HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 2015.09.28 - 36925CHRISTINE LONG
Chairperson
SHELLEY TAUB
Vice Chairperson
MARCIA GERSHENSON
Minority Vice Chairperson
September 28, 2015
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, Shelley Taub, Marcia Gershenson, Bob Gosselin, Jeff Matis, Bob Hoffman, Wade
Fleming, David Woodward, Nancy Quarles
COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT WITH NOTICE:
None
OTHERS PRESENT :
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES George Miller, Director
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Eileen Kowall, Commissioner, District 6
Chris Ward, Senior Analyst
Connie Srogi, Analyst
Tracy Stolzenfeld, Committee Coordinator
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Chairperson Long led the Pledge of Allegiance.
APPROVAL OF THE PREVIOUS MINUTES
Gosselin moved approval of the minutes of September 9, 2015, as printed. Supported by
Matis.
Motion carried on a voice vote.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
Fleming moved approval of the agenda, as printed. Supported by Hoffman.
Motion carried on a voice vote.
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
-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
Wade Fleming
David Woodward
Nancy Quarles
GENERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE Page 2
September 28, 2015
PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
REGULAR AGENDA
1. MR #15209 - BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS – REFORM “STRINGS ATTACHED”
FEDERAL GRANTS TO STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
Commissioner Kowall introduced the resolution for “strings attached” grants reform. The growth of
the cost of federal grants has gone from $24.1 billion in 1970 to an estimated $640 billion in 2015.
Michigan has a $54 billion budget with less than 10% being discretionary. Oftentimes available
grant funds are sought out rather than focusing on priorities or needs. If the state does not spend
the grant money, the funds may be sent elsewhere. Grant funding requirements must be followed.
Recently a domestic abuse grant award was used specifically for domestic abuse and violence ;
these monies could not be applied toward human trafficking. At times grant fund monies are
inefficient, tending to overlap or be duplicative. Other grants can be fragmented or scattered, which
can be ineffective in ultimately helping people . Commissioner Kowall stated that grants should be in
the form of block grants with standards and guidelines . This form of funding may allow states to
determine how best to spend the grant monies. The County currently accepts Community
Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. Commissioner Woodward pointed out that grants usually
have rules and procedures. There was a brief discussion.
Taub moved to report to recommend approval of the attached suggested resolution.
Supported by Hoffman.
Motion carried on a roll call vote with Woodward voting no and Quarles absent.
2. BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS – SOLID WASTE COMMITTEE – GENERAL PUBLIC
APPOINTMENT
Chairperson Long stated that the incumbents were re -appointed and only one seat for General
Public was open. The following candidates were interviewed: Chester Koop, Mar y Kraniak and
Kallie Roesner-Meyers. Each candidate was well-qualified.
Hoffman moved to report to recommend that Chester Koop be appointed to the Solid Waste
Planning Committee, General Public, for a two-year term beginning October 12, 2015 and
will end October 11, 2017. Supported by Taub.
Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote .
COMMUNICATIONS
A. Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Board – Oakland County Memo dated
September 11, 2015, regarding September 22, 2015 Meeting Agenda
B. Health and Human Services – Children’s Village – 2015/2016 National School Lunch
Program Application
Quarles moved to receive and file the Communication s. Supported by Gershenson.
Motion carried on a voice vote.
GENERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE Page 3
September 28, 2015
OTHER BUSINESS/ADJOURNMENT
Chairperson Long announced that a seat for the Building Authority currently held by Jay Shah
will expire at the end of the year. Mr. Shah is eligible to re-apply. The three-year term seat will
be posted online and a pplications will be accepted. There were no objecti ons.
Mr. Miller updated the Committee on the West Nile Virus. There are three human cases this
season, two of which were mild cases. The other c ase resulted in the death of a 81-year-old female
infected with the virus. Precautionary warnings have been put out for months and a press release
was issued recently to inform the public about West Nile Virus and its prevention . The particular
mosquitoes that carry the virus were seen earlier this year in June and will not be go ing away until
two hard frosts occur.
Commissioner Hoffman inquired about the resolution introduced by Commissioner Scott, MR
#15233 – Board of Commissioners – Opposition to Excessive Compensation Increases for
Executives at the Detroit Institute of Arts. The DIA Transparency Subcommit tee was formed to
discuss transparency issues.
There being no other business to come before the Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 10:43
a.m.
______________________________ ________________________________
Tracy Stolzenfeld Jim VerPloeg
Committee Coordinator Administrative Director
NOTE: The foregoing minutes are subject to Committee approval.