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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 2009.07.06 - 36360CHRISTINE LONG Chairperson SHELLEY TAUB Vice Chairperson MARCIA GERSHENSON Minority Vice Chairperson July 6, 2009 Chairperson Long called the meeting of the General Government Committee to order at 9:32 a.m. in Committee Room A, Commissioners’ Wing, County Service Center, Pontiac, Michigan. COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT : Christine Long, Shelley Taub, Jeff Potter, Bradford Jacobsen, David Potts, Mattie Hatchett, Jim Nash, Gary McGillivray, Steve Schwartz COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT WITH NOTICE: Marcia Gershenson, Kim Capello, Jim Runestad . OTHERS PRESENT CLERK/REGISTER OF DEEDS Chris Ward, Deputy Clerk CORPORATION COUNSEL Michael Blaszczak , Assistant Counsel Bradley Benn, Assistant Counsel DETROIT AUDUBON SOCIETY Frank Zaski Doris Applebaum Fred Charbonneau EXECUTIVE OFFICE Gerald Poisson, Deputy Executive FISCAL SERVICES Tim Soave, Manager HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES George Miller, Director MILLER CANFIELD PADDOCK & STONE Roselyn Parmenter, Attorney OAKLAND HEALTH PLAN Ed Forry, Consultant OLHSA Ron Borngessor, CEO OTHERS Ryan Bloom , Intern BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS David Wood ward, District #18 Eric Coleman, District #23 David Coulter, District #25 Larry Doyle, Administrative Director Sheryl Mitchell, Senior Analyst Harvey Wedell, Senior Analyst Helen Hanger, Sr. Committee Coordinator PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 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 July 6, 2009 PUBLIC COMMENT None. APPROVAL OF THE PREVIOUS MINUTES Jacobsen moved approval of the previous minutes of June 1, 2009, as printed. Supported by McGillivray. Motion carried on a voice vote. AGENDA Potts moved to amend the agenda so that Item 3 would be taken up first. Supported by Jacobsen. Motion carried on a voice vote. 3. MR #09130 – BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS – SUPPORT FOR SAFE PASSAGE OF GREAT LAKES MIGRATING BIRDS IN OAKLAND COUNTY The resolution was introduced by Commissioner Taub and encourages business owners, building organizations and property owners , to cooperate with the Project Safe Passage Great Lakes program by turning off the lights in tall buildings during bird migration seasons between March 15 through May 31 and August 15 through October 31. The program, initiated by the Detroit Audubon Society in 2006, has been endorsed by proclamation of Governor Granholm, supported with assistance from DTE Energy and the Building Owners and Managers Associati on of Metropolitan Detroit, who encourage membership participation. Biologists estimate fatalities in the millions during nighttime migration. Research has shown that lighting reductions in even one tall building during migration periods could save thousands of birds annually and greatly reduce electrical costs for participants. Mr. Bertolini explained that the County facilities staff is shutting off the lights as soon as they are done cleaning an area. Taub moved to report to recommend approval of the attached suggested resolution. Supported by Potts. Potts moved to report to amend the resolution as follows. 1. Fourth WHEREAS WHEREAS more thatn 250 species of birds, including warblers, thrushes and tanagers, some declining steeply in numbers, fly o ver Michigan cities, including Oakland County during their migration seasons; and 2. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED GENERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE Page 3 July 6, 2009 NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED , that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners does hereby encourage business owners, building organizations and property owners to cooperate with the Project Safe Passage Great Lakes program. 3. 2nd BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners encourages local municipalities, business owners, building organizations and property owners throughout Oakland County to cooperate with the Project Safe Passage Great Lakes by turning out lights, which will not only spare birds, but save money and energy and reduce pollution. It can be a win-win- win situation for the environment, for building owners and managers, and for the birds. Supported by Hatchett. Motion to amend carried on a voice vote. Roll Call on the main motion as amended: Ayes: Taub, Jacobsen, Potts, Hatchett, Nash, McGillivray Nays: Schwartz, Potter Absent: Gershenson, Capello, Runestad Motion carried. 1. MR #09130 – BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS – A RESOLUTION URGING IMMEDIATE PASSAGE OF COMPREHENSIVE FEDERAL HEALTH REFORM LEGISLATION The resolution was introduced by Commissioner Coleman and endorses the National Association of Counties’ (NACo) eight health reform principles as summarized in Restoring the Partnership for American Health: Counties in a 21 st Century Health System and urges the 111th U.S. Congress to enact comprehensive health reform legislation before the end of its first session. NACo held three regional hearings to explore the health crisis and to gather input from county officials. The NACo Board of Directors summarized these findings in a resolution adopted on March 9, 2009. Hatchett moved to report to recommend approval of the attached suggested resolution. Supported by Nash. Taub moved to report to amend the resolution title to strike “Urging Immediate Pa ssage of Comprehensive Federal Health Reform Legislation” and insert “Endorsing the NACo Health Reform Principles.” Supported by Schwartz. Roll Call: Ayes: Taub, McGillivray, Schwartz Nays: Potter, Jacobsen, Potts, Hatchett, Nash, Long Absent: Gershenson, Capello, Runestad Motion to report to amend failed. GENERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE Page 4 July 6, 2009 Schwartz moved to report to amend the resolution’s fifth WHEREAS and insert as the second BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the following. WHEREAS in 2002, an estimated 6.5% or 77,620 thousands of people in Oakland County were are uninsured. In today’s economic climate this number is projected to grow significantly; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County B oard of Commissioners takes no position at this time on a single payer health care system . Supported by Hatchett. Roll Call: Ayes: Potter, Hatchett, Nash, McGillivray, Schwartz Nays: Jacobsen, Potts, Taub, Long Absent: Gershenson, Capello, Runestad Motion to report to amend carried. Schwartz moved to report to amend the resolution’s first BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED paragraph as follows. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that th e Board strongly urges the 111 th Congress of the United States to enact comprehensive health reform legislation without delay before the end of its first session embodying these eight principles. Supported by Taub. Motion to amend carried unanimously on a roll call vote with Gershenson, Capello and Runestad absent. Schwartz moved to report to amend the resolution’s title as follows. MR #09127 – BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS – A RESOLUTION URGING IMMEDIATE PASSAGE OF COMPREHENSIVE FEDERAL HEALTH REFORM LEGISLA TION ENDORSING THE EIGHT NACO HEALTH REFORM PRINCIPLES . Supported by Taub. Motion to report to amend carried unanimously on a roll call vote with Gershenson, Capello and Runestad absent. Main motion, as amended, carried unanimously on a roll call vote with Gershenson, Capello and Runestad absent. 2. MR #09129 – BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS – AUTHORIZING INTERGOVERNMENTAL TRANSFER TO EXPAND ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE FOR OAKLAND COUNTY RESIDENTS AND CONTRACTING ADMINISTRATION OF COUNTY’S INDIGENT HOSPITALIZATION PROGRAM WITH OAKLAND HEALTH PLAN, INC GENERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE Page 5 July 6, 2009 The resolution was introduced by Commissioner Coulter and would authorize an intergovernmental transfer of $695,274 to the State of Michigan for the purpose of participating in the financing of the non-federal share o f Medicaid Disproportionate Share (DSH) payments made under the Indigent Care Agreements Pool to William Beaumont Hospital (BH) so long as Oakland Health Plan (OHP) maintains a current Indigent Care Agreement with William Beaumont Hospital. The resolution further would authorize the Board of Commissioners’ Chair to enter into an agreement with OHP, not to exceed $304,726, for administering the Indigent Hospitalization program for Oakland County. Commissioner Coulter, Ms. Parmenter and Mr. Forry presented the proposal. Commissioner Coulter explained that the proposal is to transfer a portion of those funds the County currently has designated for indigent health care to the State to obtain federal match funding. Those funds would then be returned to Oaklan d County. OHP administers the current Adult Benefit Waiver (ABW) program which has 5,100 enrollees. This program is set to expire at the end of the year. It is anticipated that the new expanded program will cover an additional 2,500 who are not eligible under the current program . There are currently 71 other Michigan counties participating either individually or jointly in county health plans established as private, nonprofit, tax -exempt entities. Ms. Parmente r cited those particular sections of the S ocial Security Act which allow for the transfer of these funds and those portions of the federal law pertaining to this proposal. She indicated that the program has had a federal audit and no problems have been identified. Mr. Poisson explained that the Administration had been approached previously by a number of organizations about getting into this program – a one-third share program for small businesses. A decision was never made to go forward because they all required Oakland Count y to step in. The Administration was also approached regarding this program and asked if they wished to participate but was not given any indication that any thing had changed as to the County’s part. He indicated that the Administration would not support this effort without a written contract from the State specifying that the any matching dollars provided by Oakland County will be returned to the County and that any federal dollars received as a result of those matching funds are given back to Oakland County hospitals. Mr. Poisson also asked that the Committee consider if it is the County’s role to assume the obligation of providing a health care plan and to what population when the County budget is being cut and services are being reduced. The current ABW, prescripti on drug and discount dental programs receive no County funding. Mr. Forry explained that OHP has a working agreement with BH and at this time they are OHP’s only choice for this program. OHP has offered to put up a cash bond stati ng that if for some reason the State will not give Oakland County back its dollars, OHP will reimburse Oakland County. Hatchett moved to report to recommend approval of the attached suggested resolution. Supported by Nash. Nash moved to report to amend the BE IT FURTH ER RESOLVED paragraph to strike “administering” and instead insert “for the funding of”. Supported by Hatchett. Roll Call: Ayes: Taub, Jacobsen, Long Nays: McGillivray, Schwartz, Potter, Potts, Hatchett, Nash Absent: Gershenson, Capello, Runestad GENERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE Page 6 July 6, 2009 Motion to report to amend carried. Commissioner Schwartz asked that Commissioner Coulter, as Democratic Caucus Chair, request a legal opinion from the Board of Commissioners’ outside legal counsel on several matters regarding this proposal. Hatchett moved to postpone this item until July 20, 2009. Supported by Potter. Roll Call: Ayes: Potter, Potts, Hatchett, Nash, McGillivray, Long Nays: Schwartz, Taub, Jacobsen Absent: Gershenson, Capello, Runestad Motion carried. 4. MR #09131 – BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS – OPPOSE MOVING GUANTANAMO BAY PRISONERS TO MICHIGAN PRISONS The resolution was introduced by Commissioner Shelley Taub and opposes relocation of Guantanamo Bay detainees anywhere in Michigan. U.S. Representative Bart Stupak of Menominee, Michigan has written a letter asking the Obama administration to consider using a closed state prison in Manistique, Michigan as a relocation site for Guanta namo Bay detainees. Taub moved to report to recommend approval of the resolution. Supported by Jacob sen. Roll Call: Ayes: Taub, Jacobsen, Potts, Long Nays: Potter, Hatchett, Nash, McGillivray, Schwartz Absent: Gershenson, Capello, Runestad Motion failed. COMMUNICATIONS A. Van Buren County Resolution Urging the State of Michigan to Fulfill its Ob ligations and Promises to Restore State Revenue Sharing B. Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency Minutes – March 25, 2009 C. Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency Minutes – May 27, 2009 D. Oakland County Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes – June 3, 2009 E. Road Commission for Oakland County Michigan Minutes – May 28, 2009 F. Oakland County Public Transportation Authority Minutes – March 18, 2009 G. Oakland County Library Board Minutes – April 20, 2009 H. Oakland County library Board Minutes – April 22, 2009 GENERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE Page 7 July 6, 2009 I. Oakland County Library Board Minutes – May 20, 2009 J. Oakland County Library Board Minutes – May 27, 2009 K. Oakland County Community Mental Health Authority Minutes – April 21, 2009 L. Oakland County Community Mental Health Author ity Minutes – May 26, 2009 M. Women’s Commission for Oakland County Minutes – February 25, 2009 Hatchett moved to receive and file the communications. Supported by Nash. Motion carried on a voice vote. OTHER BUSINESS/ADJOURNMENT There being no other business to come before the committee, the meeting was adjourned at 12:3-5 p.m. ______________________________ _______________________________ Helen A. Hanger Lawrence Doyle Sr. Committee Coordinator Administrative Director NOTE: The foregoing minutes are subject to Committee approval.