Regents file notice of appeal

Tuesday, July 13, 2004 | 9:26 a.m.

SUN CAPITAL BUREAU

CARSON CITY -- University regents have filed a notice that they plan to appeal a district court decision that regents broke the open meeting law when demoting two executives of the Community College of Southern Nevada.

Thomas Ray, general counsel for the University and Community College System of Nevada, said the appeal was filed Monday as the first step of taking the issue to the Nevada Supreme Court.

Attorney General Brian Sandoval sued the regents, alleging they broke the law when they held closed-door sessions in November to discuss the activities of CCSN President Ron Remington and lobbyist John Cummings. They were both demoted to faculty positions.

The two allegedly pushed for four-year status for the community college during the 2003 Legislature, despite the fact that regents had never endorsed the proposal.

District Judge Jackie Glass agreed that the open meeting law had been broken and voided the disciplinary action taken against two officials. However, she did not say whether the two should be reinstated to their jobs. CCSN has already hired a new president, Richard Carpenter, who is to begin Aug. 1.

Ray said a hearing is set for Wednesday before Glass to clarify her ruling.

Meanwhile a legislative subcommittee is meeting in Las Vegas today to review the actions of the regents in holding the closed-door meeting.

The Legislative Commission has already asked that a bill be prepared for the 2005 Legislature to clarify what may be ambiguities in the open-meeting law.