HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 2009.02.23 - 36331CHRISTINE LONG
Chairperson
SHELLEY TAUB
Vice Chairperson
MARCIA GERSHENSON
Minority Vice Chairperson
February 23, 2009
Chairperson Long called the meeting of the General Government Committee to order at 9:31 a.m. in
Committee Room A, Commissioners’ Wing, County Service Center, Pontiac, Michigan.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT :
Christine Long, Shelley Taub, Marcia Gershenson, Bradford Jacobsen, David Potts, Kim Capello,
Jim Runestad, Mattie Hatchett, Jim Nash, Gary McGillivray, Steve Schwartz
COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT WITH NOTICE:
Jeff Potter
OTHERS PRESENT
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES George Miller, Manager
OLHSA Ron Borngesser, CEO
PUBLIC AFFAIRS ASSOCIATES Jim Ryan, Lobbyist
Tyrone Sanders, Lobbyist
SHERIFF Mike McCabe, Undersheriff
Dale Cunningham, Business Manager
OTHER Mark Cortis
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Sue Ann Douglas, District #12
Sheryl Mitchell, Senior Analyst
Harvey Wedell, Senior Analyst
Helen Hanger, Sr. Committee Coordinator
PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
APPROVAL OF THE PREVIOUS MINUTES
Jacobsen moved approval of the previous minutes of January 26, 2009, as printed.
Supported by Gershenson.
Motion carried on a voice vote.
OAKLAND COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
1200 N. TELEGRAPH ROAD, PONTIAC, MI 48341-0475
Telephone (248) 858 -0100 FAX (248) 858 -1572
GENERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE
Jeff Potter
Bradford Jacobsen
David Potts
Kim Capello
Jim Runestad
Mattie Hatchett
Jim Nash
Gary McGillivray
Steve Schwartz
GENERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE Page 2
February 23, 2009
AGENDA
Capello moved the agenda with an amendment to remove item #9 – MR #09016 – Board of
Commissioners – Support for Legislation to Give Overseas Military Personnel Enough Time to
Vote and Be Counted. Supported by Jacobsen.
Motion carried on a voice vote.
AGENDA ITEMS
1. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES/HEALTH DIVISION – 2009 FETAL
INFANT MORTALITY DATA ABSTRACTION AGREEMENT – GRANT ACCEPTANCE
The Health Division is reque sting authorization to accept a $3,780 award from the Michigan Public
Health Institute in return for entering infant mortality data for Oakland County into a statewide data
base to assist with statistical analysis.
Gershenson moved approval of the attached suggested resolution. Supported by Jacobsen.
Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote with Potter and Hatchett absent.
2. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES/HEALTH DIVISION –
INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT WITH OAKLAND SCHOOLS FOR INFANT T ODDLER
ASESSMENTS
The Health Division is requesting authorization to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with
Oakland Schools to perform Infant Toddler Developmental Assessments (IDAs) to determine
eligibility for Oakland Schools Early On Program. The Early On Program provides early intervention
services for infants and toddlers, birth to three (3) years to age, with development delay(s) and/or
disabilities, and their families. Oakland Schools will compensate the Health Division up to $25,000
for performing these assessments during the period July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009. Existing
Health Division personnel will perform these assessments. Oakland Schools will pay assessment
costs of $225.00 for initial IDAs and $135.00 for annual IDAs. This function is also performed by
Oakland Schools staff and other contracted agencies.
Gershenson moved approval of the attached suggested resolution. Supported by Taub.
Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote with Potter and Hatchett absent.
3. BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS – APPOINTMENTS TO THE WOMEN’S COMMISSION
MR #09001, introduced by Commissioners Gershenson, Long, et. al, re -established the Women’s
Commission for a two-year period through December 31, 2010. The resolution requires that two
Oakland County Commissioners, one each from the majority and minority parties, shall be
appointed to serve as non-voting ex-officio members and advisors to the Commission, one being a
majority party member and the other a minority -party member.
Taub moved to report to recommend that Commissioners Gershenson and Long be
GENERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE Page 3
February 23, 2009
appointed to serve as non -voting ex-officio members of the Women’s Commission for the
period January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2010 . Supported by McGillivray.
Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote with Potter and Hatchett absent.
4. BOARD OF COMMSISIONERS – APPOINTMENTS TO THE REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP
FOR SUSTAINABILITY
MR #08202 established a Regional Partnership for Sustainability , further forming a steering
committee composed of two bipartisan (as appropriate) voting representatives each from the Detroit
City Council and the Commissions of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb. The Steering Committee will
provide direction and oversight and will include non -voting members from both the City and the
Counties and subject experts.
Commissioner Nash distributed additional information on the mission and organization of the
Partnership. If Congress approves the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program,
the Partnership will work with its municipalities to develop plans to capture those funds.
Commissioner Gershenson asked that results from this endeavor be shared with Board members.
Nash moved to report to recommend that Jim Nash and Shelley Taub be appointed to the
Regional Partnership for Sustainability. Supported by Taub.
Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote with Potter and Hatchett absent.
5. BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS – APPOINTMENT TO THE JURY BOARD.
Pursuant to statute, appointments to the Jury Board ar e made following a recommendation from the
Circuit Court. The General Government Committee has received a recommendation from the
Circuit Court to retro-actively appoint William Axtell to the Jury Board for a six -year term beginning
April 30, 2006 and ending May 1, 2012 .
Taub moved to report to recommend that William Axtell be appointed to the Jury Board for a
six-year term retro-active to begin April 30, 2006 and end May 1, 2012 . Supported by
Runestad.
Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote with Potter and Hatchett absent.
6. BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS – APPOINTMENT TO THE CONCEALED WEAPONS
LICENSING BOARD
Newly-elected Prosecuting Attorney Jessica Cooper has submitted written correspondence to the
Board of Commissioners that she does not wish to serve as a member of the Concealed Weapons
Licensing Board (CWL Board). Consistent with State Statute MCL 28.425a(1)(a), it is now
incumbent upon the Board of Commissioners to appoint her replacement. The Statute requires that
the appointee must be a certified firearms instructor. Mr. Mark Cortis has served on the CWL Board
since 2001 as the Board’s appointee.
Mr. Cortis responded to questions from the committee members.
GENERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE Page 4
February 23, 2009
Gershenson moved to report to recommend that Mark Cortis be appointed to the Concealed
Weapons Licensing Board for a four-year term consistent with that of the Prosecuting
Attorney, to begin January 1, 2009 and end December 31, 2012 . Supported by Potts.
Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote with Potter absent.
7. BOARD OF COMMISSION ERS – APPOINTMENT TO THE COMMUNITY MENTAL
HEALTH AUTHORITY BOARD
As of March 31, 2009, four vacancies will exist on the Community Mental Health Authority Board.
Applications were submitted by the four incumbents.
Commissioner Hatchett asked that a leg al opinion be provided for the Board meeting on whether it
was proper for a county commissioner’s spouse to be appointed as a CMH Board member.
Commissioner Gershenson stated that she would like to see CMH invite the commissioners to
attend their meetings.
Capello moved to report to recommend that the following appointments be made to the
Community Mental Health Authority Board for three year terms of April 1, 2009 through
March 31, 2012: Alvin Simmons (Secondary Consumer), Dr. Steffan Taub (General Pu blic),
Eleanor Rzepecki (General Public) and John Bowker (Working Involvement with Mental
Health Services). Supported by Jacobsen.
Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote with Taub recusing herself and Potter absent.
8. MR #09002 - BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS – PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT
FOR GOVERNMENT RELATIONS CONSULTING FIRM TO PUBLIC AFFAIRS ASSOCIATES,
INC.
The resolution, sponsored by Commissioners Jacobsen and Potter, would authorize the Board of
Commissioners to contract with Public Affai rs Associates, Inc. (PAA), to represent its interests in
Lansing for a three-year term at a monthly fee of $5,000, unless terminated by the parties. Action
on this item was postponed at the previous meeting so that additional information on the selection
process could be provided to committee members. This information was compiled by Mr. Doyle
and sent out with the today’s agenda packet. Commissioner Jacobsen explained the process used
in selecting PAA.
Jacobsen moved to report to recommend approval o f the resolution. Supported by Potts
Runestad moved to recommend an amendment to the resolution to add a third BE IT
FURTHER RESOLVED paragraph as follows.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Public Affairs Associates, Inc. (PAA) shall
report to the General Government Committee on a quarterly basis.
Supported by Taub.
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February 23, 2009
Motion carried on a roll call vote with Gershenson voting no and Potter absent.
Hatchett moved to report to recommend an amendment to the resolution to add a
fourth BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED para graph as follows:
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a Legislative Study Group will be
established consisting of two members of the majority party and two members of the
minority party and the Board of Commissioners’ Chairperson or designee to provide
oversight and direction to PAA.
Supported by Jacobsen.
Motion carried on a roll cal vote with Gershenson voting no and Potter absent.
Motion carried on a roll call vote:
Ayes: Taub, Jacobsen, Potts, Capello, Runestad, Hatchett, Long
Nays: Schwartz, Gershenson, Nash, McGillivray
Absent: Potter
10. MR #09030 - BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS – SUPPORT FOR STATE AND FEDERAL
TAX CREDITS FOR THOSE BUYING NEW CARS FROM AMERICAN COMPANIES
The resolution, sponsored by Commissioner Taub, urges Congress to include a tax c ut or tax credit
for individuals purchasing new vehicles from Ford, General Motors or Chrysler in the economic
stimulus package currently under consideration. The resolution also urges the State of Michigan to
enact a tax credit and suspend sales taxes o n new vehicles purchased from those car companies.
Capello moved approval of the suggested resolution. Supported by Taub.
It was noted that the Stimulus Package has now been passed by Congress so a portion of the
resolution would need to be amended.
Schwartz moved to postpone the resolution until the following three actions were completed.
1) Request and receive a legal opinion on whether the measures being requested by this
resolution would violate the federal constitution.
2) Determine exactly what Congress has passed regarding tax credits for the purchase of
new vehicles.
3) Research whether the State of Michigan has performed a fiscal analysis on what the
impact to the State would be from a sales tax reduction on the purchase of new vehicles as
opposed to what the increase in state revenue would be rom job creation if more cars were
sold as a result of the tax cut.
Supported by Taub.
Motion carried on a voice vote.
COMMUNICATIONS
GENERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE Page 6
February 23, 2009
A. Oakland County Mental Health Authority – Board Meeting Minutes – December 16,
2008
B. Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency Board of Directors Meeting Minutes –
December 3, 2008
Gershenson moved to receive and file the communications. Supported by Taub.
Motion carried on a voice vote.
OTHER BUSINESS/ADJOURNMENT
Commissioner Taub asked that all commissioners be notified when organizations that each
commissioner sits on meet.
There being no other business to come before the committee, the meeting was adjourned at 11:30
a.m.
______________________________ _______________________________
Helen A. Hanger Lawrence Doyle
Sr. Committee Coordinator Administrative Director
NOTE: The foregoing minutes are subject to Committee approval.