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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2006.03.22 - 28209Miscellaneous Resolution #06071 BY: Commissioners Helaine Zack, District #22 and David Woodward, District #18 RE: Board of Commissioners - Affirm Support for Affirmative Action Policies in Oakland County and Michigan TO: Oakland County Board of Commissioners Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen: WHEREAS taking action to end discrimination is the challenge and responsibility of every single person in our society, as well as of the institutions and organizations which have such a large impact on our lives; and WHEREAS it is important that our democratic institutions mirror the populations they serve, and that discrimination be ended; and WHEREAS affirmative action programs, including recruitment, outreach, and training initiatives offered to qualified women and minorities remedy past discrimination, fight present day disparities, and promote diversity in our society; and WHEREAS affirmative action policies have been effective in many areas of public life because they opened up opportunities for people who would not otherwise have them; and WHEREAS affirmative action is NOT a quota system, whereby a specific outcome is mandated, but rather a policy that advocates action for reaching a goal that eliminates inequities; and WHEREAS the Oakland County Board of Commissioners opposes discrimination and supports programs to advance equal opportunity; and WHEREAS the Oakland County Board of Commissioners passed Miscellaneous Resolution #9947 in 1980, and reaffirmed it by Miscellaneous Resolution # 84119 in 1984 and # 88080 in 1988, adopted an affirmative action policy committing the County to a goal of having in its workforce the number of females and minorities equal to the representation in the civilian labor market; and WHEREAS the current statement of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Policy adopted by the Board of Commission binds all county officials, department heads and mangers, especially those with responsibility for selection, training, placement, and supervision of employees, to positively and affirmatively carry out all personal related actions in such a manner so as to bring about the above mentioned goal; and WHEREAS banning affirmative action in Michigan would mean an end to: 1. Outreach programs that encourage minorities and women to enter fields such as police, fire fighting, and engineering or attend college. 2. Programs to encourage women and minorities to stay in school and prepare for good-paying jobs in engineering, science, or even construction and law enforcement. 3. Programs to encourage men to become teachers or nurses, where they are underrepresented and needed to meet societal goals. 4. Affirmative action goals for hiring in state and local government. Commissioner Distric, I D commissioner spf t coipmissioner District # 4— Gender and minority based representation on boards and commissions, including advisory boards with corrections, education, and public health. WHEREAS banning affirmative action in Michigan threatens to reverse the social progress we have gained so far through affirmative action, and will immediately end all local affirmative action policies in Oakland County that promote justice, diversity and equal opportunity; and WHEREAS banning affirmative action in Michigan will send a chilling message to the corporate world across America and the world, who through Automation alley and the Emerging Sectors Initiative we seek to locate here in Oakland County, Michigan. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED the Oakland County Board of Commissioners hereby affirm our support for affirmative action policies that promote diversity and help remedy societal inequities; and BE IT FUTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners supports continuation of our county's public-sector affirmative action program and opposes any effort that would ban affirmative action policies in Michigan and Oakland County; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be distributed to all Oakland County media outlets, all Oakland County city's, villages, and townships, the Michigan Association of Counties, and all elected officials that serve Oakland County. Chairperson, we move the adoptig lidAl4aq4A1 Commissione elaine Zack e foregoing r olution. ceriti7loner avid oodwar'd -1 Distrkt_# 1 8 Zi-missioner District #2'7) -'a 41( ommissioneig District Commissioner DistrictDistrict # Commissioner District # Commissioner Commissioner District # District # Resolution #06071 March 24, 2006 The Chairperson referred the resolution to the Personnel Committee. There were no objections.