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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 2013.07.08 - 36727CHRISTINE LONG Chairperson KATHY CRAWFORD Vice Chairperson MARCIA GERSHENSON Minority Vice Chairperson July 8, 2013 Chairperson Long called the meeting of the General Government Committee to order at 9:31 a.m. in the Commissioners’ Pernick-Aaron Conference Room, County Service Center in Pontiac, Michigan. COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT : Christine Long, Kathy Crawford, Marcia Gershenson, Jeff Matis, Bob Hoffman, Michael Spisz, Mattie Hatchett, Nancy Quarles COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT WITH NOTICE: Bob Gosselin OTHERS PRESENT : HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES George Miller, Director AREA AGENCY ON AGING 1-B Tina Abbate Marzolf, Chief Executive Officer Jan Dolan, Oakland County Older Persons Representat ive LIBRARY SERVICES Laura Mancini, Director BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Jim Ver Ploeg, Administrative Director Chris Ward, Sr. Analyst Helen Hanger, Sr. Committee Coordinator PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Chairperson Long led the Pledge of Allegiance. APPROVAL OF THE PREVIOUS MINUTES Spisz moved approval of the minutes of June 3, 2013 as printed. Supported by Crawford. Motion carried on a voice vote. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA Quarles moved approval of the agenda as printed . Supported by Hoffman. Motion carried on a voice vote. PUBLIC COMMENT OAKLAND COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS 1200 N. TELEGRAPH ROAD, BLDG 12E, PONTIAC, MI 48341-0475 Telephone (248) 858 -0100 FAX (248) 858-1572 GENERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE Bob Gosselin Jeff Matis Bob Hoffman Michael Spisz Mattie Hatchett Nancy Quarles GENERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE Page 2 July 8, 2013 None. REGULAR AGENDA 1. BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS – AREA AGENCY ON AGING 1-B FY 2014-2016 MULTI- YEAR PLAN The resolution approves the Area Agency on Aging 1 -B Fiscal Year 2014 -2016 Multi Year Plan for the purpose of conveying such support to the Area Agency on Aging 1 - B (AAA 1-B) and the Michigan Office of Services to the Aging. Ms. Marzolf explained that the AAA 1-B is a regional non-profit organization that oversees the allocation of federal and state dollars for programs supporting primarily those over age 60 and those with disabilities. These are evidence -based out-reach programs used to keep this population fit and healthy and to help manage their conditions in order to keep them in their homes. The Agency receives $20 million in resources and Oakland County provides $82,000 of matching funds plus $100,000 for community outreach. Funds provided by Oakland County are budgeted for under Mr. Miller’s budget. Ms. Marzolf indicated that she meets with Mr. Miller quarterly to report on and review the use of these resources. The plan includes the AAA 1 -B’s objectives and reporting is very specific. My Ride 2 is a mobility management service program that recently coordinated with SMART and also works with the North Oakland County Transportation Authority . A federal grant has been received as well to assist veterans. Commissioner Crawford noted that she is the commissioner appointee to the AAA 1 -B and explained that the My Ride 2 website includes a variety of providers in the area that offer services. Pricing goes from least to most costly depending on the service and assistance y ou need, e.g. wheelchair accessible, etc. You can start with public transportation and local specialized provi ders but there are restrictions - some do not cross municipal boundaries. The public hearing indica ted that Oakland County seniors’ transportation needs are critical. People want resources and very often families are willing to assist with funding but they may need specialized assistance such as that offered by My Ride 2 . The Multi-Year plan incorporates concerns heard at public hearing and Commissioner Crawford encouraged committee members to attend these hearings to gain a broader perspective of seniors’ needs. Ms. Marzolf reported that the AAA 1-B is expanding collaboration with other agencies , the County Health Division and the County’s Senior Advisory Council due to the economic down turn and the Silver Tsunami information. Many of the County’s senior centers are struggling and their directors are being trained to increase awareness of available resources. Crawford moved approval of the attached suggested resolution. Supported by Gershenson. Motion carried on a roll call vote with Gosselin abse nt. 2. MR #13145 – BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS – SUPPORT FOR FULL FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY AND DISCLOSURE OF THE MICHIGAN CATASTROPHIC CLAIMS ASSOCIATION FUNDS The resolution was introduced by Commissioner Hoffman in support of Senate Bills 102 and 103 to provide full disclosure and transparency of Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association (MCCA) decisions. Hoffman moved to report to recommend approval of the attached suggested resolution. Supported by Quarles. GENERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE Page 3 July 8, 2013 Commissioner Hoffman stated that the MCCA has $14 billion in assets but continues to increase its assessments. These assessment rates affect everyone and many can’t afford to buy car insurance because the rate increases have helped to price them out of the market. In 2011 -2012 the assessment was $145 .00, is currently $175.00 and is estimated to increase to $186 as of July 1, 2013. The public should be allowed to see how these assessment rates are calculated. Oversight would be similar to that provided by the Public Services Commission. The MCCA woul d go before the Commissioner of the Office of Fin ancial and Insurance Regulation to approve or reject rate s. Commissioner Spisz asked how the MCCA was established , how the Board is appointed and expressed concern that the resolution’s language was too broad as regards the rejection of increases being deemed excessive. Commissioner Matis indicated that he has practiced law for 20 years and defended lawsuits that deal with what is raised in this non-binding resolution. He expressed concern regarding protections for the individuals whose medical needs fall into this category of claims in excess of $500,000 and questioned what would stop disclosure of their medical information. An Ingham County Court case involving the MCCA is now on appeal. The Court’s opinion stated that it agrees with the MCCA regarding non-disclosure of individuals’ names and although names can be redacted from medical information the court is not persuaded that this would be enough to protect someone’s identity, such as if the dates of service were provided the name could be extrapolated from the data. This is a private agency not subject to the Open Meetings Act or t he Freedom of Information Act. You are required to buy car insurance and there are other requirements, such as lawyers and doctors having to buy their licenses, and if you apply these acts to private enterprise how far will it go? It is a complicated issue. The Governor has a plan to eliminate the MCCA and go in another direction. A lot is going on and more information is needed before voting. Commissioner Matis explained that while he is in support of transparency there must be a balance for privacy and where this change would go in the long term. Commissioner Crawford noted that there had been discussion at the last republican caucus meeting regarding non -binding resolutions. She explained that she had talked to several legislators regarding this matter and there are still a number who have not made a decision on these bills. The State has experts who can speak to the issues and this Board does not. She stated that it would be more effective to talk to the County’s legislators and its lobbyist regarding pending legislation. Commissioner Hoffman stated that elected officials take positions on the issues throug h these non- binding resolutions and this particular issue affects everyone. All that is being asked for is to tell people how the MCCA comes up with these rates. The Ingham County Court decision ruled that documents need to be made public. Assessments have risen 26% in 2 years and many are driving without insurance because of the cost. Commissioner Quarles agreed that non -binding resolutions are important because they are how elected officials express their positions. As a former legislat or she advised that she did read these resolutions and made sure they were kept on file in case discussion on the topic arose and it was necessary to refer back to them. She also indicated that in her past dealings with these types of agencies the reports and conclusio ns may be available but you had to ask for them . This legislation requires that they share the information. Commissioner Hatchett agreed with Commissioner Quarles and Hoffman on use of non -binding resolutions. She indicated that in her 11 years as a commissioner the issue of whether to continue doing non-binding resolutions keeps coming up and suggested commissioners consider establishing a policy on producing these resolutions one way or the other. She further noted that many of these resolutions are shared with the Michigan Association of Counties in its decisions of GENERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE Page 4 July 8, 2013 whether to lobby in support or in opposition to a certain issue. Mr. Ward reported that the MCCA is a non -profit entity that you are required to join if you write insurance in the State of Michigan. Members are appointed by the Insurance Commissioner and they have to be handling not less than a total of 40% of the claims written (the larger agencies). Commissioner Matis reported that the MCCA website provides information on how the rat es are calculated. The ruling again st the MCCA is on appeal and it will be a long road before it is legally resolved. He indicated that he would like to see more information on how his concerns regarding privacy would be addressed. Spisz moved to postpone action on the resolution until the first meeting in August in order to obtain additional information. Supported by Hatchett. Motion to postpone carried on a roll call vote with Gershenson, Hoffman and Quarles voting no and Gosselin absent. 3. BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS LIBRARY BOARD APPOINTMENT Gershenson moved to postpone a recommendation for two weeks to find out if any other commissioners were interested in being appointed to the Library Board . Supported by Quarles. Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote with Gosselin absent. 4. BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS – COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH APPOINTMENT Commissioner Gershenson explained that the individual appointed to replace Mr. Bowker , Dr. Barbra Herzig, resigned on the Monday following her orienta tion at CMH. Several commissioners and staff have attempted to contact her to request that she formally submit her resignation to this Board and to ask why she resigned but no response has been received. The CMH Chair’s letter (Communication Item C) indicates that they feel it would be unique to appoint a disabled individual with special issues. The Committee directed staff to contact Mr. Furhman to see if he was still interested in the position. Hatchett moved to send a certified letter to Dr. Herzig to ask for her formal resignation and to inquire as to why she had resigned. Supported by Gershenson. Motion carried on a voice vote. The committee asked that the Board’s appointment letter be updated to direct appointees of the Board of Commissioners to submit their resignations to this Board in writing and to request the reason for their resignation. 5. BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS – MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES – OAKLAND COUNTY BOARD APPOINTMENT One additional application has been received for consideration in appointment to the Michigan Department of Human Services – Oakland County Board. Hoffman moved to have staff set up an interview with the new applicant. Supported by Spisz. GENERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE Page 5 July 8, 2013 Motion carried on a voice vote. COMMUNICATIONS A. Area Agency on Aging 1-B – 2013 1st Quarter Update B. MI Dept. of Human Services Board -Oakland County Minutes – 5/21/13 C. Letter of 6/25/12 from OCCMHA Chair Re: Open Appointment to Board Quarles moved to receive and file the communications. Supported by Spisz. Motion carried on a voice vote. OTHER BUSINESS/ADJOURNMENT Ms. Gershenson explained that she had been contacted by the Governor’s Office regarding Medicaid Expansion . She provided everyone with a copy of the article by Republican House Representative Joe Haveman titled “How to Vote for Medicaid Expansion without V oting for Obamacare”. Commissioners were asked to read the article to understand why this is an economic development tool. The pending non -binding resolution in support of Medicaid Expan sion was drafted as a result of CMH Director Jeff Brown’s recommendation and not on behalf of either political caucus. Board staff assisted in drafting this resolution a nd was asked to be sensitive to the Republican Caucus in doing so. She indicated that she had asked Mr. Poisson to review the resolution and suggest amendments and that she approved of those amendments drafted by Mr. Poisson and Board Chairman Gingell in anticipation that the resolution would be on today’s agenda. The resolution is on the July 17 Board agenda for discharge and if commissioners would like to bring those amendments forward that would be fine. Any input between now and then is welcome. There being no other business to come before the committee, the meeting was adjourned at 10:53 a.m. ______________________________ ________________________________ Helen A. Hanger Jim Ver Ploeg Sr. Committee Coordinator Administrative Director NOTE: The foregoing minutes are subject to Committee approval.