ABOVE: DACC Board of Trustees member Dylan Haun states his case; while Caroline Harby (who voted ‘no’ on the censuring) and Sandra Finch (who voted ‘yes’) look on.
By a vote of four yesses, two nos, and two abstains; the Danville Area Community College Board of Trustees has censured board member Dylan Haun during a special meeting on Monday night (January 5th). The resolution read during the meeting and presented to the media afterwards stated that Haun disclosed information that was discussed during closed session, and met with the college’s Safety and Security Officer and Chief of Campus Security without first notifying the president.
On the first point, both Haun and board member Caroline Harby, who spoke on Haun’s behalf; stated that Haun referred to something discussed in closed session that no one in open session would have understood, such as a “row on a chart.”
On the second point, however; Haun, a firefighter, told CIMG afterwards that he was simply looking for more information concerning costs and logistics on the board’s consideration of hiring a campus police force. And most importantly, Haun stated, he had the conversation with the security leader BEFORE the new policy requiring conversation with the president first had been passed.
AUDIO: Just training, supplies; whatever would be needed to fund the police department; squad cars. And the only reason that was cited was because I did not notify the president; which was not a board policy at that time. I reached out in early December; the meeting was in late December, when we voted on the policy.
(1st Picture) DACC Board at start of Monday meeting, with Dylan Haun at front left. (2nd Picture) Former DACC Board member Tracy Cherry tells current board she anticipated trouble coming before she left the board. (3rd Picture) Board Chairman Greg Wolfe reads censuring resolution prior to vote.
Former DACC Board of Trustees member Tracy Cherry, who stepped down in 2024 when she decided not to run for reelection, spoke to the board during “public comment.” Cherry stated that she “anticipated things like this happening;” and that she felt people “would be targeted” and “not able to express their opinions.” She called the action an “embarrassment,” and recalled for CIMG what she felt while still on the board.
AUDIO: To be completely honest, if I disagreed with anything, there were three to four people on the board; that were all in agreement, and they did not like when you didn’t agree with them. I just felt like I could no longer serve on the board with some of the individuals that are currently serving on the board.
Dylan Haun stated that what happened to him Monday night was a clear signal.
AUDIO: I’m deeply saddened, because I’m not the only one that was censured tonight. This is a clear warning to all trustees that if you uphold your fiduciary duty, and combat unethical behaviors, they will attempt to silence you. I believe that the censure will bring to light many issues that I have long addressed.
Other board members and DACC president Dr. Randy Fletcher did not stick around to comment afterwards, with most exiting through the meeting room back door.
The DACC Board of Trustees vote on Haun’s censure went Greg Wolfe, Sandra Finch, Terry Hill, and Maruti Seth voting YES; Haun and Caroline Harby voting NO; and Cole Crawley and Lisa Martin abstaining.
