Amended 10/2/07
COUNTY SERVICES
BUDGET HEARINGS
September 4, 2007
Minutes
Members Present: Debbie DeLeon, Deb Nolan, Dale Copedge, Tim Soule, Mike Severino, Steve Dougan and Board Chairperson Marc Thomas
Members Absent: None
Others Present: Matthew Myers, Harold Hailey, Teri Morton, Paul Kindel, Jon Coleman, Jack Restuccia, Sheldon Lewis, Tom Shewchuk, Tony Lindsey, Mike Ryder, Charlene Corrigan, Mike Bryanton, Tom Edman, Brian Klebba, Paula Johnson, Kyle Cole, Jim Hudgins, Doug Stover, Becky Bennett, Dave Stoker, Peter Cohl, Bonnie Toskey, Rick Terrill and others
The meeting was called to order by Chairperson DeLeon at 6:36 p.m. in the Personnel Conference Room of the Human Services Building, 5303 S. Cedar, Lansing.
Additions to the Agenda: None
Limited Public Comment: None
1. Budget Hearings
a. Tri-County Regional Planning
Mr. Coleman stated Tri-County is pleased with the Controller’s Recommended Budget.
b. Treasurer
Mr. Myers stated the Treasurer is satisfied with the Controller’ Recommended Budget.
c. Register of Deeds
Ms. Johnson stated she is happy with the Controller’ Recommended Budget. She then briefly updated the Committee regarding the Office’s efforts to remove social security numbers from documents.
d. Purchasing
Mr. Hudgins stated the Purchasing Department accepts the Controller’s Recommended Budget.
e. Parks
Mr. Myers stated Parks is satisfied with the Controller’s Recommended Budget.
f. MIS
Mr. Shewchuck stated the MIS Department accepts the Controller’s Recommended Budget.
g. Human Resources
Mr. Hailey stated the Human Resources Department accepts the Controller’s Recommended Budget.
h. Hotel/Motel
Ms. Morton stated Hotel/Motel accepts the Controller’s Recommended Budget.
i. Financial Services
Mr. Restuccia stated Financial Services is satisfied with the Controller’s Recommended Budget.
j. Fair
Mr. Edman stated the Fair accepts the Controller’s Recommended Budget.
k. Facilities
Mr. Terrill stated Facilities is satisfied with the Controller’s Recommended Budget.
l. Equalization
Mr. Stover stated he is satisfied with the Controller’s Recommended Budget.
n. Drain Commissioner
Mr. Lewis stated the Drain Commissioner accepts the Controller’s Recommended Budget.
o. County Clerk
Mr. Bryanton stated the Clerk’s Office is happy with the Controller’s Recommended Budget.
q. Controller
Mr. Myers stated the Controller’s Office accepts the Controller’s Recommended Budget.
r. Community Agency Appropriation
The Community Agency Appropriation was accepted by the Committee.
s. Board of Commissioners
Ms. Bennett stated the Board Office is satisfied with the Controller’s Recommended Budget.
t. Advisory Board
1. Women’s Commission
2. Environmental Affairs Committee
3. Historical Commission
4. Equal Opportunity Commission
5. Capital Area Rail Council
The Advisory Boards accepted the Controller’s Recommended Budget.
MOVED BY COMM. DOUGAN, SUPPORTED BY COMM. NOLAN, TO APPROVE THE CONTROLLER’S RECOMMENDED BUDGET FOR ITEMS 1a – 1l; n, o, q, s, t1-5. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
t6. Agricultural Preservation Board
Mr. Kindel stated the Agricultural Preservation Board requested $52,000 in the 2008 budget process. The Controller’s Recommended Budget approved only $19,000. This amount will pay for six months of the consultant’s services. Mr. Kindel explained the services provided by the consultant. If the Preservation Board does not receive funds to cover the remaining six months of consultant services in 2008, the program will effectively be closed down.
Mr. Kindel further stated funding the Agricultural Preservation Board is an investment in County lands. Comm. Copedge asked if matching funds are being sought for the consultant services. Mr. Kindel stated funds are being sought from the federal and state level. He could not say what the dollar amount would be for the grant funds.
The Committee held a general discussion regarding this item. Comm. Severino stated he has been careful in voting to appropriate funds for the Preservation Board over time. He then stated he did not understand the $7,500 appropriation for cultural events in the Board of Commissioner’s budget.
Chairperson DeLeon stated this Committee has approved six month’s worth of funding for the Preservation Board over the past few years. Ms. Morton stated the Committee placed $19,000 on the z list during the 2007 budget process for the Preservation Board.
Comm. Nolan thanked Mr. Kindel and the Agricultural Preservation Board for their efforts on behalf of farmland preservation in Ingham County. Mr. Kindel accepted the kind words from Comm. Nolan and then stated the all members of the board work very hard on this effort.
MOVED BY COMM. SEVERINO, SUPPORTED BY COMM. SOULE, TO APPROVE THE CONTROLLER’S RECOMMENDED BUDGET FOR THE AGRICULTURAL PERSERVATION BOARD. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
MOVED BY COMM. SEVERINO, SUPPORTED BY COMM. DOUGAN, TO PLACE $19,000 ON THE Z LIST TO FUND THE CONSULTANT SERVICES FOR THE REMAINING SIX MONTHS OF 2008. MOTION CARRIED with Comm. DeLeon voting NO.
Chairperson DeLeon stated the Committee should wait to determine the additional funding due to the County’s current financial situation.
m. Economic Development
MOVED BY COMM. DOUGAN, SUPPORTED BY COMM. SOULE, TO APPROVE THE CONTROLLER’S RECOMMENDED BUDGET FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
p. County Attorney
Mr. Cohl stated the County Attorney Office’s (Office) proposal is less than the amount included in the Controller’s Recommended Budget for legal services. Mr. Cohl reviewed the aspects of the Office’s proposal. The proposal would provide wall-to-wall legal coverage for $404,745. The proposed amount is capped, it will not increase; however, it may decrease if less services are provided.
Mr. Myers explained his proposal would eliminate the contract between the County and the Office and would provide for the hiring of two in-house attorneys and a legal assistant. The proposal also provides for the elimination of the Human Resources Director position. The two in-house attorneys would take over the Director responsibilities. Michigan Municipal Risk Management Authority cases would still be referred to the Office.
Mr. Myers stated he respects the fact that the Office has other clients; however, on any given day he may need to speak with an attorney regarding labor relations. The County has become accustomed to waiting a few days to receive a return call from the Attorney’s Office. The in-house attorneys would conduct labor relations work for the County.
Mr. Myers further explained he is looking for a proposal which reduces costs and increases services. His proposal would save the County approximately $166,000 annually. A number of County Departments have supported this proposal.
Mr. Cohl spoke regarding the Controller’s proposal. He stated there will be times when the County is left with one attorney in the office due to illness or vacation days, court appearances, etc. The Office’s proposal would provide a safety net of seven attorneys. Mr. Cohl stated he has always prided himself on his Office’s performance on County matters. It would be prudent for the County to review his proposal.
Mr. Cohl requested the Controller review the Office’s proposal with some of the Commissioners and Department Heads.
Chairperson Thomas stated the Committee would normally make a determination on budget issues tonight. The Controller presented his proposal this evening. He further stated the Committee should consider the Controller’s proposal and how it differs from the current arrangement. The Committee should also think of questions for the County Attorney regarding his proposal.
Comm. Severino requested clarification regarding the financial implications of the Controller’s proposal. Ms. Morton explained the savings from the Controller’s proposal show up in three different areas within the budget due to the proposed changes in three departments. Comm. Severino stated he would like to review written documentation regarding the Controller’s plan so that he may compare it to the Office’s proposal and then make an informed determination.
Mr. Myers stated he could provide his budget information in a different format for the Committee.
This discussion continued. Mr. Cohl stated his Office would not have any problem taking over the Human Resources Department. His Office can commit to coming to the HR Department on a regular basis. Mr. Myers asked Mr. Cohl for the number of contracts his Office deals with on a regular basis. Mr. Cohl stated he would provide three years’ worth of data on that issue to this Committee. Mr. Stoker stated Ingham County’s business receives the highest priority in his Office.
Comm. Dougan asked if the Office could assume the Human Resources responsibilities on October 1, 2007 when Mr. Hailey retires. Mr. Cohl stated he just became aware of Mr. Hailey’s retirement date; however, his Office can assume the responsibilities on that date. He then stated his Office is willing to assume the Human Resources responsibilities and workers compensation cases within the flat rate.
Comm. Nolan suggested this Committee postpone action on this issue until this Committee’s September 18, 2007 meeting. In the interim, the Committee should receive a memorandum from the Controller’s Office which explains the savings in detail, total costs associated with his proposal, how the anticipated costs were developed and where any overruns may occur. Also during this time, a meeting will be held prior to September 18 with the Office, the Controller, the Chair of County Services and the Board Chair to discuss the two proposals.
MOVED BY COMM. NOLAN, SUPPORTED BY COMM. SOULE, TO DIRECT THE CONTROLLER TO PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION: DETAILED SAVINGS AND TOTAL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH HIS PROPOSAL, EXPLANATION OF HOW THE ANTICIPATED COSTS WERE DEVELOPED AND DETAIL WHERE ANY OVERRUNS MAY OCCUR. A MEETING WILL BE HELD PRIOR TO THIS COMMITTEE’S SEPTEMBER 18, 2007 MEETING WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, THE CONTROLLER, THE CHAIR OF COUNTY SERVICES AND THE BOARD CHAIR TO REVIEW THE TWO PROPOSALS.
Comm. Copedge requested the information be furnished in a worksheet format. He also asked that budget numbers from the County Attorney’s Office for 2008 and 2009. Mr. Cohl stated he will provide the requested information. Chairperson DeLeon asked that the County Attorney’s information also include why they believe their proposal is stronger than the Controller’s proposal.
Comm. Dougan asked the Controller to also provide information regarding when he expects the two attorney and legal assistant positions to be filled. Mr. Myers stated he would post the three positions at the same time. He further stated he would expect to fill the positions by January 1, 2008. Comm. Dougan also requested clarification regarding classification and step levels for the three positions. Mr. Myers stated he would provide that information.
Comm. Severino commended Chairperson DeLeon and Mr. Myers for their willingness to provide the requested information so that this Committee can make an informed decision. Chairperson Thomas suggested an outline be developed of what the meeting referred to above would accomplish.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Chairperson DeLeon suggested that Commissioners Grebner, Celentino and Severino be invited to the meeting referred to in the above motion.
MOVED BY COMM. SEVERINO, SUPPORTED BY COMM. COPEDGE, TO RECONSIDER THE VOTE ON THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT BUDGET. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
MOVED BY COMM. SEVERINO, SUPPORTED BY COMM. COPEDGE, TO TABLE THE VOTE ON THE COUNTY ATTORNEY’S BUDGET UNTIL THIS COMMITTEE’S SEPTEMBER 18, 2007 MEETING. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Comm. Nolan stated she takes the responsibility of hiring and terminating contracts seriously.
2. Final Ranking
MOVED BY COMM. COPEDGE, SUPPORTED BY COMM. SEVERINO, TO FORWARD THIS COMMITTEE’S BUDGET AND ONE Z LIST ITEM TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Announcements: None
Public Comment; None
The meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Debra Neff