CE Committee/Board Meeting (3/31/2020)

Meeting Minutes and Notes

North Carolina Board for Licensing of Geologists

Minutes • March 31, 2020

Virtual Meeting

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

The meeting was called to order at 8:30 am by Board chair Steve Stadelman.  Others present included Rachel Kirkman, Dennis LaPoint, Robert Mensah Biney and Kenneth Taylor.  Richard Spruill was unable to attend.  Staff members present included the Executive Director, Barbara Geiger and Jenna Miller.  Sarah Zambon, Assistant Attorney General was also present.

Dr. Stadelman noted that the March 31 meeting was originally scheduled as a CE Committee meeting, but that the meeting had been changed to a virtual Board meeting in order to discuss and come to an agreement regarding how to address the continuing education as a requirement for the 2020-2021 license renewal, in light of the pandemic.

Ms. Geiger informed Board members that she had participated in a call of various State licensing Boards, across the country, and that a reduction in or elimination of the CE requirement and an extension to obtain the required CE hours were the most popular methods of relief.

Following a brief discussion, Dennis LaPoint made the motion to waive the requirement of 12 hours of continuing education for the 2020-2021 license renewal and to carry over any PDHs already obtained, including allowing for a total of up to 24 hours to be used for  subsequent license renewals.  There was discussion regarding carry over, online content offerings, due-process of the licensees and communication of the change to licensees.  Rachel Kirkman seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.

Ms. Zambon noted action taken by the Board falls under 21 NCAC 21 .0407(5).

The next meeting of the Board is scheduled for April 14, 2020 and will be held by Zoom.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 10:35 am.

Respectfully submitted

Kenneth B. Taylor, Secretary-Treasurer