HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 2011.06.27 - 36542CHRISTINE LONG
Chairperson
KATHY CRAWFORD
Vice Chairperson
MARCIA GERSHENSON
Minority Vice Chairperson
June 27, 2011
Chairperson Long called the meeting of the General Government Committee to order at 9:32 a.m. in
Committee Room A of the Commissioners’ Auditorium Wing, County Service Center in Pontiac,
Michigan.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT :
Christine Long, Kathy Crawford , Marcia Gershenson, John Scott, Bob Gosselin, Jeff Matis,
Bob Hoffman, Mattie Hatchett, Jim Nash, Nancy Quarles
COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT WITH NOTICE:
None.
OTHERS PRESENT
CLERK/REGISTER OF DEEDS Bill Bullard, Jr., Clerk/Register
Larry Doyle, Deputy Clerk/Register
ELECTIONS Joe Rozell, Director
CORPORATION COUNSEL Judy Cunningham, Corporation Counsel
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES George Miller, Director
ROCHESTER Lee Ann O’Connor, City Clerk
OTHERS Ron Borngesser, Chief Exec. Officer
Tina Marzolf, Chief Executive Off icer
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Jim Ver Ploeg, Administrative Director
Sheryl Mitchell, Senior Analyst
Harvey Wedell, Senior Analyst
Helen Hanger, Sr. Committee Coordinator
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Chairperson Long led the Pledge of Allegiance.
APPROVAL OF THE PREVIOUS MINUTES
Gosselin moved approval of the minutes of May 23, 2011. Supported by Matis.
Motion carried on a voice vote.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
OAKLAND COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
1200 N. TELEGRAPH ROAD, PONTIAC, MI 48341-0475
Telephone (248) 858 -0100 FAX (248) 858 -1572
GENERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE
John Scott
Bob Gosselin
Jeff Matis
Bob Hoffman
Mattie Hatchett
Jim Nash
Nancy Quarles
GENERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE Page 2
June 27, 2011
Scott moved to amend the agenda to remove item 2 – Michigan Department of Human
Services - Update on Adult and Child Services (at the request of the presenters) and to add
as Communication Item E. - Health and Human Services – Children’s Village Fiscal Year
2011-2012 Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Grant Applica tion. Supported by Gosselin.
Motion carried on a voice vote.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Ms. Cunningham provided the Committee with a brief update on two lawsuits involving Oakland
County. The first suit was filed against Freddie Mac and Fannie May regarding non -payment of
transfer taxes on recorded deeds. T he other lawsuit involves a settlement with the Michigan
Department of Corrections with female prisoners who were sexually abused by prison guards - to
seek restitution from that award for the victims of thos e female prisoners. The Attorney General is
also involved in the suit on behalf of the Michigan Department of Human Services for child support
owed to the State of Michigan by these female prisoners.
AGENDA ITEMS
1. BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS – INTERVIEWS FOR THE FRIEND OF THE COURT
CUSTODIAL (1) AND NON -CUSTODIAL (1) PARENT APPOINTMENTS
Mr. O’Shea was interviewed for the Custodial Parent seat on the Friend of the Court Citizens
Advisory Committee. Mr. Coston and Ms. Verner were found to be ineligible for the custodial and
non-custodial parent seats but were encouraged to apply for other appointments.
Scott moved to report to recommend the appointment of Kevin O’Shea to the Custodial
parent seat on the Friend of the Court Citizens Advisory Committee . Supported by
Gershenson.
Motion carried on a roll call vote with Gosselin absent.
Board staff was directed to update the website to seek additional applicants for the non -custodial
parent seat for another two week period.
3. MR #11096 – BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS – SUPPORT FOR AMENDING MCL 168 -
449(3) TO ELIMINATE THE REQUIREMENT THAT LOCAL CLERKS SEND CORRECTED
VOTER IDENTIFICATION CARDS DUE TO REDISTRICTING RESULTING FROM THE
DECENNIAL CENSUS
The resolution was introduced by Commissioner Matis to ask that the Michigan State Legislature
consider amending MCL 168-449(3) to eliminate the requirement that clerks send corrected voter
identification cards due to redistricting of United States Representative, State Senatorial, State
Representative or County Commissio n districts.
Mr. Matis explained that this issue came to his attention as a result of a resolution adopted by the
Rochester City Council. A copy of that resolution was distributed.
Ms. O’Connor explained that this action would not eliminate voter iden tification cards which would
continue to be sent out when an addr ess, name or municipal precinct changes. This proposal is a
result of the decennial census which requires the clerks to send out new cards to everyone if just
one district number on the card changes. The cost per card is estimated at 40-50 cents, including
GENERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE Page 3
June 27, 2011
supplies, labor and postage. With 9,000 regi stered voters in Rochester the total cost is about
$5,000. State Representatives Tom McMillan and Jim Marlowe have drafted language to amend
the statute. Cards must be mailed first class and cannot be sent with any other items .
Commissioner Hatchett indicated that she would find out what the appropriate Michigan Association
of Counties’ committee is to bring this issue to and ask that they lobby in support of this change.
Matis moved to report to recommend approval of the attached suggested resolution.
Supported by Gosselin.
Hatchett moved to amend the first BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED paragraph :
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Bo ard of Commissioners
recommends that clerks may shall publish a public notice of district changes in a
newspaper of general circulation .
Supported by Matis.
Motion carried on a voice vote.
Hatchett moved to amend the last BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the County Clerk send a copy of this resolution to
the Governor, Secretary of State, and Oakland County State Senators and Representatives ,
the Oakland County Board of Commissioners’ lobbyists and the Michigan
Association of Coun ties.
Supported by Matis.
Gershenson moved to amend the last WHEREAS paragraph.
WHEREAS clerks should be allowed shall be required to publish a public notice in
a newspaper or within a community newsletter or on their municipal website identifying new
districts and offer new cards upon request by the voter .
Supported by Matis.
Motion carried on a voice vote.
Main motion, as amended, carried on a roll call vote with Gershenson and Nash voting no
and Quarles absent.
4. BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS – REVIEW OF APPLICATIONS FOR PARKS AND
RECREATION COMMISSION SEAT (DUE TO RESIGNATION OF C PALMER)
The four applications submitted through the deadline of June 6, 2011 were discussed.
Scott moved to report to recommend A. David Baumhart, III for appointment to the Parks
and Recreation Commission to complete a three -year term ending December 31, 2012,
which was vacated due to the resignation of Charles E. Palmer. Supported by Gosselin.
Motion carried on a roll call vote with Hatchett, Nash, Quarles and Gershenson voting no.
GENERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE Page 4
June 27, 2011
COMMUNICATIONS
A. Oakland County Library Board Minutes – 4/27/11
B. MI Dept. of Human Services Oakland County Board Minutes – 3/22/11
C. MI Dept. of Human Services Oakland County Board Minutes – 4/19/11
D. Road Commission for Oakland County Board Minutes – 5/19/11
E. Health and Human Services – Children’s Village FY 2011-2012 Fresh Fruit and Vegetable
Program Grant Application
Hoffman moved to receive and file the communications. Supported by Quarles.
Motion carried on a voice vote.
OTHER BUSINESS/ADJOURNMENT
It was noted that the Solid Waste Planning Committee appointments would be expiring in October.
Current members were contacted via e -mail several weeks ago and a majority have not responded.
The website will be updated to accept applications. Commissioner Nash indicated that he was
willing to be appointed as the County Government member.
There being no other business to come before the committee, the meeting was adjourned at 10:55
a.m.
______________________________ __________________________________
Helen A. Hanger Jim Ver Ploeg
Sr. Committee Coordinator Administrative Director
NOTE: The foregoing minutes are subject to Committee approval.