Rio Hondo College's Emergency Resolution Adopted in Closed Session

It has been a bit confusing but in the end resolved, sort of. On Monday March 16, 2020 at 5:40 pm, I received three emails related to an emergency meeting notice for the Rio Hondo College Board of Trustees.

One email was the the agenda (attached) which listed a Closed Session item titled "A. Threat to Public Services or Facilities". Second email was the emergency resolution which was NOT posted with our agenda and stamped "Confidential-Attorney Client-Privilege". The third email was a listed of phone numbers, links and teleconference passwords. It took me eight minutes to finally call in after no-connection with phone numbers and a Skype link that keep me waiting for a response. Once connected, the board was talking about the Emergency Resolution which I just received fifteen minutes ago and understandable taken its an emergency.

What I did not realize at the time was that we were in Closed Session discussing the resolution. We discussed and voted on the resolution. I moved to adjourn and was told we needed to report out. Now it dawned on me that we were in closed session voting on an emergency resolution. I checked and confirmed that ALL other local community colleges adopted and voted on their emergency resolution in an open public meeting in full view of the public. Cerritos College, Mt. SAC, Citrus, and I watched Pasadena City college on line adopt their resolution. ALL other local school districts and cities adopted their resolution publicly. SO why would Rio Hondo College adopted their Emergency Resolution in closed session and not post the resolution online with the agenda? It is my understanding, If an item is considered in closed session is it confidential and not open to inspection? It was a bit confusing. After talking to legal counsel "it was not the intent to keep it secret". Ok, so here it is then. Rio Hondo's Emergency Resolution adopted on Monday March 16, 2020 at an Emergency Meeting in Closed Session.

Resolution:

Agenda

Coronavirus Rio Hondo College: Employees with Compromised Immune Systems

Superintendent/President, Dr. Arturo Reyes;

I am asking you to please take action, under your extraordinary emergency authority granted to you by the Board of Trustees, to allow employees with compromised immune systems at Rio Hondo College to work from home immediately. Please rescind the use of sick leave and vacation time used by this population to protect themselves. Rio Hondo College should be seriously concerned for the most vulnerable of our employees. We should not wait for the State to compel us to take such action. Instead Rio Hondo College should do what’s right, now. The most vulnerable in our society, under these circumstances, are the aged over 65 and those with compromised immune systems.

Dr. Reyes, it would be in the best interest of our employees and the community that the most vulnerable employees be allowed to voluntarily choose to work from home immediately and not have to use their sick leave or vacation time to protect themselves.

As always is a pleasure and privilege to serve,

Gary Mendez
Governing Board Member

Rio Hondo College's Emergency Resolution on Coronavirus NOT public

Emergency Resolution on Coronavirus

I am concerned that the Emergency Resolution considered by the Rio Hondo College Board of Trustees on Monday, March 16, 2020 at 6:00pm was considered, discussed and voted-on in closed session out of public view. The draft is titled “Confidential: Attorney Client Privilege”. Is this Resolution confidential? As you can see on the Agenda of March 16 that the Emergency Resolution was Not Agendized for the public to view. Surrounding community colleges Agendized their emergency resolutions on the public agenda and considered and voted on their resolution in open session.

Why did Rio Hondo College Board of Trustees adopt an Emergency Resolution in closed session and not report it out? Is that legal? Is that ethical and transparent?

This must be corrected by the following:
1. Call an Emergency Meeting
2. Agendized the Emergency Resolution
3. Board of Trustees shall consider, discuss and vote on resolution in an open session with open communication from the public and campus community.
4. Must be done by Thursday, March 19, 2020.