Approved 11/7/06

 

COUNTY SERVICES

October 17, 2006

Minutes

 

 

Members Present:         Andy Schor, Debbie DeLeon, Dianne Holman, Dale Copedge, Mike Severino, Don Vickers and Board Chairperson Victor Celentino

 

Members Absent:         None

 

Others Present:             Ed Dore, Jared Cypher, Harold Hailey, Doug Stover, Janeil Valentine, Paul Pratt, Steve Dougan, Nadine Nosal, Jo Kinne, Mike Prelesnik, Mike Bryanton, Neil Kentner, Paula Simon, Mary Stid, Harvey Fanson, Tony Vescolani, John McGlintchey, Bryan Miller, Debbie Miller, Roberta Hamlin, Kathy Bigelow, Michelle Conarton, Fred Rach, Kathy Doyle, Susie Chamberlain and others

 

The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Schor at 7:06 p.m. in the Personnel Conference Room of the Human Services Building, 5303 S. Cedar, Lansing.

 

Approval of the September 12 and October 3, 2006 Minutes

MOVED BY COMM. SEVERINO, SUPPORTED BY COMM. HOLMAN, TO APPROVE THE SEPTEMBER 12 AND OCTOBER 3 MINUTES AS AMENDED.

 

The Minutes were amended to reflect:

On page one of the September 12, 2006 Minutes, under item one, Ms. Johnston was changed to Ms. Johnson; Treasurer’s Office was changed to Equalization Office.

 

The following changes were made to page three of the September 12, 2006 Minutes:

Comm. Copedge ranked the items as 1)  Agricultural Preservation Board; 2) Parks Board.

Comm. DeLeon ranked the items as 1)  Parks Board; 2) Agricultural Preservation Board.

 

The October 3, 2006 Minutes were amended on page two, item 2 to reflect:

Comm. DeLeon stated this Committee recently approved a resolution which details what is expected of its appointees to all the County boards and commissions.  Chairperson Schor concurred and asked that staff review those duties to determine if they should be included in the By-Laws.

 

MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

Additions to the Agenda

5.         Human Resources – Grievance – This item was rescheduled for this Committee’s November 7, 2006 Meeting

 

Limited Public Comment

Ms. Conarton, Fair employee, submitted a letter, dated this date, to the Committee which details her position regarding the Fair Board Manager and the positions of  Kathy Doyle, Fred Rach and Tod Whipple.  Ms. Conarton read the letter for the Committee.  The letter stated, in part, “Neil works well with the maintenance staff and the Office staff.  He discusses what needs to be done and then he follows through to make sure it’s completed. . . .We feel the Board itself cannot get along with its own members.  There is some form of conflict at nearly every meeting. . . When Neil makes a decision, the Board tends to countermand his direction without any explanation.”

 

The letter further stated “We feel that Neil was never properly oriented during his first year at the Fair. . . Fair Board meeting minutes have been questioned and changed inconsistently and without regard for what actually happened during a meeting.  Opinions have been inserted, instead of sticking to facts.”

 

Ms. Doyle, Fair employee, stated the staff tried to establish guidelines for working with the Fair Board.  Staff met with Mr. Hailey in an effort to set guidelines.  This did not resolve the problems.  Ms. Doyle stated Mr. Kentner needs another chance.  The Fair Board is not aware of Mr. Kentner’s efforts to improve his performance.  Staff hopes it can receive some help in resolving the current concerns.

 

Mr. Rach, Fair employee, expressed his support for Mr. Kentner.  Mr. Kentner gets the job done.  Ms. Chamberlain, Fair employee, stated Mr. Kentner did not handle electricity problems at the Fairgrounds appropriately. 

 

Ms. Bigelow, County resident, stated she has witnessed inappropriate and childish behavior on behalf of the Fair Board members.   She then expressed her concern regarding the Fair Board’s process of obtaining awards to be presented to other organizations and individuals.  Ms. Bigelow also stated she heard someone saying Comm. Vickers campaigned on Fairgrounds while he was working on the grounds.  Ms. Bigelow urged the Committee to consider all the issues before making a determination regarding Mr. Kentner’s position as Fair Board Manager.

 

Comm. Vickers asked Ms. Bigelow for the dates and times that he was supposedly campaigning on Fairgrounds.  Ms. Bigelow explained she did not actually see this happen.  She overheard someone talking about the issue.  Comm. Vickers stated he has been very conscious to not campaign when it is not appropriate. 

 

Comm. Copedge asked Ms.  Bigelow if she is a Fair employee.  Ms. Bigelow stated she is just a concerned citizen. 

 

Comm. Severino stated he believes it is relevant to review the Fair Board as well as the Fair Board Manager.

 

MOVED BY COMM. SEVERINO, SUPPORTED BY COMM. COPEDGE, TO APPROVE A CONSENT AGENDA FOR THE FOLLOWING ITEMS:

 

1.         County Clerk – Resolution Establishing a fee for Marriage Ceremonies Officiated by the County Clerk

 

3.         Health Department – Resolution to Authorize a Federal Compassion Capital Fund Demonstration Program Grant

 

4.         30th Judicial Circuit Court – Resolution Authorizing Amending the Contract with AVI Systems for Upgrades and/or Purchases for Court Recording Equipment

 

MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

MOVED BY COMM. SEVERINO, SUPPORTED BY COMM. COPEDGE, TO APPROVE THE ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

2.         Drain Commissioner – Resolution Amending Resolution #00-198 (Resolution Adopting an Enhanced Access Policy) to Establish Fees for Enhanced Access to Records Distributed by the Drain Commissioner’s Office

 

Mr. Pratt, Drain Office, explained the Office is pursuing this Resolution so that it can distribute data gathered by the Army Corps of Engineers Digital Orthophotography Project (also known as the “Geographical Information System (GIS) Study Project).  The Drain Commissioner believes that provisions should be made consistent with the enhanced access statute for recovery of some of the costs for the creation of the data. 

 

Units of government who choose not sign an Intergovernmental Agreement, those who sign an Intergovernmental Agreement without contributing under prior agreement with the Drain Commissioner to the Creation of the GIS records, nongovernmental and commercial users, the fees will be as follows:

            Photography                             $250 per quarter section or part thereof

            Topography                              $500 per quarter or part thereof

            Floodplain/Wetland                  $100 per quarter or part thereof

 

For units of government that sign an Intergovernmental Agreement and contribute under prior agreement with the Drain Commissioner for the creation of the GIS records, the information will be provided at no cost.  These fees will be reviewed for possible adjustment on an annual basis with a target of recovering the cost of providing the enhanced access.  Revenues generated from these fees will go to the Drain Maintenance Fund. 

 

Mr. Pratt further stated the Drain Commissioner will present to this Committee a deficit reduction plan to pay for this plan.

 

Chairperson Schor thanked the Drain Office and Mr. Dore for their efforts on this matter.

 

Chairperson Celentino asked if any agreements have been signed.  Mr. Pratt stated agreements have not yet been signed.   Comm. Vickers asked if there is a fee for signing the agreement.  Mr. Pratt stated there is no fee for signing the agreement.  Some units which have contributed funds under a prior agreement with the Drain Office include Delhi, Meridian and Lock Townships. 

 

Comm. Severino asked why the funds would be deposited into the Drain Maintenance Fund.  Mr. Pratt explained the Drain Office does not yet know the level of revenues which will be generated from this program.  Comm. Severino stated he would wait to support this request until he learns of the Office’s deficit reduction plan.  Comm. Holman stated she also is looking forward to learning this information. 

 

MOVED BY COMM. DELEON, SUPPORTED BY COMM. COPEDGE, TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION AMENDING RESOLUTION #00-198 (RESOLUTION ADOPTING AN ENHANCED ACCESS POLICY) TO ESTABLISH FEES FOR ENHANCED ACCESS TO RECORDS DISTRIBUTED BY THE DRAIN COMMISSIONER’S OFFICE.  MOTION CARRIED with Comms. Severino and Vickers voting NO.

 

6.         Fair Board – Discussion of Employee Issues

 

Mr. Kentner requested a closed session for the purposes of discussing this item.

 

Comm. Severino asked why the Fair Board members need to be present during the Closed Session if the Fair Board President is the only member that signed the evaluation.  Chairperson Schor explained the Fair Board voted on the motion to recommend termination of the Fair Board Manager.  It is important for the Fair Board members to understand this Committee’s decision on this matter. 

 

Chairperson Schor informed the Committee that Comm. Dougan requested to be present during the Closed Session.  He will be present for the Closed Session. 

 

Comm. Severino stated he would not support the motion to enter into a Closed Session.  The current problem involves the Fair Board Manager and the Fair Board members.  Resolving half of the problem will not help the County.  Chairperson Schor explained that he placed this item on the agenda at the request of the Fair Board.  This Committee could discuss other Fair Board issues at a later date, possibly in 2007. 

 

MOVED BY COMM. DELEON, SUPPORTED BY COMM. VICKERS, TO ENTER INTO A CLOSED SESSION FOR THE PURPOSE OF REVIEWING MR. KENTNER’S, FAIR BOARD MANAGER, JOB PERFORMANCE.  MOTION APPROVED BY ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS:  YEAS, COMMS. SCHOR, DELEON, HOLMAN, COPEDGE AND VICKERS; AND WITH COMM. SEVERINO VOTING NO.

 

(The Committee entered a Closed Session at 7:46 p.m.)

 

(The Committee returned to Regular Session at 9:24 p.m.)

 

Chairperson Schor stated this Committee has four options to consider this evening.  Those options are:

1.         This Committee could not take any action and the Fair Board Manager would continue in his position as an at-will employee.

2.         This Committee could table any action until its November 7, 2006 meeting.

            3.         This Committee could request the Fair Board Manager’s resignation.

            4.         The Committee could vote to dismiss the Fair Board’s recommendation to

                        terminate the Fair Board Manager.

 

MOVED BY COMM. DELEON, SUPPORTED BY COMM. HOLMAN, TO DEFER THIS COMMITTEE’S DECISION ON THIS MATTER UNTIL ITS NEXT MEETING, NOVEMBER 7, TO ALLOW THE COMMISSIONERS TIME TO CONSIDER TONIGHT’S COMMENTS, WRITTEN CORRESPONDENCE AND TO CONSULT WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

Chairperson Schor stated this item would be placed on this Committee’s November 7, 2006 agenda.

 

7.         Board Referrals

a.         Letter from Byron O. Hestevold, President Creative Action Consulting, LLC Regarding CWP and Kids & Trees Program

 

This item was referred to the Sheriff’s Office for consideration.

 

b.         Letter from Larry Martin, Chairperson, Clinton County Board of Commissioners, Regarding the Potter Park Zoo Millage

c.         Letter from Dale Feldpausch, Deputy Executive Director, Capital Regional Airport Authority Regarding Mill Levy Certification

 

Chairperson Schor commended Chairperson Celentino on his efforts regarding the Mill Levy Certification.

 

Board Referrals b and c were received and placed on file.

 

Announcements

Comm. DeLeon informed the Committee of the November 30, 2006 Uplift Our Youth Annual Dinner to be held at the University Club in East Lansing.  The Commissioners can call 322-1956 if they have any questions.

 

Comm. DeLeon also informed the Committee of the October 31, 2006 Lansing Teen Court First Annual Recognition and Luncheon to be held at the Thomas M. Cooley Law Center.  The Board of Commissioners will be recognized at this event.

 

Public Comment:          None

 

The meeting adjourned at 9:31 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Debra Neff