forward to helping MCC meet new heights and demands over the coming years,” Liddell said.

Board Chair, Mary Miller, installed all trustees and shared her perspective. “I am very pleased to welcome Linda Liddell and Cynthia Kisser to the McHenry County College Board of Trustees. Both bring a wealth of experience to the office, and I look forward to working with them to move the College forward.” Miller added, “I am also happy that Dennis Adams will continue on the Board. I know that his business skills will be a valuable asset in his new capacity as vice chair of the Board.”

Trustee Adams has a strong interest in the future success of the College. “As a parent of two students who attend MCC, I am very happy to be able to volunteer my time to the institution,” he said.

“The Board is also excited to welcome Taylor Irish Morrobel as our student trustee, and I feel confident that he will represent the student body well in our discussions,” Chair Miller concluded.

Student Trustee Morrobel said that “having the opportunity to serve as the MCC student trustee is a great privilege. Everyone on the Board was very welcoming, and I look forward to working with them. I will try my best to serve the students of MCC well and am excited to be their voice.”

The Board also elected officers at the April meeting; Mary Miller was re-elected as chair, Dennis Adams was elected as vice chair, and Barbara Walters was elected as secretary.

For a schedule of upcoming MCC Board meetings, visit www.mchenry.edu/board; all meetings are open to the public. If you have questions or feedback for the MCC Board of Trustees, please email mcctrustees@mchenry.edu.

Five out of seven.

That’s the number of women who will be serving on the McHenry County College Board after new members are sworn in.

In last week’s election, two women, Linda Liddel and Cynthia Kisser. took the six-year terms.

Losing was long-time member George Lowe and appointed member Robert DeWitt, who took Scott Summers place.

For the two-year term, a man did win.

Dennis Adams, appointed to fill out Donna Kurtz’ term beat another man, Dave Boger.

But, there are three women who were not up for election this year:

• Carol Larson
• Mary Miller
• Barbara Walters

Ron Parish, elected President of Bull Valley this spring, also occupies a seat on the board.

Student Trustee Cody Sheriff is also male, but his term expires this month and, while he can talk, he can’t vote.

And, of course, Vicky Smith is the new MCC President.

What role do you think gender will have on McHenry County College?

Will new member Linda Liddell get her wish to tape record and archive what is said at McHenry County College Board meetings?

Will Dennis Adams continue to approach college affairs from his businessman’s point of view.

Any thoughts on the future of the college?

I’ve been harping for years about how women have an advantage at the ballot box.

The election results from the most recent McHenry County College Board election add some evidence.

Now readers with retentive memories will also remember than being first on a long ballot is worth about an extra 10% at the ballot box. Second and last place are worth an extra 5%.

So one could argue that being first on the ballot helpd Linda Liddell come in first.

And, maybe you can see an extra 5% for incumbent George Lowe, who was last on the ballot.

But, you can’t see it for the second incumbent, an appointed one, Robert DeWitt, who didn’t equal Lowe in votes.

Of course, Low put up signs and DeWitt did not.  And Lowe has won election many times.

But, how to explain Cynthia Kisser’s victory with her ballot position right in the middle of all the candidates’ names?

She was endorsed by the Northwest Herald.

But so was Robert Jackson and Gordon Tebo.  Jackson came in next to last. Tebo was fifth out of eight.

But she is also a woman.

I would welcome your analysis in the comment section.

= = = = =
In an earlier article, I noted Dennis Adams’ commanding lead for the two-year slot, but let me show you the final results here:

Two women are pulling away in the race for four-year terms on the McHenry County College Board.

Linda Liddell and Cynthia Kisser are leading elected incumbent George Lowe by  862 and 350 votes, respectively.  In fourth place is Gordon Tebo, almost 600 votes behind Kisser.

Appointed incumbent Robert DeWitt is in fifth place, 32 votes behind Tebo.