S4685A

The New York State Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would add a faculty member to the board of trustees at SUNY community colleges, with the measure clearing on a 41-10 vote. Senate Print 4685A, sponsored by Sen. Stavisky, would allow faculty and staff at each of the approximately 30 SUNY community colleges to elect a nonvoting representative to serve on their institution's board of trustees. The bill drew criticism from Sen. Borrello, who argued the measure creates inherent conflicts of interest by allowing a paid, union-protected faculty member to participate in executive sessions where compensation, discipline, and other sensitive matters affecting employees are discussed. Borrello contended the bill lacks specific language defining recusal requirements and penalties for breaching confidentiality. Stavisky defended the proposal as promoting inclusiveness in college governance, noting that student nonvoting members already serve on community college boards and that the SUNY Faculty Senate president was recently added to four-year college boards. She argued that existing penalties under the Public Officers Law and General Municipal Law provide sufficient safeguards against confidentiality breaches. Ten senators voted against the bill: Borrello, Chan, Fahy, Griffo, Lanza, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt, Rhoads, and Weik.