Board Meeting - 9:30 am

North Carolina Board for Licensing of Geologists

Minutes • August 18, 2021, 2021 • 9:30 a.m.

Virtual Meeting held by Zoom

Call to Order/Conflict of Interest Statement/Welcome and Introductions

The meeting was called to order at 9:38 a.m. by Board Chair Steve Stadelman. Other Board members present included Rachel Kirkman, Robert Mensah-Biney, Richard Spruill and Kenneth Taylor.  Dr. LaPoint was unable to attend.  Executive Director Barbara Geiger, staff member Jenna Miller and Board Counsel Sarah Zambon were also present.  Dr. Stadelman read the Conflict of Interest Statement as required by the State Government Ethics Act.  Dr. Taylor noted that, as the State Geologist and employee of the NC Department of Environmental Quality, he would refrain from participating in the deliberation or taking any action by the Board with respect to any matter involving an employee of the Department.  A quorum was established.

Welcome and Introductions

Dr. Stadelman welcomed Board members to the meeting.

Approval of Minutes

Motion to approve the minutes of the April 13, 2021 meeting as amended was made by Richard Spruill and seconded by Robert Mensah-Biney.  The motion carried unanimously.

Financial Report

Dr. Taylor presented the fourth quarter balance sheet and profit and loss statement. Following an overview, motion was made by Rachel Kirkman and seconded by Dr. Mensah-Biney to accept the report as presented.  The motion carried.

Administrative Report

Ms. Geiger reported that there are currently 1130 activity individual licenses and 236 active corporate licenses.  She reported that meetings were being held with Certemy to create workflows for application and renewal processes.  The application software target to launch is late fall.

Legal Report and Board Training

Sarah Zambon provided training on NC GS § 89E 17-24 Complaints & Investigations.  She reviewed each statute and explained the meaning and the intention.

Dr. Spruill asked how “gross incompetence” was defined and if reporting requirements were mentioned. Ms. Zambon noted that those issues are not specifically covered by NC GS § 89E.  Dr. Stadelman noted that 21 NCAC 21 .1101(b)(1) does require that the geologist report instances that endanger the public.  There was discussion regarding responsibility.  Ms. Zambon noted that the Board is limited in what they can do in the case of endangerment of the public in cases of unlicensed practice

Continuing Education Report

The Continuing Education Committee met just prior to the Board meeting.  There were 35 applications reviewed.  The Committee approved 22 applications with no changes; deferred 4 for administrative action; deferred 3 to be resubmitted for Committee review; approved 4 for a different number of hours and denied 2 activities.

Following recognition of Jenna and her attention to detail and organization, motion was made by Dr. Spruill and seconded by Dr. Taylor to approve the report of the Continuing Education Committee as presented. The motion carried unanimously.

The Board discussed the continuing education process and procedures including revisions to the CE Guidelines.  The Committee will revise the guidelines and the Board will vote to approve in November.  The revised CE process can be rolled out with Certemy with a January launch.

It was decided that the Board would adopt a self-assessment form similar to the one that Minnesota uses and that licensees would be encouraged to use pre-approved providers.  Dr. Spruill volunteered to revise the MN form to comply with the NC CE requirement.

It was determined that there would be possible rules changes needed with revision of the CE processes.

A hyperlink to pre-approved providers and activities should be available in the CE workflow within Certemy.

Dr. Stadelman will work on guidelines for regulatory updates, guidance for conferences, stream restoration activity requirements and direct discharge permitting.

The Board will encourage a smaller number of CE audits, perhaps 5%.

Board members will be given the opportunity to review and edit the CE guidelines document and the CE Committee along with Dr. Spruill will meet on September 15, 2021 at 9:00 am to complete the guidelines document.

ASBOG®

It was noted that the ASBOG® Administrator Workshop, Annual Meeting and COE Workshop would be held October 26-30, 2021, in Little Rock Arkansas, with a virtual attendance option.  Motion was made by Dr. Taylor and seconded by Dr. Spruill to approve Dennis LaPoint as the voting delegate and SME at the COE for the NC Board. Motion was made by Dr. Taylor and seconded by Ms. Kirkman to approve Dr. Spruill as the voting delegate and SME at the COE for the NC Board, should Dr. LaPoint be unable to attend.  The motions carried unanimously.

Ms. Kirkman, Secretary of the ASBOG® Board, informed the NCBLG that ASBOG® is looking for State Boards to participate in The Geoscience Online Learning Initiative (GOLI) platform along with AIPG to reach potential licensees and students.  Motion was made by Ms. Kirkman that the NC Board work with ASBOG® to create a State specific webinar in partnership with GOLI and to work toward a January 2022 presentation date.  The motion was seconded by Dr. Taylor and carried.

Old Business

Ms. Geiger will contact UNC Chapel Hill to confirm that the November 2, 2021 meeting and presentation to students can still take place.  If not, the Board will consider a virtual presentation option.

Dr. Taylor noted that he would like to present a framed 1958 map to UNC Chapel Hill.  Dr. Spruill made the motion to authorize up to $500 for the cost of the endeavor.  The motion was seconded by Dr. Taylor and carried.

Board members were reminded to continue to review the Board rules and to be prepared to recommend updates and/or changes.

The Board will also continue to consider creating virtual presentations for students.

New Business

Ms. Geiger shared the proposed 2022 meetings calendar with the Board.

There being no further business, on motion and second, the meeting was adjourned at 11:54 am.

Respectfully submitted:

Kenneth Taylor, Secretary/Treasurer