[B. CALL TO ORDER/PUBLIC MEETING]
[00:00:04]
EFFY, WILL YOU CALL ROLL, PLEASE? REGENT CARSON.REGENT GANAHL. REGENT GRIEGO. HERE. REGENT HILL.
HERE. WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED, AS FAR AS I KNOW.
WE HAVE ONE ITEM ON THE AGENDA, WHICH IS THE ELECTION OF VICE PRESIDENT, UNIVERSITY COUNSEL AND SECRETARY TO THE BOARD OF REGENTS.
ARE YOU ON THE LINE BY CHANCE? I AM. [INAUDIBLE].
AS I SAID, WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE IN GENERAL SESSION AND WE HAVE ONE ITEM ON THE AGENDA, AND THAT'S THE ELECTION OF VICE PRESIDENT, UNIVERSITY COUNSEL, THE SECRETARY OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS. ON.
RESOLVED THAT THE BOARD OF REGENTS IN CONSULTATION WITH PRESIDENT KENNEDY [INAUDIBLE] VICE PRESIDENT, UNIVERSITY COUNSEL AND SECRETARY OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS EFFECTIVE JULY 6, 2020.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE LETTER OF OFFER ACCOMPANYING THIS RESOLUTION.
SO I'VE READ THAT RESOLUTION AND I NEED A SECOND.
OK. THANK YOU. AND WE'RE GOING TO DO ANY DISCUSSION AT THIS POINT AND WE'LL START WITH REGENT CARSON.
I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DISCUSS.
CHAIR GALLEGOS. CAN YOU TELL ME THE APPROPRIATE TIME TO INTRODUCE THAT RESOLUTION? THE TIME TO INTRODUCE IT WAS BEFORE I READ MY RESOLUTION.
I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT. SO HOW DO I DO IT NOW? WELL, I THINK THAT WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
CAN THERE BE AN AMENDMENT TO ADD AN AMENDMENT TO YOUR RESOLUTION? I BELIEVE AN AMENDMENT COULD BE ADDED TO THAT.
LET'S WAIT FOR EFFIE TO LET US KNOW WHAT WE'LL DO HERE.
AN AMENDMENT WOULD BE IT WOULD HAVE TO BE GERMANE TO THE ORIGINAL MOTION.
IT COULDN'T BE A SEPARATE RESOLUTION.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROPOSED CHANGE WOULD BE.
SO AMENDMENT WOULD BE SOMETHING LIKE IF YOU WANTED TO CHANGE THE NAME OF THE CANDIDATE OR THEIR START DATE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
SO I MADE IT PRETTY CLEAR TO DAN, HE ASKED ME IF I WANTED TO INTRODUCE THIS RESOLUTION.
SO, DAN, WHAT WHAT'S THE APPROPRIATE THING TO DO HERE? WELL, YOU'LL RECALL I DID ASK IF YOU INTENDED TO, AND YOU SAID YES.
AND I SAID, COULD YOU SEND A COPY SO WE COULD DISTRIBUTED IN ADVANCE AND GET IT ON THE AGENDA? I DID NOT GET THAT E-MAIL SAYING THAT.
I CAN'T EXPLAIN. I JUST SAID, YES, I DO.
AND I DID NOT GET AN EMAIL IN RESPONSE.
LET'S FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN DO THE RESOLUTION QUICKLY.
WE'RE IN A MOTION WITH THE SECOND AND DISCUSSION THAT STARTED THAT WE WANT TO DO THE RESOLUTION. SO WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO GO ABOUT DOING THAT? YOU COULD VOTE TO LAY THIS ONE ON THE TABLE TEMPORARILY AND THEN COME BACK TO.
SO I WOULD ASK THAT WE PUT THE RESOLUTION THAT I JUST READ IN THE SECOND FROM REGENT SMITH ON HOLD WHILE WE GET TO REGENT GANAHL'S RESOLUTION.
ALL IN FAVOR OF THAT, SAY AYE.
AYE. ALL IN NOT IN FAVOR OF THAT SAY NAY.
NAY. SHALL WE DO A VOICE VOTE ON THAT? BECAUSE WE HAD I THINK I HEARD THREE THREE PEOPLE THAT SAID NAY.
EFFIE LET'S DO A VOICE VOTE ON THAT.
SURE, AND DO YOU HAVE A SECOND FOR THAT MOTION TO LAY ON THE TABLE.
[00:05:05]
I CAN SECOND IT. REGENT SHARKEY SECONDS.REGENT CARSON. AYE. REGENT GANAHL.
REGENT HILL. I HONESTLY DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS.
I'M HAPPY TO HEAR IT. SO, YES.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT IT IS EITHER, BUT I'LL VOTE TO HEAR THE MOTION.
SO THERE'S BEEN A MOTION AND A SECOND FROM REGENT GANAHL.
WELL, THAT WAS JUST TO CLARIFY, WE JUST VOTED TO LAY THE ORIGINAL RESOLUTION ON THE TABLE TEMPORARILY, AND SO NOW WE'LL GIVE THE FLOOR TO REGENT GANAHL AND THEN SHE CAN MAKE A MOTION. SHE WOULD LIKE.
AND THIS SHOULDN'T BE A SURPRISE YOU GUYS.
I SENT THAT, DAN SENT ALL THE MATERIALS.
WHEN WAS THAT? A WEEK AND A HALF AGO ABOUT THIS.
BUT IT MIGHT TAKE ME A MINUTE, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO EXPLAIN.
SO WE AS THE CU BOARD OF REGENTS HAVE HIRING AUTHORITY OVER JUST FOR SENIOR LEADERSHIP POSITIONS AT CU.
THE BOARD IS LEGALLY ENTRUSTED TO FILL THESE POSITIONS BASED ON THE SIGNIFICANT AUTHORITY EACH OF THESE ROLES EXERCISE, HAVING THE ELECTED BOARD OF REGENTS FILL THESE POSITIONS AND SERVES TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE SELECTION OF THAT IN THE HIRING PROCESS. THE BOARD IS PREPARING TO VOTE TO FILL ONE OF THESE FOUR ROLES AND THE POSITION.
IT'S THE POSITION OF UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO BOARD SECRETARY.
I HAVE SIGNIFICANT CONCERNS THAT THE PROCESS TO FILL THIS VACANCY DID NOT COMPLY WITH LEGAL REQUIREMENTS AND THE BOARD IS BEING ASKED TO FINALIZE THIS APPOINTMENT BEFORE THESE LEGAL CONCERNS CAN BE ADDRESSED.
THE BOARD MUST PAUSE LONG ENOUGH TO ENSURE THIS APPOINTMENT IS MADE IN A LEGAL AND PROPER MANNER. THE BOARD MAINTAINS WRITTEN POLICIES FOR FILLING THE BOARD SECRETARY POSITION.
THE PROCESS TO FILL THE BOARD SECRETARY POSITION HAS VIOLATED MULTIPLE REQUIREMENTS ESTABLISHED BY THE BOARD OF REGENTS POLICY.
THE PRIMARY LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO THE PROCESS INCLUDE UNAUTHORIZED APPOINTMENT OF SEARCH COMMITTEE. THE BOARD OF REGENTS REQUIRES THE BOARD TO APPOINT A SEARCH COMMITTEE FULFILLING THE BOARD'S SECRETARY POSITION.
THE BOARD OF REGENTS, THROUGH CONSULTATION WITH THE BOARD CHAIR AND PRESIDENT, SHALL APPOINT THE SEARCH COMMITTEE.
TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THE BOARD WAS NOT CONSULTED IN CONSTITUTING SOME MEMBERS OF THE SEARCH COMMITTEE HIRING AUTHORITY.
THE NEXT ONE IS HIRING AUTHORITY PRECLUDED FROM REVIEWING CANDIDATE INFORMATION.
BOARD OF REGENTS POLICY THREE MAKES CLEAR THAT THE ROLE OF THE SEARCH COMMITTEE IS TO ADVISE THE SUPERVISING AUTHORITY, THE BOARD, ON THE POOL OF CANDIDATES AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS ON WHICH CANDIDATES THE SEARCH COMMITTEE FINDS MOST QUALIFIED.
THE BASIC CHARGE OF A SEARCH COMMITTEE IS TO GENERATE A STRONG POOL OF CANDIDATES AND ADVISE THE SUPERVISING AUTHORITY OF THOSE CANDIDATES BEST QUALIFIED TO MEET THE UNIVERSITY'S NEEDS.
THE SEARCH COMMITTEE DID NOT FOLLOW OR ABIDE BY THESE REQUIREMENTS.
THE SEARCH COMMITTEE ENGAGED IN CLOSED DOOR PROCESS TO CHOOSE WHICH CANDIDATES WOULD BE SHARED WITH THE BOARD. THE POLICY REQUIRES THE SEARCH COMMITTEE CHAIR TO SHARE WITH THE BOARD INFORMATION RELATED TO THE SEARCH COMMITTEE'S DELIBERATIONS, CONFLICTING OPINIONS AND INFORMATION ABOUT THE CANDIDATES.
THE POLICY EXPRESSLY PROVIDES THE SEARCH COMMITTEE CHAIR SHALL REPORT TO THE SUPERVISING AUTHORITY THE DELIBERATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE.
DIVISIONS OF OPINION AND INFORMATION.
IT HAS COMPILED ABOUT RECOMMENDED CANDIDATES.
UNDER THIS POLICY PROVISION, I'VE MADE MULTIPLE REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION ABOUT CANDIDATES AND SEARCH COMMITTEE CONSIDERATIONS THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS AND OFTEN DENIED THOSE REQUESTS. THE ELECTED BOARD OF REGENTS IS THE HIRING AUTHORITY FOR THE BOARD SECRETARY POSITION. THE SEARCH PROCESS FOR HIRING THIS POSITION MAY BE DELEGATED TO A COMMITTEE PROVIDED THAT THE BOARD APPOINTS THE SEARCH COMMITTEE AND THE SEARCH COMMITTEE OPENLY SHARES INFORMATION AND DELIBERATIONS WITH THE BOARD.
NEITHER OF THESE FUNDAMENTAL COMMISSION CONDITIONS APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN MET EITHER.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION NEEDS TO BE PROVIDED TO THE BOARD, DEMONSTRATING COMPLIANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS SET FORTH ABOVE OR LEGAL COUNSEL MUST ADVISE THE BOARD AND WHAT CORRECTIVE MEASURES MUST BE IMPLEMENTED TO RESTORE LEGALITY TO THIS APPOINTMENT PROCESS.
EVEN IF WE ASSUME THAT THE BOARD CAN DELEGATE THE PROCESS TO RECOMMEND A FINALIST.
AND EVEN IF THE BOARD DID PROPERLY DELEGATE THIS PROCESS, WHICH I BELIEVE IT DID NOT.
THERE IS NO SCENARIO IN WHICH THE COMMITTEE CAN LEGALLY AND ETHICALLY JUSTIFY WITHHOLDING RECORDS FROM A BOARD MEMBER BASED ON THE FACT THAT THEY ARE ACTING UNDER EXPRESSED DELEGATION OF BOARD AUTHORITY, EVEN IF A MAJORITY OF THE BOARD CHOOSES TO BLINDLY ACCEPT THE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION EACH BOARD MEMBER, AS HIRING AUTHORITY, HAS THE RIGHT AND SHOULD REVIEW THE PROCESS AND RECORDS THAT LED TO THE FINAL ITS RECOMMENDATION.
I HAVE REQUESTED FROM DAN A LEGAL BASIS TO BLOCK A BOARD MEMBER FROM REVIEWING THE RECORDS I ASKED FOR AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED A SATISFACTORY RESPONSE.
TO BE CLEAR, MY CONCERNS ARE NOT ON THE SUBSTANTIVE QUALIFICATIONS OF ANY ONE CANDIDATE, BUT INSTEAD ARE BASED ON THE FACT THAT THE LEGAL PROCESS OF APPOINTING A BOARD SECRETARY
[00:10:02]
HAS NOT BEEN MET. PROCEEDING IN A RASH MANNER WITHOUT FIRST ADDRESSING THESE IDENTIFIED LEGAL LIABILITIES COULD CALL INTO QUESTION THE LEGAL VALIDITY OF THIS APPOINTMENT.EQUALLY IMPORTANT, I FIND IT UNREASONABLE AND IMPROPER THAT A BOARD MEMBER IS BEING ASKED TO VOTE ON A CRITICAL BOARD APPOINTMENT WITHOUT BEING PROVIDED BASIC INFORMATION REQUESTED RELEVANT TO THE SELECTION PROCESS AND THE CANDIDATES AS SPECIFICALLY REQUIRED BY LAW.
TO WRAP UP, AS WE ALL KNOW, THE POSITION OF BOARD SECRETARY IS CRITICAL TO THE ONGOING SUCCESS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO.
THIS INDIVIDUAL WILL LIKELY SERVE THE UNIVERSITY FOR MANY YEARS AND WILL LIKELY OUTSERVE OUR ELECTED TERMS. IT IS NECESSARY THAT THE PROCESS BE CONDUCTED IN A LAWFUL, ETHICAL AND TRANSPARENT MANNER. RATHER THAN RUSH BY AN INVENTED SOURCE OF URGENCY.
I"M REQUESTING THAT WE PAUSE ONLY LONG ENOUGH TO ENSURE THE SEARCH PROCESS IS FINALIZED IN A LEGAL AND PROPER MANNER.
AS A BOARD, WE MUST APPOINT THE BEST AVAILABLE CANDIDATE, BUT WE ALSO MUST FOLLOW LAWFUL AND PROPER PROCESS.
WE CAN DO BOTH BY TAKING JUST ONE STEP BACK, CONSULTING WITH LEGAL COUNSEL TO ENSURE THIS APPOINTMENT IS FINALIZED IN A LAWFUL, ETHICAL AND TRANSPARENT MANNER.
I MOVE FOR THE BOARD TO CONSULT LEGAL COUNSEL TO ADVISE THE BOARD ON THESE IDENTIFIED LEGAL CONCERNS BEFORE AN APPOINTMENT FOR BOARD SECRETARY IS FINALIZED.
I'D LIKE TO SECOND THAT MOTION.
SO YOUR MOTION, HEIDI, IS TO ASK THE BOARD TO POSTPONE THE HIRING OF THIS PERSON RIGHT NOW. I'LL READ IT.
I MOVE FOR THE BOARD TO CONSULT LEGAL COUNSEL TO ADVISE THE BOARD ON THESE IDENTIFIED LEGAL CONCERNS BEFORE AN APPOINTMENT FOR BOARD SECRETARY IS FINALIZED.
AND THERE WAS A SECOND ON THAT.
JACK. YOU KNOW, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO THE REGENT GANAHL AND BRINGING THIS MOTION FORWARD AND OBVIOUSLY REGENT SHARKEY FOR SECONDING THE MOTION.
WE'VE DISCUSSED THIS AD NAUSEUM.
WE VOTED ON THIS A WEEK AGO, SEVEN TO TWO TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROCESS.
I THINK AT THIS POINT, WE NEED TO MOVE ON.
YOU KNOW, YOU CAN VOTE THE WAY YOU WANT TO VOTE, BUT CHAIR GALLEGOS.
I'D LIKE TO JUST CALL THE QUESTION CALL THE VOTE ON THIS.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS IN CIRCLES FOR DAYS NOW, AND IT'S JUST TIME TO MOVE ON.
I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO CALL THE QUESTION.
I WANT TO. I WANT TO SECOND THAT.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO CALL THE QUESTION AND WE'LL LOOK AT THIS POINT.
CAN I MAKE A COMMENT? YOU CANNOT, SUE. OK.
IT'S BEEN IT'S BEEN CALLED AND A SECOND.
SO NOW WE NEED TO FIND OUT WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE GOING TO DISPENSE OF ALL DISCUSSION REGARDING THAT QUESTION AND VOTE ON IT AT THIS POINT.
SO THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING WITH IT.
SO EFFIE, WILL YOU TAKE A ROLL CALL? WE HAVE HEARD HEIDI'S MOTION.
JACK CALLED A QUESTION THAT HAS A SECOND.
AND WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON SUSPENDING ALL DISCUSSION WITH IT AND GOING RIGHT TO A VOTE TO A VOTE ON HEIDI'S MOTION.
AS A REMINDER, THIS REQUIRES A TWO THIRDS VOTE TO PASS.
SO IT WOULD REQUIRE SIX VOTES.
SO WE WILL SUSPEND ALL DISCUSSION REGARDING TO REGENT GANAHL'S MOTION.
AND SO WE'LL ASK FOR A VOTE ON HER MOTION AT THIS PARTICULAR POINT.
AND EFFIE, WILL YOU DO A ROLL CALL? DOES ANYBODY NEED THE MOTION READ AND AND ON WHETHER OR NOT A YES MEANS YES OR NO MEANS NO? GO AHEAD.
OK. AND THIS IS A VOTE ON REGENT GANAHL'S MOTION, SO REGENT CARSON.
THIS IS A VOTE ON THE MOTION THAT REGENT GANAHL MADE TO BRING IN OUTSIDE LEGAL COUNSEL TO LOOK AT. OH, OK.
REGENT HILL. I UNDERSTAND THE SENTIMENT, BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO GET ON WITH IT.
[00:15:01]
SO I'LL SAY NO.OK, SO AT THIS POINT, I'M GOING TO DO WHAT I NEED TO DO EFFIE TO BRING OUR ORIGINAL MOTION BACK. AND THE SECOND THAT WE HAD WITH THAT AND THAT ORIGINAL MOTION WAS RESOLVED THAT THE BOARD OF REGENTS IN CONSULTATION WITH PRESIDENT KENNEDY ELECTS JOSE PADILLA VICE PRESIDENT, UNIVERSITY COUNSEL AND SECRETARY OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS EFFECTIVE JULY 6, 2020, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE LETTER OF OFFER, COPYING THIS RESOLUTION. WE HAD A SECOND ON THAT MOTION AND NOW WE'LL WE'LL WE'LL TAKE DISCUSSION ON THAT. AND REGENT CARSON WE STARTED WITH YOU.
AND YOU HAD GIVEN YOUR YOUR, THE FLOORS OPEN TO YOU IF YOU'D LIKE TO ADD ANYTHING, IF NOT WE'RE TO REGENT GANAHL.
I'M AS I SAID EARLIER, I'M I'M PREPARED TO APPOINT JOSE PADILLA, OUR VICE PRESIDENT, COUNSEL AND SECRETARY.
CHAIR GALLEGOS. IS THIS GOING TO BE SPLIT INTO A VOTE ON THE CANDIDATE AND THE VOTE ON THE SALARY PACKAGE OR COMPETITION PACKAGE? IT IS NOT. IT'S ONE VOTE.
AND YOU WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO WITH DISCUSSION RIGHT NOW TALK ABOUT YOUR VOTE.
BUT IT WILL BE ONE VOTE. ALL RIGHT.
WELL, I THINK JOSE IS, YOU KNOW, VERY QUALIFIED.
AS YOU HEARD, I'M NOT I'M NOT HAPPY ABOUT THE PROCESS.
AND I THINK THERE'S SOME LEGAL ISSUES THERE.
BUT THERE'S A HUGE ISSUE WITH THE COMPENSATION PACKAGE.
I THINK IT'S OUT OF TOUCH WITH REALITY.
NATIONWIDE, NON INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF AND ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS NOW ACCOUNT FOR MORE THAN HALF OF UNIVERSITY PAYROLL COSTS.
BETWEEN 2001 AND 2011, THE NUMBER OF COLLEGE ADMINISTRATORS AND NON TEACHING EMPLOYEES INCREASED 50 PERCENT FASTER THAN THE NUMBER OF TEACHING FACULTY.
THERE'S LOTS OF DATA AROUND CU'S ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSE RATES, BUT THEY'RE HIGH, MUCH HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE OR PEER AVERAGE, THAT ADMINISTRATIVE BLOW, COUPLED WITH VIRTUALLY OPEN ENDED ACCESS TO FEDERAL SUBSIDIES, HAS CREATED MUCH OF THE FINANCIAL HAZARD WITH WHICH UNIVERSITIES MUCH MUST NOW WRESTLE.
THE CORONAVIRUS DIDN'T CREATE THIS CHALLENGE.
BUT IT HAS SHINING A BRIGHT SPOTLIGHT ON THIS FISCAL CLIFF.
WE AS REGENTS SHOULD TAKE THE LEAD ON WRITING THE BUDGETARY SHIP.
NOW IS THE TIME TO BE DILIGENT AND BOLD IN OUR APPROACH.
IT'S WHY MY EARLIER POINTS ABOUT TRANSPARENCY AND ACCESS TO INFORMATION IS SO CRITICAL TO US. DOING OUR JOB THE WAY FORWARD HAS BEEN CLEAR FOR A LONG TIME TO LOWER EXPENSES, ESPECIALLY AROUND ADMINISTRATIVE BLOAT.
WE CANNOT BALANCE THE BOOKS ON THE BACKS OF OUR STUDENTS.
WE SHOULD DIRECT RESOURCES TO TEACHING AND LEARNING WHERE THEY CAN MAKE THE MOST IMPACT.
LET'S BE STUDENT CENTERED AND MORE THAN RHETORIC.
THE PANDEMIC IS A HARD STOP FOR US AS REGENTS TO STOP RUNAWAY SPENDING.
LET'S START TODAY WITH THIS NEW HIRE AND VOTE NO ON THIS BLOATED COMPENSATION OFFER.
I SUPPORT I SUPPORT HIRING JOSE PADILLA.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING HIM, HIS EXPERTISE, I THINK WILL HELP US.
THIS IS NOT A TIME FOR US TO COMPROMISE TALENT.
WE NEED THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST DURING THIS WEEK WITH THE CORONAVIRUS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OVER OR AT LEAST ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE DIED.
AND WE NEED SOMEONE TO HELP WITH THAT.
THE BOARD AND WORKING AND SUPPORTING OUR UNIVERSITY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, REGENT HILL.
YEAH. AND I BASICALLY HAD ALREADY MADE MY POINTS CLEAR IN MY EMAIL.
YOU KNOW, I HAD RECOMMENDED A BIFURCATED VOTE.
I'M HAPPY TO VOTE FOR JOSE'S APPOINTMENT.
HE'S QUALIFIED. BUT, YOU KNOW, I WOULD ECHO WHAT HEIDI SAID ABOUT THE COMPENSATION FOR HIM OR ANYONE ELSE MOVING FORWARD AS LONG AS WE'RE IN THIS ECONOMIC CALAMITY.
YOU CAN BE SURE I'M TO BE VERY CONSISTENT ABOUT THIS MINDSET PROBABLY FOR THE NEXT SIX TO 12 MONTHS. AS LONG AS THIS PANDEMIC CRISIS MAKES US HEMORRHAGE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS DOLLARS AT A TIME. SO IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO BIFURCATE IT, THAT'S FINE.
BUT I'LL BE COMPELLED TO VOTE NO AS A RESULT, ONLY BECAUSE THE COMPENSATION PACKAGE AND IT BEING TOO HIGH IN MY MIND.
REGENT KROLL. THANK YOU, CHAIR GALLEGOS.
I WANT TO YOU KNOW, I APPRECIATE REGENT GANAHL'S SENTIMENTS HERE AROUND ADMINISTRATIVE BLOAT. I THINK ARGUABLY, THOUGH, YOU KNOW, THE BOARD SECRETARY IS A POSITION THAT WE CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT. IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT POSITION.
[00:20:03]
AND SO, YOU KNOW, YOUR CONCERNS ARE CERTAINLY NOTED WITH ME.I APPRECIATE THE FOCUS ON BEING PARSIMONIOUS IN THESE TIMES.
YOU KNOW, WE I PERSONALLY HAVE BEEN OPPOSED TO OTHER CONTRACTS THAT WE VOTED ON BECAUSE OF THE SIZE OF THOSE CONTRACTS AND THE COMPENSATION FOR CERTAIN EMPLOYEES.
I DON'T THINK THIS IS THE TIME AND SPACE TO GET INTO THAT CONVERSATION, BUT I SURMISE THERE WILL BE FUTURE VOTES THAT THIS BOARD WILL TAKE AND THE NOT SO DISTANT FUTURE ON COMPENSATION FOR OTHER EMPLOYEES AT THE UNIVERSITY.
AND I HOPE THAT YOU WILL JOIN ME WHEN WE VOTE ON THOSE CONTRACTS AND REALLY FOCUSING ON THE FISCAL IMPACT OF THOSE COMMITMENTS.
SO GIVEN THAT SETTING THAT ASIDE, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT I SUPPORT THE APPOINTMENT OF JOSE PADILLA. I THINK HE'S VERY QUALIFIED, VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE A CANDIDATE OF HIS CALIBER COMING TO THE UNIVERSITY.
AND I ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT HIS APPOINTMENT AS WELL.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING TO WORK WITH HIM.
OK. SUE, I MESSED UP ON MY ALPHABET.
YOU KNOW, BACK IN 2012 WHEN I WAS ON THE BOARD, THEN, I WAS ACTUALLY DAN WAS BOARD SECRETARY AT THAT TIME.
I REALLY RAISED A LOT OF CONCERNS AT THAT TIME, AS WELL AS OTHER BOARD MEMBERS ABOUT THE COMPENSATION OF OUR EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATORS.
MY VIEWPOINT HASN'T CHANGED ANY SINCE THEN, AND IN FACT, IT'S ONLY ENHANCED MORE TODAY.
IN MAY OF 2020, WE'RE FACED WITH THE HIGHEST UNEMPLOYMENT NUMBERS SINCE THE GREAT DEPRESSION, THE BIGGEST FINANCIAL CRISIS THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO HAS EVER FACED.
WE'RE WE'RE LAYING EMPLOYEES OFF AT THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO.
AND WE WE ARE NOW FURLOUGHING EMPLOYEES AND WE ARE HEMORRHAGING.
THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO INCREASE THE SALARY OF AN EXECUTIVE BY 35 PERCENT, ESPECIALLY AN EXECUTIVE WHO DOESN'T HAVE THE EXPERIENCE, THE DEPTH OF EXPERIENCE THAT OUR PREVIOUS BOARD SECRETARY HAD.
I WISH WE COULD HAVE BIFURCATED THIS VOTE BECAUSE I WOULD CERTAINLY LIKE TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF JOSE PADILLA. I THINK HE'LL BE GOOD.
I THINK HE HAS THE POTENTIAL TO GROW INTO THIS POSITION AND TO HAVE POTENTIALLY GROWN INTO A SALARY WORTHY OF A THIRTY FIVE PERCENT INCREASE.
AND IT ISN'T JOSE PADILLA IN HIS EXPERIENCE TODAY.
SO WHAT I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE SEEN IS DISCUSSIONS ABOUT HOW DO WE AVOID FURLOUGHS AND HOW, YOU KNOW, IN THE FUTURE CAN WE INCREASE THE SALARIES OF OUR FACULTY AND OUR STAFF, NOT OUR EXECUTIVE TEAM.
THAT ISN'T WHERE SALARY INCREASES BELONG.
I THINK OUR FACULTY WOULD AGREE.
I THINK OUR STUDENTS WOULD AGREE.
AND I CERTAINLY THINK OUR LEGISLATURE WOULD AGREE AS THEY'RE MAKING DIFFICULT DECISIONS ON HOW TO ALLOCATE DOLLARS TO HIGHER EDUCATION AND PARTICULARLY TO SEE YOU.
I THINK NOT ONLY IS THIS BAD OPTICS FOR CU, I THINK IT IS THE WRONG THING FOR THIS UNIVERSITY AND THIS BOARD OF REGENTS TO BE DOING AT THIS TIME.
I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT WE HAVE NOT ONLY HAD A SALARY RANGE OF 350 TO 450, THE BOTTOM NUMBER 350 BEING EVEN HIGHER THAN OUR PREVIOUS BOARD SECRETARY.
BUT NOW WE'RE VOTING TO GIVE A SALARY EVEN ABOVE THE 450 RANGE.
WHEN WE TAKE A LOOK AT A SALARY PACKAGE OF THE BASE SALARY AND THE BENEFITS, WE'RE LOOKING AT OVER A SIX HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLAR PACKAGE.
THIS IS JUST ABSOLUTELY WRONG.
AND AS MUCH AS I WOULD LIKE TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF JOSE PADILLA, I CANNOT VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS COMPENSATION PACKAGE.
I THINK WE'RE TO REGENT SHOEMAKER AT THIS POINT.
I'M VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF HIRING JOSE PADILLA.
AND I'D LIKE TO SPEAK AS ONE OF THE THREE ATTORNEYS ON THE BOARD OF REGENTS.
HIS SALARY IS WAY BELOW WHAT I BELIEVE HE WOULD BE MAKING IN THE DENVER MARKET IF HE WERE IN PRIVATE PRACTICE OR AS A CORPORATE V.P.
I ALSO BELIEVE THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE PROCESS AND THERE WERE NO ILLEGALITIES THAT SHOULD PREVENT US FROM SWIFTLY MOVING TO APPROVE THIS APPOINTMENT.
MR. PADILLA IS A TOP LEGAL TALENT HE HAS.
HE DOES HAVE THE RELEVANT EXPERIENCE.
[00:25:02]
HE'S BEEN DOING THE JOB AS GENERAL COUNSEL OF A MAJOR UNIVERSITY.AND I LOOK FORWARD TO RELYING ON HIS ADVICE AS WE MOVE THROUGH THIS CRISIS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU REGENT SHOEMAKER.
REGENT SMITH. I SUPPORT HIRING JOSE PADILLA.
I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT THERE ARE VERY FEW POSITIONS IN THE COUNTRY LIKE THIS DUAL ROLE OF BOTH GENERAL LEGAL COUNSEL AS WELL AS BOARD SECRETARY.
AND MR. PADILLA HAS SERVED BOTH OF THESE ROLES IN A VERY VIGOROUS WAY.
AND I THINK GIVEN THE PANDEMIC AND THE LAWSUITS AND THE CHANGES IN TITLE IX THAT ARE REQUIRED BY AUGUST, IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY TAXING OUR LEGAL TEAM.
AND I FEEL THAT HE IS THE LEADER THAT OUR TEAM NEEDS AND HE WILL HELP THE BOARD, WEATHER US THROUGH THIS CRISIS.
AND I UNDERSTAND THE SALARY, BUT WE NEED THE BEST RIGHT NOW.
I'M VOTING YES. AND AS FAR AS THE PROCESS, WE'VE FOLLOWED THE CHARGE THAT WAS GIVEN TO US AND APPROVED BY THE BOARD.
THANK YOU. SO I THINK THAT WE'RE THROUGH THE ALPHABET.
EVERYONE HAS HAD A CHANCE EXCEPT FOR MYSELF.
AND I'M GOING TO MAKE IT SHORT AND SIMPLE.
I THINK THE TIME IS RIGHT TO HIRE SOMEONE TO HELP US SORT THROUGH THE NEXT SIX TO NINE MONTHS. JOSE PADILLA HAS THAT EXPERIENCE.
I BELIEVE THAT I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THE HIRING OF JOSE PADILLA.
AND WITH THAT, I THINK ALL REGENTS HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO TO WEIGH IN.
AND SO, EFFIE, IF YOU WOULD, CALL THE ROLL.
AND AGAIN, WHAT WE'RE VOTING FOR IS TO HIRE JOSE PADILLA.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR BUSINESS TODAY.
IF THERE ARE NO MORE COMMENTS, I WOULD VOTE.
SO MOVED. MOVED AND SECONDED BY REGENT SMITH.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR YOUR COMMENTS THIS MORNING.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.