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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 2002.04.22 - 35724WILLIAM R. PATTERSON Chairperson PETER H. WEBSTER Vice Chairperson TIM MELTON Minority Vice Chairperson April 22, 2002 The meeting of the General Governme nt Committee was called to order at 1:05 p.m. by Chairperson Patterson, in Committee Room A, Commissioners’ Wing, County Service Center, Pontiac, Michigan. COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT: William R. Patterson, Chair; Peter Webster, Vice Chair; Timothy Melton, Minority Vice Chair; Shelley G. Taub, Hugh D. Crawford, Chuck Moss, Tom Middleton, Ruel E. McPherson; Michelle Friedman Appel COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT: None. OTHERS PRESENT EXECUTIVE OFFICE Doug Williams, Deputy Executive Gerald Poisson, Assistant Deputy Robert Daddow, Assistant Deputy MANAGEMENT & BUDGET Laurie Van Pelt, Deputy Director PARKS AND RECREATION Dan Stencil PERSONNEL Dave VandeGrift, Analyst FERNDALE Tom Barwin, Manager INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Phil Bertolini, Director SMART Dan Dirks, General Manager Jim O'Shea, Finance Director Ron Ristau, Director of Service Development Donna Sykes, Ombudsman OLHSA Ron Borngesser, Chief Executive Officer LARSEN & ASSOCIATES Mel Larsen, President CITIZENS Joel Marvil Carol McCurry Mary Eddy Harry Dodd Barbara Fowkes Janny Milton Edward Jackson Cynthia Matusko Sanganur Mathadevan, M.D. OTHERS PRESENT CONTINUED BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS James VanLeuven, Administrative Director OAKLAND COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS 1200 N. TELEGRAPH ROAD, PONTIAC, MI 48341-0470 Telephone (248) 858-0100 FAX (248) 858 -1572 GENERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE Shelley G. Taub Hugh Crawford Chuck Moss Tom MIddleton Ruel E. McPherson Michelle Friedman Appel GENERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE Page 2 April 22, 2002 Sheryl Mitchell, Analyst Harvey Wedell, Analyst Helen Hanger, Sr. Committee Coordinator APPROVAL OF THE PREVIOUS MINUTES Crawford moved to approve the previous minutes of April 8, 2002, as printed. Supported by Moss. Motion to approve the minutes carried on a voice vote. PUBLIC COMMENT None. AGENDA Item #3 was moved up to be first on the agenda so that Mr. Rogers could leave to attend another meeting. Representatives of 4-H were unavailable for today's meeting and Mr. Middleton asked that item #8 be removed from the agenda. Item #9 was also removed. There were no objections. COUNTY EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATION - APPROPRIATION FOR NORTHWESTERN HIGHWAY EXTENSION The resolution would authorize an appropriation of $2 million from the County's Undesignated Fund Balance to facilitate the settlement of a 27 -year-old lawsuit filed by the Road Commission of Oakland County (RCOC) against the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) for refusing to extend Northwestern Highway from Eight Mile Road to the US -23 junction. Previous efforts to resolve this lawsuit have failed. Representative Marc Shulman and the County Executive have worked with SEMCOG, the Road Commission and MDOT to reach an agreement that would end the lawsuit and allow construction projects to move forward to eliminate traffic congestion resulting from Northwestern Highway's termination at 14 Mile and Orchard Lake Roads. The agreement includes three phases of construction, to be implemented over a 25-year period. Phase I includes a six-lane boulevard on Orchard Lake Road from 14 Mile Road to Maple Road, widening Powers and Daly Roads between Maple and Orchard Lake Roads, and construction of eight roundabou ts along both 14 Mile and Maple Roads at most major intersections. Phase I will cost $40 million, with MDOT paying $30 million, the State of Michigan $3 million, the RCOC $2.5 million and Oakland County paying $2 million in 2004. Oakland County communiti es must pay $2.5 million in 2004 and 2005. Ms. Van Pelt indicated that the County's contribution would be taken from the Undesignated Fund Balance of $8.5 million set aside for capital improvements. Mr. McPherson voiced his concerns about the inability t o obtain funding for other local road improvements. Mr. Rogers indicated that without the County's contribution to settle the lawsuit, this project would not proceed and the County will lose $38 million in road improvements. Taub moved approval of the attached suggested Resolution. Supported by Moss. Motion carried on a roll call vote with McPherson voting no. GENERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE Page 3 April 22, 2002 ACT 196 PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY MILLAGE REQUEST The resolution would authorize the Oakland County Public Transportation Authority (O CPTA) to utilize Act 196, Section 18, to place before those voters residing in the OCPTA area the proposition of establishing a .60 millage rate for the years 2002 -2005, to support public transportation. The OCPTA was established under MR #95083, reauthor ized per MR #98060, with authorization for a .33 millage. Mr. Barwin asked that the Committee consider less than a four -year renewal based on those reasons outlined in his letter (distributed to the committee and placed on file). A copy of the Ferndale City Council's resolution supporting consideration on a one -year renewal was also provided to the Committee (placed on file). Mr. Poisson spoke on behalf of the Administration to recommend authorizing the OCPTA to place the question of a four-year renewal of .60 mills on the ballot for voters within the OCPTA area. Mr. Poisson indicated that, if the State passes a regional transportation plan, it would take more than one year to develop and implement the plan. If the millage does not pass, all services to Oakland County communities will be cut. Mr. Dirks stated that this millage would allow SMART to operate at existing service levels, providing only an increase to community partnership programs, which have not had an increase since 1995. Less than a four-year millage would result in the need to make cuts in service in the next few years. Melton moved approval of the attached suggested resolution. Supported by Moss. Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote. BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS - CONFIRMATION OF LAURIE VAN PELT AS DIRECTOR OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET Jeff Pardee, the Director of Management and Budget, will be retiring as of May 3, 2002. The County Executive has selected Laurie Van Pelt , the current Deputy Director of Management and Budget, to replace Mr. Pardee. Taub moved to report to confirm the County Executive's appointment of Laurie Van Pelt as Director of Management and Budget. Supported by Middleton. Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote. PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION - SUPPORT FOR ACCEPTANCE OF MINI-GRANT FROM THE OAKLAND COUNTY CULTURAL COUNCIL AND MICHIGAN COUNCIL FOR ARTS AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS FOR THE 2002 SINGSATION TRAVELING MUSIC SHOW PROGRAM Parks and Recreation has been awarded a $4,000 mini -grant, from the Oakland County Cultural Council and Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs, for its 2002 Singsation Traveling GENERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE Page 4 April 22, 2002 Music Show. Parks and Recreation will be providing matching funds of $16,281 through in -kind contribution and $9,550 through admission and application fees. Corporation Counsel has indicated it can not sign off on the contract's liability and hold harmless language. Mr. Webster suggested that the Committee correspond to the Michigan Arts Council its concerns regarding this contract indemnification language, to include an invitation to come to committee and discuss this issue, along with our Corporation Counsel. McPherson moved approval of the attached suggested resolution. Supported by Melton. Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY - ON-GOING PROVISION OF ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION FOR OVERTIME EXEMPT EMPLOYEES Information Technology (IT) is requesting to continue the additional compensation program for its overtime-exempt employees similar to previously authorized MR #99155. This previous resolution authorized this compensation program for IT employees during the roll -out phase of CLEMIS, subject to review and evaluation by the Board of Commissioners after one year. The proposed resolution would authorize this compensation program on an on -going basis. Mr. Bertolini indicated that during the 2001 calendar year, 20 employees at a cost of $24,000 utilized 600 hours. He indicated this to be a considerable cost savings compared to hiring additional employees or contracting at professional service rates. This information is included in the IT Quarterly Master Plan Report. Mr. VandeGrift indicated that straight time for pre-authorized projects is a form of compensation allowable under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Moss moved to report to recommend approval of the attached suggested Resolution. Supported by Taub. Moss moved to postpone this item until May 20, so that a revised resolution could be drafted, to add BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED language simila r to that in MR #99155, and that a report be requested from the Personnel Department concerning the issue of overtime for exempt personnel and why this will not create a problem. Supported by Melton. Motion carried on a roll call vote with Taub and Cra wford voting no. MR #02068 - BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS - PUBLIC HEARINGS REQUIRED BEFORE VOTING ON THE ADOPTION OF AN OAKLAND COUNTY ORDINANCE The resolution was introduced by Mr. Webster. The resolution requires that a policy be established to require a public hearing before the Board of Commissioners prior to adoption of a County ordinance and that notice of these hearings be published not less than 10 days or more than sixty days prior to the date of the hearing in a newspaper of general circulation in O akland County, as well as be posted in compliance with the Open Meetings Act. Corporation Counsel has indicated that state law contains no provision that would prohibit GENERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE Page 5 April 22, 2002 enacting this procedure. Dr. Gordon suggested to amend the resolution, NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED paragraph, to include language similar to that in the fifth WHEREAS. Webster moved to report to recommend approval of the attached suggested Resolution, with an amendment to the NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED paragraph as follows: NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners, EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN THE STATE PUBLIC HEALTH CODE OR OTHER STATE REGULATIONS, shall hold a public hearing before the full Board before voting on the adoption of an ordinance. Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote. MR #02091 - BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS - SPECIAL ELECTION REIMBURSEMENT The resolution was introduced by Mr. Middleton. The resolution would authorize distribution of four months of unpaid salary from County Commissioner District 4 to communities within this district, based on the number of registered voters in the affected precincts , to offset the cost of the special election to fill this seat following the resignation of Mr. Frank Millard on October 25, 2001. Mr. VanLeuven indicated that any unspent dollars left at the end of the budget year are placed back in the County's general fund. Corporation Counsel has indicated that by law the County can not gift funds and special elections are the obligation of the local units of government. Middleton moved to postpone this item until Corporation Counsel provides an opinion. Supported by Melton. Motion carried on a roll call vote with Taub voting no. THE COMMITTEE RECESSED FROM 3:08 P.M. - 3:20 P.M. BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS - APPOINTMENT INTERVIEWS FOR THE COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH AUTHORITY BOARD The following individuals were interviewed for a seat on the Community Mental Health Authority Board: Joel Marvil, Carol McCurry, Mary Eddy, Harry Dodd, Barbara Fowkes, Edward Jackson, Cynthia Matusko, Sanganur Mathadevan, M.D. Crawford nominated Jerry Ellis. McPherson nominated Frank Tyndell. Taub nominated Mary Eddy. McPherson moved that the nominations be closed. Supported by Melton. Motion carried on a voice vote. Mr. Patterson indicated that a final recommendation would require five votes. GENERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE Page 6 April 22, 2002 Friedman Appel : Tyndell Middleton: Tyndell Webster: Tyndell Melton: Tyndell McPherson: Tyndell Moss: Ellis Crawford: Ellis Taub: Eddy Patterson: Eddy Webster moved to report to recommend that Frank Tyndell be appointed to the Community Mental Heath Authority Board for a three-year term ending March 31, 2005. Supported by McPherson. Motion carried on a roll call vote with Crawford voting no. COMMUNICATIONS A. April, 2002, Computing Solutions Article Re: Emergency Response Interoperability B. April 10, 2002, Oakland Press Re: Emergency Response Training C. March 8, 2002, Michigan Offices of Services to the Aging Letter Re: FY03 Implementation Plan Crawford moved to receive and file the communications. Supported by Taub. Motion carried on a voice vote. OTHER BUSINESS/ADJOURNMENT There being no other business to come before the committee, the meeting was adjourned at 5:30 p.m. ___________________________ _______________________________ Helen Hanger, James H. VanLeuven, Jr. Senior Committee Coordinator Administrative Director NOTE: The foregoing minutes are subject to Committee approval.