HomeMy WebLinkAboutReports - 2024.02.29 - 41026
AGENDA ITEM: Grant Acceptance with the State Court Administrative Office for Legal Self Help
Centers Grant Program - FY 2024
DEPARTMENT: Clerk/Register of Deeds
MEETING: Board of Commissioners
DATE: Thursday, February 29, 2024 6:00 PM - Click to View Agenda
ITEM SUMMARY SHEET
COMMITTEE REPORT TO BOARD
Resolution #2024-3796
Motion to accept the FY 2024 Michigan State Court Administrative Office (SCAO) grant award in the
amount of $23,000; further, that with acceptance of the grant, the Oakland County Board of
Commissioners hereby appoints the County Clerk/Register of Deeds, Lisa Brown, as the Grant
Administrator as required by the State; further, that the Chair of the Board of Commissioners, or his
designee, is authorized to execute the grant agreement and may approve amendments and
extensions within fifteen percent (15%) of the original award, consistent with the original agreement
as approved; further, that acceptance of this grant does not obligate the County to any future
commitment, and continuation of this program is contingent upon future levels of grant funding;
further that the budget shall be amended as reflected in the attached Schedule A - Budget
Amendment.
ITEM CATEGORY SPONSORED BY
Grant Brendan Johnson
INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
The Oakland County Clerk’s Office is entering into a grant agreement with the State Court
Administrative Office (SCAO) for a SCAO Legal Self-Help Center Grant to assist the people of
Oakland County in accessing their legal system. The Clerk’s Office operates the e-Services Center
on the ground floor of the Oakland County Courthouse which provides free access to eight
computer stations for use by customers in e-filing court documents, searching court records,
obtaining copies of records, and access to legal help via michiganlegalhelp.org. The e-Services
Center has seen a spike in walk-in customers since reopening post-pandemic with a noticeable
increase of Self Represented Litigant (SRL) customers preparing their cases. Clerk’s office
personnel staff the e-Services Center but are not able to provide the guidance that so many
customers need.
The Board of Commissioners approved the Clerk's Office application for FY23 funds which have
enabled the Clerk's Office to partner with Oakland University’s Paralegal Certificate Program,
University of Detroit Mercy Law School, and the Oakland Community College Paralegal Program to
identify and recruit students with the requisite level of aptitude, maturity, and availability to provide
an on-site presence at the e-Services Center. Grant funding will continue to be utilized to
compensate these College Student Interns to assist customers in the e-Services Center, among
other things.
The grant will benefit Oakland County by facilitating legal and paralegal students to aid in assisting
customers with identifying and completing appropriate legal forms, supporting legal research,
navigating the Michigan Legal Help site, assistance with e-filing, and providing basic guidance.
Approval of the grant will result in assistance in the form of paralegal students and other legal
professionals able to assist customers in preparing their cases and would enhance the value and
utility of this resource to the greater Pontiac and Oakland County communities.
This grant funds three College Student Intern positions, which were created through Board approval
for the FY23 grant. Approval of the grant will not require a match.
POLICY ANALYSIS
Last year the Board of Commissioners adopted Resolution #2023-3103 on July 20, 2023, to accept
a grant in the amount of $40,000 for the Legal Self Help Centers program and to create three part-
time, Special Revenue (SR) funded College Student Intern positions. The grant application for the
current $23,000 grant was approved by Chair David Woodward on November 16, 2023, per the
Board of Commissioners' exception rule (communication of this was on November 28, 2023 LAGO
agenda). The grant period is from the time of execution until September 30, 2024. These funds may
only be used to cover program expenses for the delivery of services incurred January 1, 2024,
through September 30, 2024. A budget amendment is required.
BUDGET AMENDMENT REQUIRED: Yes
Committee members can contact Michael Andrews, Policy and Fiscal Analysis Supervisor at
248.425.5572 or andrewsmb@oakgov.com or the department contact persons listed for additional
information.
CONTACT
Frederick Miller, Deputy Clerk Register of Deeds
ITEM REVIEW TRACKING
Aaron Snover, Board of Commissioners Created/Initiated - 2/29/2024
AGENDA DEADLINE: 03/10/2024 7:12 PM
ATTACHMENTS
1. Clerk-Register of Deeds 2024 SCHEDULE A -
2. Grant Review Sign-Off
3. FY24_grant_agreement
COMMITTEE TRACKING
2024-02-20 Legislative Affairs & Government Operations - Recommend to Board
2024-02-29 Full Board - Adopt
Motioned by: Commissioner Penny Luebs
Seconded by: Commissioner Philip Weipert
Yes: David Woodward, Michael Gingell, Penny Luebs, Karen Joliat, Kristen Nelson, Robert
Hoffman, Philip Weipert, Gwen Markham, Angela Powell, Marcia Gershenson, William Miller III,
Charles Cavell, Brendan Johnson, Ajay Raman, Ann Erickson Gault, Linnie Taylor (16)
No: None (0)
Abstain: None (0)
Absent: Christine Long, Yolanda Smith Charles, Michael Spisz (3)
Passed
Oakland County, Michigan
CLERK/REGISTER OF DEEDS - MICHIGAN STATE COURT ADMINISTRATION OFFICE LEGAL SELF-HELP CENTER GRANT
Schedule "A" DETAIL
+
R/E Fund Name Division Name
Fund #
(FND)Cost Center (CCN) #
Account #
(RC/SC)
Program #
(PRG)Grant ID (GRN) #
Project ID #
(PROJ)
Region
(REG)
Budget Fund
Affiliate
(BFA)
Ledger
Account
Summary Account Title
FY 2024
Amendment
FY 2025
Amendment
FY 2026
Amendment
General Fund Grants
R General Fund Grants County Clerk Legal Records Unit FND10101 CCN2010210 RC615463 PRG125000 GRN-1004391 615000 Grant Fees and Collections $23,000 $-$-
$23,000 $-$-
E General Fund Grants County Clerk Legal Records Unit FND10101 CCN2010210 SC702010 PRG125000 GRN-1004391 702000 Salaries Regular $22,100 $-$-
E General Fund Grants County Clerk Legal Records Unit FND10101 CCN2010210 SC722790 PRG125000 GRN-1004391 722000 Social Security 221 --
E General Fund Grants County Clerk Legal Records Unit FND10101 CCN2010210 SC722770 PRG125000 GRN-1004391 722000 Retirement 523 --
E General Fund Grants County Clerk Legal Records Unit FND10101 CCN2010210 SC722820 PRG125000 GRN-1004391 722000 Unemployment 22 --
E General Fund Grants County Clerk Legal Records Unit FND10101 CCN2010210 SC722750 PRG125000 GRN-1004391 722000 Workers Compensation 134 --
$23,000 $-$-
GRANT REVIEW SIGN-OFF – Register of Deeds
GRANT NAME: Michigan Supreme Court State Court Administrative Office Legal Self-Help Centers Grant FY2024
FUNDING AGENCY: Michigan Supreme Court State Court Administrative Office
DEPARTMENT CONTACT PERSON: Fred Miller 248-858-2134
STATUS: Grant Acceptance (Greater than $10,000)
DATE: 02/06/2024
Please be advised that the captioned grant materials have completed internal grant review. Below are the returned
comments.
The Board of Commissioners’ liaison committee resolution and grant acceptance package (which should include this sign-
off email and the grant agreement/contract with related documentation) should be requested to be placed on the next
agenda(s) of the appropriate Board of Commissioners’ committee(s) for grant acceptance by Board resolution.
DEPARTMENT REVIEW
Management and Budget:
Approved – Sheryl Johnson (01/30/2024)
Human Resources:
Approved by Human Resources. Continues 3 positions with no changes. HR action not needed. – Heather Mason
(01/30/2024)
Risk Management:
Approved. Agreement allows self-insurance. – Robert Erlenbeck (01/30/2024)
Corporation Counsel:
CC conducted a legal review of the provided documents. The requesting department confirmed they read, understood, and
could comply with the terms. The department had no questions and confirmed there were no changes of note from last
year's agreement. CC finds no unresolved legal issues. - Heather Lewis (02/06/2024)