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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2010.11.03 - 10267MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTION #10299 BY: Commissioner Shelley G. Taub, District #16 IN RE: BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS — OPPOSITION TO CHANGES IN COUNTY LIBRARY ACT, PUBLIC ACT 138 OF 1917 To the Oakland County Board of Commissioners Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen: WHEREAS the Counties Library Act, Public Act 138 of 1917 [MCL 397.301 et seq.] authorizes the county board of supervisors/commissioners to contract for library services; and WHEREAS the Michigan Public Library Cooperative Directors Association has submitted proposals to update some of the language of this statute and to minimize the role of the county in the administration of county libraries; and WHEREAS the Oakland County Library Board and Administration have indicated their opposition to the proposed changes; and WHEREAS proposed changes to the Counties Library Act which will have a negative impact on the residents of Oakland County and usurps the ability of the county board of commissioners, as the duly elected body of the citizens of the county, from exercising budgetary oversight over a county resource — the county library. Specific language which is opposed includes the following: MCL 397.302, Section 2(1). In counties with populations exceeding one (1) million, deletes the superintendent of the intermediate school district from serving on the county library board. MCL 397.302, Section 2(2). County commissioners serving on a library board may not be reappointed to the library board. MCL 397.302, Section 2(3). Upon request from the county library board, the county board of commissioners is required to expand the library from five (5) to seven (7) appointed members. MCL 397.302, Section 2(5). All library board members shall serve until the appointment and qualification of a successor. MCI 397.302, Section 2(6). Any library board member shall not be removed except by the governor as empowered through the State Constitution. MCL 397.302, Section 2(7). Provides that the library board may determine whether to compensate its board members for each board meeting, committee meeting or for the reimbursement of necessary expenses incurred in the performance of official duties. MCL 397.303, Section 3(1). The library board shall have the power to place before the voters a question for increasing and/or renewing the library millage. MCL 397.304, Section 4(1). Establishes the Library Fund, with the library board having exclusive control of the expenditures. Chairp,erson, we rr...,1120.4Eleprtiorr of the foregoing resolution. 1 Commissioner D istrict # Commissioner District Commissioner District # Commissioner District Commissioner ShdleA G. Taub District #16: st, Commissioner Distot, Commissioner District # f 3 Commissioner District # "ZD NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners, hereby oppose the proposed changes to the County Library Act, Public Act 138 of 1917 [MCL 397.301 et seq.] as proposed by the Michigan Public Library Cooperative Directors Association which: impede the ability of county commissioners to continue serving on library boards; calls into question the constitutionality of empowering an appointed board to place a miilage request on a ballot; eliminates the Superintendent of the Intermediate School District position from library boards; only authorizes the removal of board members to be initiated by the governor; enables the removal of library funds from the county treasury; empowers library boards to set compensation for employees; and enables the library boards to fill vacant positions on the board. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners urges the Michigan Legislature to vote in opposition of these proposed changes to the County Library Act. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Clerk is requested to forward copies of this adopted resolution to the Michigan Public Library Cooperative Directors Association, the Oakland County Library Board, Michigan Association of Counties, Superintendent of Oakland Intermediate School District, the Library of Michigan Board of Trustees, Oakland County's delegation to the Michigan legislature and Oakland Counties Legislative Lobbyists. . • Commissioner District # Comrpis§loner Distrittj Commissioner District Commissioner District Commissioner District Resolution #10299 November 3, 2010 The Cnairperson referred the resolution to the General Government Committee, There were no objections.