Tension between north and south at GCC meeting

"They just do whatever they want."
Larry Stephenson
Payson GCC Board Member

By Mitzi Brabb
Gazette Correspondent

Tension rose at the Gila Community College Board meeting last Wednesday as northern and southern board members debated the election of governing board officers for 2010.

What board members probably assumed would be a quick vote turned into a heated debate, leading to two separate motions. While the Payson campus board members, Larry Stephenson and Tom Loeffler, stood firm in voting against a motion to re-elect Board President Bob Ashford and Vice President Bernadette Kniffin for another term, they were outvoted 3-2 by their southern counterparts.

Stephenson protested that board policy dictates that a board chairman may only serve five terms in office, and Ashford would be violating this policy if reelected for another term.

Ashford claimed that he was not familiar with the policy and argued that even if it were legitimate, he would be eligible for another term since he stepped in for only a half a term when the former board chairman retired in 2005.

After faxing two pages of the 30-page policy from Payson (where Stephenson and Loeffler were participating via interactive TV) to Globe (where the other three board members were), the discussion was tabled until the Globe contingent could examine the policy rule.

“I have seen this policy and don’t remember ever voting on it,” said Ashford after reviewing the document.

He also argued that there were no signatures on the document, but he was refuted by Stephenson’s clarification that they were included on other pages of a lengthy policy handout.

In spite of Stephenson’s efforts, the 2003 board policy was ignored and Ashford was able to hold onto his position as the elected chairman for a fifth time.

“They just do whatever they want,” said Stephenson, shaking his head.

Due to time constraints bcause Globe campus students needed the classroom that board members were occupying, the meeting was rushed, and some agenda items were tabled.

A secondary tax levy election was one of the items briefly discussed, but it was postponed until the March board meeting.

Controversy brewed over the renewal of the Triadvocates contract for 2010 lobbying services.

While some members argued that the lobbyist’s have being doing a good job for GCC consistent with their goals, Stephenson proclaimed that the spending of $40,000 could be better placed in their budget and he would not advocate for that decision.

“If we can’t afford $10,000 for our students, then we can’t afford $40,000 for a lobbyist,” Loeffler further argued.

Again, in spite of the efforts of the Payson board members, the board passed a motion to re-contract with the lobbyist firm.

The Call to the Public agenda item was also suspended, disappointing Payson resident Chris Tilley.

“Is it even legal to suspend it from the meeting agenda?” Tilley sked. She had hoped to address the board  regarding the $2 million budget discrepancies as well as to provide input on the lobbyist’s contract.

The few items that seemed to meet approval of all board members was the consent agenda to approve contracts for college outreach learning with Payson Regional Medical Center and the Isabella Hunt Memorial Library in Pine.

Loeffler updated the board on ASU’s collaboration with GCC to establish a four year college in Payson. Although there have been no decisions set in stone, he said Arizona State University seems genuinely interested in building a rural outreach campus in the pines, located on the 150 acres across from the Payson campus, with a focus on majors including rural health, forestry, and green energy.

Loeffler also said that if the ASU deal does come to pass then the Payson Campus may be able drop its provisional standing with EAC and become its own independent institution.

“Both entities (Payson and ASU) are committed to strengthening their community college relationship,” Loeffler added.

“It would be a win-win situation for everybody,” Ashford stated.