The Navajo County Community College District Governing Board held its regular monthly meeting on June 19, with all board members in attendance. The board had several items to address on the lengthy agenda. There was one item that left Chairman Frank Lucero feeling uneasy.

The retirement of Northland Pioneer College Director of Public Safety Education/District Emergency Manager Stuart Bishop left a void in the area of security for the college. On the agenda was a request to approve a professional services consulting contract in the amount of $55,000 for security and emergency management consulting for the 2018-19 academic year. The company, Emergency Management Safety Services LLC is owned by Bishop.

After NPC Vice President Mark Vest presented the information to the board Lucero asked, “Was this put out to bid or something? I’m just curious because it looks bad.” NPC President Dr. Jeanne Swarthout indicated that no this project was not put out for bid and that due to Bishop’s knowledge of the college’s needs his firm was chosen. Lucero said, “It still looks bad. He retires and you give it to him and nobody else even has a chance to say we can do it or not?”

Board member James Matteson added, “Mr. Chairman, I had the same thought, but I am affected a little bit by the fact that this is a professional services contract and not biddable.”

NPC Chief Business Officer Maderia Ellison, indicated that current procedures allow this to not go out for bid but Lucero was left uneasy by the situation and continued to voice that it looks bad to the public. The board took a vote, with Lucero voting against the contract but the four other members voting in favor to approve the contract and it was passed.

In other business, the board:

* Approved a call for election for the District Three seat currently held by Frank Lucero. His seat term expires on Dec. 31, 2018. The board voted to have Navajo County administer a special election for the seat during the general election on Nov. 6.

* Approved the 2020-2021 academic calendar. This is done two years in advance for planning purposes and the calendar and is similar to those in recent years.

* Approved new members to NPC’s Northeast Arizona Training Center Board. Current board member Peggy Belknap will serve as chair, Director of Facilities and Transportation David Huish will fill the seat vacated by Jason Foutz and Vice President of Learning and Student Services Rickey Jackson will fill the seat vacated by Mark Vest.

* Approved a service contract agreement with JTS of Dallas, Texas, for just over $156,000. This is a three-year service agreement for spare hardware, equipment and necessary warranties for the microwave tower. This is a previously budgeted item.

The next regular monthly Navajo County Community College District Governing Board will be at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 21, at the NPC Painted Desert Campus, located at 2251 East Navajo Boulevard in Holbrook in the Tiponi Community Center. Please note there is no meeting scheduled for July.