Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1958 [PAGE 511]

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BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[July 15

E m p l o y m e n t of Special Counsel to Assist in Acquiring Property Situated in Urbana-Champaign It is necessary for the University to acquire a number of privately owned residence properties and other properties in the cities of Urbana and Champaign as parts of sites of a new Men's Residence Hall, a Residence Hall for Single Graduate Students, and for the Student Services Building. In connection with the acquisition of these properties, legal services in examining the present titles thereto and ascertaining the present ownership thereof, in assisting University officers in conducting negotiations with the present owners for the purchase of the properties from them, and in preparing to institute condemnation suits to acquire such of the properties as can not be purchased at a reasonable and proper price will be needed. Because of the time element involved, and the volume of work pending in the Legal Counsel's Office, this work can not be done as promptly as is desirable and necessary by the Legal Counsel and his assistants. For this reason, the employment of special counsel to do this legal work, with the assistance and subject to the supervision of the Legal Counsel, is highly desirable. Funds for the employment of such special counsel can be made available from the present appropriation to the University for land acquisition. The Director of the Physical Plant, the Vice-President and Comptroller, and the Legal Counsel request authorization to employ local attorneys in Urbana and Champaign as special counsel to assist in the legal work necessary in connection with property acquisitions. I concur. On motion of Mr. Johnston, authority was given as requested. The Executive Committee adjourned. T H E EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

A. J. JANATA W A Y N E A. JOHNSTON FRANCES B. W A T K I N S

Clerk

PARK LIVINGSTON,

Chairman

ADJOURNED SESSION OF T H E COMMITTEE OF T H E WHOLE July 16, 1957

On Tuesday, July 16, 1957, Committees of the Board of Trustees resumed their meetings, beginning at 9:00 a.m., Central Daylight Saving Time.

COMMITTEE ON GENERAL POLICY Chicago Undergraduate Division Mr. Johnston, as Chairman of the Committee on General Policy which has been operating as a Special Committee on the Development of the Chicago Undergraduate Division, and President Henry reported on the outcome of the several bills introduced in the Seventieth General Assembly of Illinois relating to the future development of the Chicago Undergraduate Division, all of which failed, with the exception of the provisions in the University's building program. The appropriations made for 1057-50, include $600,000 for the acquisition of land and $400,000 for site studies and building plans. No legislation was enacted specifying the location of, or restricting the University in the selection of, a permanent site for the Chicago Undergraduate Division. T h e Committee reviewed the various sites which have been considered, including Miller Meadow in the Forest Preserve District in Cook County. At this point Mr. Johnston presented a letter from Representative Paul Randolph. President Henry was authorized to reply to the letter along the lines of the discussions of today's meeting and to make public announcement of the reply. Copies of this correspondence were subsequently filed with the Secretary of the Board. Mr. Johnston recommended that the Board adopt as a declaration of its policy regarding the site question: "Miller Meadow continues to be the first choice as a site but the Board, through its Committees and with the assistance of University officials, is proceeding to consider alternate sites and to determine their relative desirability." This declaration of policy was adopted.