OPEN SESSION MINUTES
TRENT UNIVERSITY BOARD OF GOVERNORS
September 30, 2005
Present: Governors:
J.C. Dudas (Acting Chair), P.A. Brieger, L. Burnham, M. Butt, R. D.
Butterworth, J.T.P. Casserly, C. Dickinson, D. J. Kennett, L. McDonald,
D. L. Morton, Deb Nichols, B.M. Patterson, K.M. Ramsay, T. Roach, G. W.
Ross, W.J. Saunderson, F. G. Sherratt, L. Vernon; Honorary Governors: J.D. de Pencier, G. Wolff; Vice-Presidents: S. Apostle-Clark, S. Mackle, D. O'Leary; Senate Visitor:
A. Zohar; G. Brownscombe (Director of Financial Services), D. Cumming
(Senior Director, Public Affairs); N.E.S. Smith (Secretary); S. Bartsch
(Recording Secretary)
Chair’s Remarks.
Ms. Dudas conveyed the Chair’s regrets, welcomed new, continuing and
honorary Board members and visitors and reminded governors and
non-Board committee members of their responsibilities under the Board’s
conflict of interest rules.
Minutes. The Minutes of the Open Session of June 16, 2005 were approved.
Board Objectives and Work Plan 2005-2006. Based on a recommendation by the Executive Committee, the Board resolved:
THAT the annual objectives set out in the document Objectives of the Board of Governors 2005-06 (attached as Appendix A to the master copy of these Minutes) be approved.
The Chair called attention to the Board of Governors Work Plan 2005-06 which would guide the flow of business to the Board and its committees in the coming year.
President’s Remarks.
President Patterson reported on recent campus events including the
opening of the athletics stadium and physiotherapy clinic, the naming
of the Water Quality Centre and a major conference on
anti-virals. She provided updates on the transit strike, the DNA
facility construction and the Bata library elevator project and offered
preliminary comments on the current year’s enrolment which appeared to
be tracking modestly ahead of budget. The President briefed the
Board on government priorities including accountability, graduate
expansion and tuition policy review. She noted that information
on provincial funding allocations had still not been received and as a
result, it would not be possible to present a revised operating budget
at this time. The President reported that the Government’s budget
bill was expected to bring universities under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act
in the near future. She thought it possible that universities would be
exempted from private member’s Bill 123 which dealt with meetings of
public bodies.
President’s Objective 2005-06. The President distributed and discussed a document Report on Priorities for 2004-2005
which reported on results for the previous year’s priorities in support
of the University’s strategic plan. She called attention to her
proposed annual objectives for 2005-06 which had been developed in the
context of a five-year presidential mandate. The Board resolved:
THAT the Proposed 2005/6 Presidential Objectives (attached as Appendix B to the master copy of these Minutes) be approved.
2004-05 Financial Statements.
Ms. McDonald thanked Messrs. Brownscombe and Gillespie for the
financial training sessions provided to the Board earlier that
morning. She noted that the Investment & Audit Committee had
reviewed the financial statements thoroughly at its September meeting,
had received the auditors’ independence letter and was comfortable with
the summary of unadjusted differences. She invited Mr.
Brownscombe to review the highlights of the statements and related
financial trends. Following questions and discussion, the Board
resolved:
THAT the Trent University Financial Statements April 30, 2005 (attached as Appendix C to the master copy of these Minutes) be approved.
Fundraising Council. Ms. Ramsay, Interim Chair of the Fundraising Council, reported that with the Building Capacity
Campaign now complete, the Advancement Committee was turning its
attention to priorities for the next capital campaign. In this
regard, Ketchum Canada had been engaged to test the feasibility of a
short list of identified University needs. It would be
important for Trent to continue to build relationships, involve
fundraising volunteers and seek major gifts for ongoing needs while the
next campaign is being planned. Ms. Ramsay indicated
that the Fundraising Council looked forward to the participation of all
members of the Board in these endeavors.
2004-05 Human Rights Report.
The President called attention to the annual report of the Human Rights
Advisor, noting that the Human Rights Committee had produced an updated
draft of the University’s discrimination and harassment policy.
The revised policy would come to the Board in due course following
legal advice and input from PEG and the community. President
Patterson noted that she was exploring the concept of an ombudsperson
for Trent and might have more to report on this later in the year.
Call for Board Nominations.
Professor Kennett noted that the Board could have up to three external
vacancies at the end of the current year and that nominations would be
welcome at any time. The committee chairs would be asked to
provide input to the Nominating & Governance Committee regarding
skills needed on their committees. Members of the Board were
invited to send any suggestions for additional educational sessions to
the Secretary.
Advancement Committee.
Mr. Morton outlined the rationale for proposed amendments to the name
and terms of reference of the Advancement & Communications
Committee. Based on this Committee’s recommendations, the Board
resolved:
THAT Special Resolution I.4 – Advancement Committee Terms of Reference (attached as Appendix D to the master copy of these Minutes) be approved to replace previous Special Resolution I.4 – Advancement & Communications Committee Terms of Reference.
Locks 22/23 Update.
Vice-President O’Leary reported that Peterborough Utilities Services
had undertaken preliminary site inspections for environmental
assessment purposes and was reviewing the University’s land lease prior
to its acceptance. The Trent-Severn Waterway priority permit had
been transferred to the PUS and it was expected that a public meeting
would be held in the fall term to discuss the proposed seven-megawatt
hydro project.
DNA Facility Project.
Members of the Board were invited to view the DNA facility construction
site. Vice-President O’Leary noted that although the project was
two weeks behind schedule due to rock excavation difficulties, the
building was expected to be closed in by December and was still
targeted for completion by late May or early June 2006.
City Sports Field.
The Chair of the Finance & Property Committee reminded the Board
that the Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Peterborough
approved in June 2005 had contained a number of proposed land
exchanges. One site designated for a sport field development had not
been considered by the Board to be suitable. Since that time the
parties had agreed on an alternate site at the eastern edge of the
campus at the corner of Pioneer Road and Douro 9th Line. The
Finance & Property Committee, in reviewing this proposal, had
considered that the proposed parcel of land was located in a
‘non-conforming’ Nature Area currently used for the cultivation of
soybeans. Vice-President O’Leary had discussed the proposed
location with the Chair of the Facilities and Grounds Committee and
with the Nature Areas Subcommittee. Following questions and
discussion, the Board resolved:
THAT
the administration, through the President, be authorized to enter into
negotiations for a land lease for a maximum of 30 years with the City
of Peterborough for a 21-acre sports field project developed by the
City on University-owned land at Pioneer Road and 9th Line as set out
in the document Sports Field Development on Trent University Land, September 20, 2004 and attached site plan (attached as Appendix E to the master copy of these Minutes).
Other Business.
Vice-President O’Leary was alerted to a safety concern around the lack
of a crosswalk for students from the University Heights area crossing
Water Street. He indicated that this could be raised at one of
the University’s regular sessions with the City. In response to a
question it was noted that new lighting had been purchased for the
Otonabee College resident parking area.
The meeting was adjourned.
Nancy Simmons Smith
Secretary
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Reid Morden
Chair |
Susan Bartsch
Recording Secretary |
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