HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 2021.04.20 - 35270289
OAKLAND COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS MINUTES
April 20, 2021
Meeting called to order by Caucus Chairperson Kristen Nelson at 5:07 p.m. via
Videoconference.
Roll called.
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Cavell from Ferndale in Oakland County,
Charles from Southfield in Oakland County, Gershenson from Los Angeles in
California, Jackson from Southfield in Oakland County, Luebs from Clawson in
Oakland County, Markham from Novi in Oakland County, McGillivray from
Madison Heights in Oakland County, Miller from Farmington in Oakland County,
Nelson from Waterford Township in Oakland County, Powell from Pontiac in
Oakland County, Woodward from Royal Oak in Oakland County. (11)
EXCUSED ABSENCE WITH NOTICE: None. (0)
Quorum present.
No one addressed the Caucus during Public Comment.
Chairperson Kristen Nelson informed the Caucus that she was going to bypass
discussion of the Board of Commissioners Consent and Regular Agendas.
Commissioner Miller addressed the Caucus regarding MR #20623 entitled: Board of
Commissioners – Further Educational Attainment Compensation Incentive Program for
Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Deputies.
Discussion followed.
Commissioner Cavell addressed the Caucus regarding the development of the Oakland
County Housing Initiative.
Discussion followed.
Commissioner Markham addressed the Caucus regarding Earth Day resolutions.
Discussion followed
Democratic Caucus Minutes Continued. April 20, 2021
290
Commissioner Charles addressed the Caucus to suggest making the Earth Day
resolutions more meaningful by making them more visible to the public.
Discussion followed.
Commissioner Gershenson addressed the Caucus regarding the possibility of holding
the 100th Anniversary of Women’s Right to Vote Planting Ceremony on Earth Day.
Discussion followed.
Megan Sellers, Board of Commissioners Operations Supervisor addressed the Caucus
to give an update on the new plexiglass and audio/visual equipment being installed in
the Board of Commissioners Auditorium and to thank the Facilities Department for doing
such an outstanding job on the project.
Discussion followed.
Commissioner Jackson addressed the Caucus regarding security at the Board of
Commissioners Auditorium.
Discussion followed.
Commissioner Powell addressed the Caucus regarding the difficulty in filling summer
positions for the Parks and Recreation Commission. She suggested that wages for
these positions need to become more competitive.
Discussion followed.
Chairperson Kristen Nelson informed the Caucus that a $350.00 bounty for Oakland
County employees has been offered to those that bring in a successful candidate for
one of these summer positions.
Discussion followed.
Commissioner Gershenson suggested streamlining the application process for summer
employees.
Discussion followed.
Commissioner Markham addressed the Caucus regarding the budget. She stated that
Oakland County has retained its AAA bond rating due in part to the Campus
Sustainability Planning Project.
Discussion followed.
Democratic Caucus Minutes Continued. April 20, 2021
291
Chairperson Kristen Nelson addressed the Caucus regarding the COVID-19 American
Recovery Plan. She stated that David Coulter, County Executive has developed a task
force to process the grants associated with the Plan.
Discussion followed.
Commissioner Woodward addressed the Caucus regarding the Policy Priority
questionnaires. He stated that the top areas of concern were infrastructure and jobs,
housing and transit.
Discussion followed.
Chairperson Kristen addressed the Caucus regarding the plaque to honor Elizabeth
Denison Forth, the Healthy Aging Ad Hoc Committee and the wait list for homebound
vaccines.
Discussion followed.
Commissioner Cavell addressed the Caucus regarding six Fair Housing resolutions that
will be introduced at the April 29, 2021 Board of Commissioners meeting.
Discussion followed.
Chairperson Kristen Nelson addressed the Caucus and stated that she would like to see
more communication between the Commissioners and more timely submissions to the
Board agenda.
Commissioner Charles addressed the Caucus regarding available grant funding for
seniors and the disabled who use the Regional Transit Authority.
Commissioner Cavell addressed the Board to invite the Commissioners to join the
Saturday Zoom meetings being held by volunteers in District #18 at 10:00 a.m.
The Caucus recessed at 7:19 p.m. until April 29, 2021, at 5:00 p.m.
FRED MILLER KRISTEN NELSON
Deputy Clerk Caucus Chairperson