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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 1960.01.18 - 19231Misc. 3614 By Mr. Carey January 18, 1960 REPORT OF THE SPECIAL COUNTY GOVERNMENT STUDY COMITTEE . To the Honorable Board of Supervisors of Oakland County, Michigan Ladies and Gentlemen: The Special County Government Study Committee of the Oakland County Board (f Supervisors has worked for over two years on the problems of organization and administration in the County of Oakland, The purpose of the committee is to analyze the existing structure of county government and make recommendations to the board of supervisors on organizational changes which will improve the operation of, or bring about economies in, the administration of the several County functions. Your committee has utilized several approaches for securing information on each county agency, in order to define specific problem areas and possible solutions. The committee has received written reports from each agency in the county and has also met with many of the department heads in the county. The Board of Auditors and the Corporation Counsel have assisted the committee in its studies. The committee has conferred with the Controller of Macomb County, the former Budget Director of Wayne County, and the County Study Committee of the Wayne County Board of Supervisors. In addition, the committee has received technical assistance from Civic Research Incorporated, of Oakland County, and the Citizens Research Council of Michigan. The committee wishes to acknow- ledge the assistance of the many individuals and agencies who have cooperated in this effort. To date, the study committee has made three major recommendations. The first involved a merger of the County Clerk-Register of Deeds functions, This has been accomplished. The second is a proposed merger of the Drain Commissioner's office with the Public Works Department which will require permissive state legislation. The third recommendation was for a constitutional amendment which would give to Michigan counties some self-determination over their internal administrative organization. The committee has attempted in its deliberations to avoid becoming overly involved in internal administrative problems, personality conflicts, or technical matters beyond the scope of committee activity. The study committee has also attempted to assure that due care and consideration is given to each matter under consideration. -2 - We, therefore, recommend to the Board of Supervisors their consideration of the following: 1. It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors select the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors on the basis of ability and qualifications, and without reference to the existing tradition of annually rotating the office. The present practice of rotation does not provide the continuity in office which is essential to meet the needs of the County, Increasingly, the Chairman's activities have expanded to meet the needs of an urban county whose officials are very much concerned with problems which have expanded beyond county boundaries. It has been necessary for the Chairman to act as the political spokesman for the County in matters involving local units both within and without the County. In addition to his role in coordinat- ing County activities, he must also represent the County on a regional and state-wide basis. The Chairman must be able to give extensive time and atten- tion to his duties and should be adequately compensated and given continuity in office so long as he continues to represent the total interests of the County. 2. It is the finding of your Committee that the most practical, feasible, and immediate solution to increasing the effective- ness of administration in the County is to utilize the Chairman of the Board of Auditors as the administrative co-ordinator of the County. Your committee recommends that the Chairman of the Board of Auditors be officially designated by the Board of Supervisors as the chief administrative officer of the County with full powers vested in him, subject to statutory limitations. It will be necessary for the Board of Supervisors to define the extent and scope of his authority, and his relationship to other County agencies, including the Board of Supervisors. The Board of Supervisors should also establish professional qualifications for this position. It is also recommended that the Legislative Committee be requested to seek the necessary legislation to permit the Board of Supervisors to fill vacancies on the Board of Auditors. 3. In accordance with our previous recommendation, which was concurred in by the Board of Supervisors, we urge that the Legislative Committee continue its efforts to obtain permissive State legislation authorizing the merger of the Office of Drain Commissioner with the Department of Public Works. It is further recommended that the Supervisors Inter-County Committee and the State Association of Supervisors be urged to support this permissive legislation. s Jo4.14,_ L. Carey, Chai es Clarkson Hope F. Lewis rt William Ka&itz )nn Rumsev 7 -3 4. In accordance with the resolution adopted by the Board of SuiDervisors, your Study Committee will take up at an early date the proposal that the Board of Oakland County Road Commissioners be a policy-making body. The status of other boards and commissions in this respect will also be considered. 5. Your Committee recommends that efforts be continued to obtain a constitutional amendment authorizing County home rule as the most satisfactory solution to the problems of County government. We further recommend, as an interim step, that 'oard of Supervisors cooperate with the State Association pervisors and the Supervisors Inter-County Committee to a statutory home rule for counties, which would permit Les to consolidate and reorganize non-constitutional es, boards, and commissions. Committee would appreciate the opportunity to confer with ative Committee and the Corporation Counsel on the matter a legislation necessary to accomplish the foregoing. Respectfully submitted, Elmer Kepfiart Frank Webber Special County Government Study Committee d by Carey supported by Bender the report be referred to the Means and Legislative Committees, for consideration. tfficient majority having voted therefor, the motion carried.