HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2007.03.22 - 9349Miscellaneous Resolution fi 07067
BY: Commissioner Robert M. Gosselin, District 13
RE: Oakland County Commissioners' Support English Only
for Oakland County and State of Michigan Government
TO: Oakland County Board of Commissioners
Chairman, Ladies, and Gentlemen:
Whereas the State of Michigan and the County of Oakland are rapidly assimilating new
residents from many other countries of the world with first languages that are not
English; and
Whereas the United States is recognized as the 'melting pot' of the world and has
encouraged integration of new residents from other nations and has flourished
internationally using the English language to communicate; and
Whereas the Oakland County Commissioners and the residents of Oakland County are
actively engaged in recognizing and meeting the needs of these new residents; and
Whereas accommodation of the many non-English languages are provided for with
interpreters and printed documentation at a significant cost to taxpayers and businesses;
and
Whereas Oakland County Commissioners, and businesses and residents welcome
diversity in language. so do they recognize that although this language diversity may be
still accommodated in print and through interpreters, such accommodation cannot be
required, and in fact, English is the language that must be made available at government
agencies.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of
Commissioners is requesting that The County of Oakland and the State of Michigan
establish English as the official language. This is in support of HB 4406 English Only bill
before the state legislature. This would apply to governmental communications, including
but not limited to documents, other written materials, and website content. This
Resolution does not require English only for non-governmental entities,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners
respectfully requests the Oakland County Clerk, Ruth Johnson, to forward copies of this
adopted resolution to Governor Jennifer Granholm, Senate Majority Leader Michael
Bishop, and other Oakland County Senators, Speaker of the House Andy Dillon, and
other Oakland County State Representatives.
District #21 District #11
District #10 District #1
Commissioner Thomas F. Middleton
District #4
Commissioner Jim Nash
District #15
Chairperson, we move the ado n of the foregoin Resolution.
Commissioner Robert Gosselin
District #13
Commissioner Bill Bullard, Jr., District #2 Commissioner Hugh D. Crawford, Districi
Chairperson Vice Chairperson
Commissioner Tim Burns Commissioner Eric Coleman
District #19 District #23
Commissioner David Coulter Commissioner Sue Ann Douglas
District #25 District #I2
Commissioner Marcia Gershenson Commissioner Michael J. (Angell
District #17 District #3
Commissioner Vincent Gregory Commissioner Tim Greimel
Commissioner Mattie Hatchett Commissioner Bradford C. Jacobsen
Commissioner Eileen T. Kowall Commissioner Christine Long
District #6 District #7
Commissioner Jeff Porter Commissioner David W. Potts
District #8 District #14
Commissioner Mike Rogers
District #14 District #5
Commissioner Karen Spector Commissioner George W. Suarez
District #16 District #24
Commissioner Dave Woodward Conunissioncr Helaine Zack
District #18 District #22
Commissioner John A. Scott
Resolution #07067 March 22, 2007
The Chairperson referred the resolution to the General Government Committee There were ro
ob)ections.