HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 2005.07.28 - 36016CHUCK MOSS
Chairperson
MIKE ROGERS
Vice Chairperson
TIM MELTON
Minority Vice Chairperson
July 28, 2005
Chairperson Moss called the meeting of the Finance Committee to order
at 1:02 p.m., in the Board of Commissioners' Committee Room A, Commissioners' Wing, County
Service Center, Pontiac, Michigan.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT :
Chuck Moss, Mike Rogers, Tim Melton, Charles Palmer, Hugh Crawford, Greg Jamian, Christine
Long, David Coulter, Helaine Zack, Dave Woodward
COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT:
Eric Wilson
OTHERS PRESENT :
ARTS, CULTURE & FILM Kristie Everett Zamora, Coordinator
EXECUTIVE OFFICE Gerald Poisson, Deputy Executive
Robert Daddow, Deputy Executive
FISCAL SERVICES Tim Soave, Manager
Nancy Fournier, Chief
Joe Rozell, Analyst
HEALTH & HUMAN RESOURCES Dr. Thomas Gordon, Director
HUMAN RESOURCES Nancy Scarlet, Director
Jennifer Mason, Manager
MANAGEMENT & BUDGET Laurie Van Pelt, Director
MSU EXTENSION Beverly Terry, Director
Lois Thieleke, Extension Educator
Tom Schneider, Extension Educator
Nancy Stobart-Mitch, Supervisor
PUBLIC SERVICES Mike Zehnder, Director
HISTORICAL COMMISS ION Jennifer Radcliff, Chair
Christopher Cummins
Kathy Munch
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Jeff Potter, District #8
Marcia Gershenson, District #17
Larry Doyle, Administrative Director
Harvey Wedell, Sr. Analyst
Sheryl Mitchell, Sr. Analyst
Helen Hanger, Sr. Committee Coordinator
PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
OAKLAND COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
1200 N. TELEGRAPH ROAD, PONTIAC, MI 48341-0470
Telephone (248) 858 -0100 FAX (248) 858-1572
FINANCE COMMITTEE
Charles Palmer
Hugh D. Crawford
Eric Wilson
Greg Jamian
Christine Long
David Coulter
Helaine Zack
David Woodward
FINANCE COMMITTEE Page 2
July 28, 2005
AGENDA
The Finance Committee calendar for July and August was revisited and several changes were made. The
regular meeting of the Finance Committee for August 11 was cancelled. Items needing to be taken up for
the August 18, 2005 Board meeting were placed on the August 1 agenda prior to the Health Division’s
Budget Hearing. Commissioner Palmer asked that the Capital Cooperative Initiative Reimbursement Fund
be added to the August 2 agenda for discussion. Commissioner Woodward requested that Information
Technology (IT) and the Drain Commissioner both be scheduled for hearings. IT was placed on the July 29
agenda and the Drain Commissioner was added to the Augus t 2 agenda.
5. BUDGET HEARINGS
Historical Commission
Ms. Radcliff distributed information regarding Historical Commission projects since 1990. She explained
that the Commission has worked closely with the County Executive’s Arts, Culture and Film Office i n
acquiring grant funds from Daimler Chrysler for two barn presentation workshops. The Commission has
provided presenters for the County’s Brown Bag Lunch Series and has assisted the Oakland County Round
Table’s Quality of Life Committee by providing info rmation from their database. The Commission’s web
page is almost complete and they would like to have it posed as part of the Board of Commissioners’ web
page. The Commission is collaborating with the Michigan Museum Association in Lansing to bring its
training curriculum and presenters to Oakland County and will be meeting with staff from the County’s
Planning and Economic Development Services Division to eliminate program overlap and improve service.
Ms. Radcliff explained that the Historical Commissio n is currently provided with a $600 annual budget by
the Board of Commissioners and would like to request and additional $800 to produce more workshops and
associated materials as well as to expand their mailing list.
Commissioner Crawford explained that he had requested the Historical Commission to come before the
Committee to show how much they do with what little they have. He asked them to provide a proposal to
increase their budget. He also asked what the Historical Commission line item allocation o f $21,000 under
the County Executive’s Administration budget was used for.
Mr. Soave explained that this allocation was actually for the Historical Society, which is a non -profit
organization that maintains the Wisner House property and archives and that this allocation would be
included for deletion in the forthcoming Executive’s Budget Task.
MSU Extension
Ms. Zack asked what the focus of the 4 -H program in now as compared to 50 years ago and what
programs are available to the County’s southend communit ies.
Commissioner Woodward asked what the Extension Service provided for the 4 -H Fair.
Mr. Schneider explained that the responsibilities of Extension staff include recruiting and training of
volunteers, organizing educational programs, support services a nd data and resource assistance. The 4-H
Fair is an authorized user of the 4p -H emblem and is run by a non -profit organization funded through fair
profits, with volunteers trained by the Extension Service. From its inception, 4 -H has been educational
based rather than recreational or activity based, originally focusing on after -school programs to make kids
aware of career options. Traditionally, this effort was based on agriculture but as society changed the
emphasis is more on exploring science and tech nology, the performing arts, youth leadership, and
workforce preparation. There are between 90 -100 4-H Clubs throughout the County, in addition to special
FINANCE COMMITTEE Page 3
July 28, 2005
project groups, which meet in a variety of places. There is an Aviation club that meets at the Cou nty
Airport in Waterford and, in the southend, a summer Book Buddies program that works to match up high
school students with younger children from the community to build reading skills and Oak Park High School
has a workforce preparation program. The Ext ension Services has worked with Boys and Girls Clubs in the
past, but is not currently. Programs are being done in conjunction with other groups, including America’s
Promise Program and United Way. Materials were distributed regarding the Extension Servi ces Programs.
Commissioner Jamian noted that the Extension Service would be losing one youth program coordinator
position due to the inability of the County to provide the 40% match. He spoke in support of trying to find a
way to maintain the position.
Commissioner Melton asked about several of the Extension Service’s line items.
Mr. Soave explained how costs for Internal Services funds are allocated. Budget requests were based on
instructions to request amounts equal to last year unless there are know n changes. For Building Space, an
adjustment to square footage was made based on reassignment of conference room space from a non -
departmental account.
Commissioner Coulter asked what the Extension Services expected as to state funding and asked for
additional documentation on the mission of MSU Extension, as well as statistical data on its programs.
Ms. Terry explained that Michigan State University is the land grant university of Michigan and the history of
extension lies in a three way funding partnership of federal, state and county dollar, used at the discretion
of local government. The mission of the land grant is to bring the latest research available to the citizenry
and to provide local programming based on need assessment. There has been no ch ange in the federal
allocation for Extension Services in the last 10 -12 years and about a 13% reduction from the State in the
last three years. MSU Extension is waiting to see if the State will maintain current funding levels.
Mr. Schneider indicated that program budget documentation is available on line and CD -ROM and is
currently being updated.
Arts, Culture and Film
Ms. Zack noted that the state award has decreased by half in the last four years to $35,800 and asked what
the value was of having this function as part of county government?
It was explained that the Arts Office is not identified separately within the Budget but is part of the County
Executive’s Administration budget, along with the Senior Citizens Coordinator and the South Oakland
Liaison/Special Projects Coordinator. Mr. Rozell explained that the total amount budgeted for this function
for 2006 is $144,078.
Ms. Zamora summarized the functions of the Arts, Culture and Film Office. She explained that two grants
are received from the state, one for regranting to non -profits through a minigrant award process and
another towards administration of the program. Assistance is provided to leverage additional dollars and in -
kin services and goods can be used to match funding. Arts, Culture & Film also works closely with the
County Round Table’s Quality of Life Committee to track cultural indicators, which includes activities
regarding the County’s 400+ cultural tourism destinations.
FINANCE COMMITTEE Page 4
July 28, 2005
OTHER BUSINESS / ADJOURNMENT
There being no other business to come before the committee, the meeting was adjourned at 2:50 p.m.
________________________ _______________________________
Helen A. Hanger Lawrence M. Doyle
Senior Committee Coordinator Administrative Director
NOTE: The foregoing minutes are subject to Committee approval.