Saturday, February 14, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Regents set meeting to discuss demotions

The university Board of Regents has scheduled a special open meeting for later this month to discuss community college officials who were demoted following a controversial closed meeting late last year.

Ron Remington, the former president of the Community College of Southern Nevada, and John Cummings, the college's former lobbyist, were told this week of the special meeting, set for Feb. 26-27.

But some regents heard about the meeting only through the media.

"I haven't been notified," said Regent Mark Alden, an opponent of the demotions.

Cummings and Remington were demoted following a closed meeting in November. The demotions have sparked lawsuits by both men, and one by the state attorney general's office alleging violations of the open meeting law.

Last month, in response to Remington's suit, District Judge Jackie Glass ordered the regents not to discuss Remington without notifying him first.

His attorney, Kathy England, said Friday that her client had not yet been properly notified of the meeting. She was aware of it only because of a fax sent to her office.

No agenda has yet been posted for the meeting, and system officials would not say what its purpose will be.

Board Chairman Stavros Anthony on Friday did not return a phone message seeking comment. University system officials said others will be notified in the coming days that they, too, will be discussed at the meeting, though they wouldn't say who those people will be.

"Nobody's told me anything, what it's about, an agenda, anything," said Regent Steve Sisolak, also an opponent of the demotions.