HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2015.08.26 - 22003MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTION # 15234
BY: Commissioner Shelley Goodman Taub, District #12
IN RE: BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS-CALL FOR STATE LEGISLATION TO REQUIRE THE BOARD
OF DIRECTORS AND MANAGEMENT OF THE DETROIT INSTITUTE OF ARTS COMPLY WITH THE
OPEN MEETINGS ACT AND THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT
To the Oakland County Board of Commissioners:
Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen:
WHEREAS the taxpayers of Oakland, Wayne and Macomb Counties provide over 70% of the operating
budget for the Detroit Institute of Arts; and
WHEREAS Michigan taxpayers are committed to contribute approximately $100 million to support the
DIA, as part of the "Grand Bargain" settlement of Detroit's bankruptcy; and
WHEREAS the taxpayers of Oakland County are granted 2 members on the Governing Board of the DIA,
which includes 49 Elected Directors, 35 Emeritus Directors and 36 Honorary Directors; and
WHEREAS the bylaws of the Governing Board of the DIA are not easily accessible to the public or media;
and
WHEREAS the schedule of meetings of the Governing Board of the DIA are not easily accessible by the
public or media; and
WHEREAS individuals attempting to attend meetings of the Governing Board of the DIA have reportedly
been refused admittance in the past; and
WHEREAS the fiscal condition of the DIA is currently only made available through the release of audit
and IRS documents, with limited detail and dated information; and
WHEREAS a detailed budget of revenues and expenditures of the DIA is not made available to the public
or media; and
WHEREAS past controversial decisions of the DIA Board have only come to light after the fact, when
exposed by the media; and
WHEREAS the DIA and its Governing Board do not operate in the spirit of transparency and
accountability consistent with an organization that relies upon the taxpayers for over 60% of their annual
operating budget ($23 million out of a reported total $34 million budget); and
WHEREAS this lack of transparency and accountability must be corrected with the adoption of reforms in
state law that include the DlA and similar organizations, that derive the vast majority of their operating
budget revenues from taxpayer funds, under the definition of public bodies under the Open Meetings Act
and Freedom of Information Act.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED the Oakland County Board of Commissioners calls upon
members of the State Legislature and the Governor to adopt legislation to include the Detroit Institute of
Arts and its Governing Board within the definition of public bodies under the Freedom of Information of
Act and the Open Meetings Act.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners encourages the
Governing Board of the Detroit Institute of Arts to voluntarily and immediately make readily available a
current detailed budget of revenues and expenditures, notice of Board Meetings and the Governing Board
bylaws.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners encourages the
Governing Board of the Detroit Institute of Arts to voluntarily and immediately adopt a policy that protects
the rights of the public and media to attend meetings of the Governing Board and its subcommittees
consistent with the regulation of public bodies under the Open Meetings Act.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners encourages the
Governing Board of the Detroit institute of Arts to voluntarily and immediately adopt policies and
procedures to make available, in a timely manner, documents and materials consistent with the regulation
of public bodies under the Freedom of Information Act.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the County of Oakland is directed to submit a copy of this
resolution to the Office of the Governor, Senate Majority and Minority Leaders, the House Speaker and
Minority Leader, the Michigan Association of Counties, members of the Oakland County delegation to the
Michigan Legislature, the Oakland County Arts Authority and the Detroit Institute of Arts Governing Board.
Chairperson, I move the adoption of the foregoing Resolution.
Commissioner ShAlley Taub
District #12
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Resolution #15234 August 26, 2015
The Chairperson referred the resolution to the General Government Committee. There were no
objections.