Bill seeks fair regents’ hearings for personnel

Friday, Feb. 18, 2005 | 8:53 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Sen. Bob Coffin, D-Las Vegas, says it's only fair that employees of the University and Community College System of Nevada have a chance to defend themselves in closed personnel meetings looking into misconduct.

Coffin Thursday introduced Senate Bill 81 that would require the regents to allow a person who is the subject of a closed meeting to attend and to present evidence. At present the law only requires the person to be notified of the meeting.

Regent Chairman Stavros Anthony said he "had no problem" with the bill that was referred to the Senate Government Affairs Committee. He said the regents followed the advise of its attorney when it handled the cases of Community College of Southern Nevada President Ron Remington and lobbyist John Cummings.

They were both demoted after the regents heard testimony from an investigator in a closed-door session in which neither man was present. They were accused of making an "end-run" in the Legislature to get certain items that were not approved by the regents.

Anthony said he would not oppose the bill and if it becomes law, the regents will "definitely follow it."

In the case of Remington and Cummings, Coffin said the regents didn't hear from the other side.

"They were shut out of the meeting," he said.

Coffin added that the board is "now under better leadership."

After the demotions of the two men, a suit was filed and District Judge Jackie Glass ruled the regents violated the open meeting law by deliberating and forming a consensus in the closed session.

An out-of-court settlement was reached with Remington and Cummings.