Approved 11/18/04
LAW ENFORCEMENT
October 28, 2004
Minutes
Members Present: Andy Schor, Mary Stid, Dianne Holman, Chris Swope, Randy Schafer, Tom Minter and Board Chairperson Victor Celentino
Members Absent: None
Others Present: John Neilsen, Matthew Myers and Mark Grebner
The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Schor at 6:00 p.m. in the Personnel
Conference Room of the Human Services Building, 5303 S. Cedar, Lansing.
Approval of the October 14, 2004 Minutes
MOVED BY COMM. SWOPE, SUPPORTED BY COMM. SCHAFER, TO APPROVE THE OCTOBER 14 MINUTES AS SUBMITTED. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Absent: Comm. Minter
Additions to the Agenda
5. DART Grant – Information
Limited Public Comment: None
(Comm. Minter arrived.)
MOVED BY COMM. SCHAFER, SUPPORTED BY COMM. MINTER, TO APPROVE A CONSENT AGENDA FOR THE FOLLOWING ITEM:
1c. Sheriff’s Office – Resolution to Accept a RAP Grant from the Michigan Municipal Risk Management Authority for Training Room Equipment
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
MOVED BY COMM. SCHAFER, SUPPORTED BY COMM. MINTER, TO APPROVE THE ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
1. Sheriff’s Office
a. Resolution Requesting the Mid-South Substance Abuse Commission to Appropriate Ingham County PA 2 Funds to Fully Support the Dare Activities of the Ingham County Sheriff’s Office
MOVED BY COMM. SCHAFER, SUPPORTED BY COMM. STID, TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE MID-SOUTH SUBSTANCE ABUSE COMMISSION TO APPROPRIATE INGHAM COUNTY PA 2 FUNDS TO FULLY SUPPORT THE DARE ACTIVITIES OF THE INGHAM COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE.
Mr. Myers stated he attended two meetings of the Mid-South Substance Abuse Commission’s Planning Committee. The Dare Program was discussed at those two meetings. Mr. Myers then stated the Planning Committee unanimously passed a resolution regarding funding for the Dare Program. This resolution went before the Mid-South Substance Abuse Commission. The Commission tabled the resolution and referred it back to the Planning Committee. Mr. Myers further stated he believes the Commission will support some form of funding for the Program.
Comm. Minter reviewed the history of the Dare Program funding. Mid-South received 50% of the PA 2 funds and the remaining 50% went into the County’s General Fund. The funds are spent within the community for specific services. Currently, Mid-South is considering funding Dare at some level.
Mr. Myers stated he believes the Program has had some benefit to the youth in this community. Many parents, relatives and friends attend the Dare graduations. The PA 2 funds pays approximately one-fifth of the Dare Officer’s salary. Mr. Myers further stated the Dare Program is one of the few drug abuse prevention programs in this community.
Comm. Swope stated Mid-South is cutting funding to another organization. Therefore, he does not believe this County should request an increase in funding for the Program. Mr. Neilsen explained the County is only requesting an inflationary funding increase.
Comm. Schafer stated he has attended many Dare graduations. He has only heard positive remarks from the parents of the graduates. If the County’s appointees to the Mid-South Commission do not support the County’s position, they should be removed from the Commission.
Mr. Myers stated he believes parents want this program to continue. It does have an impact on the youth. Further, the Dare Officers put their hearts and souls into this program.
Comm. Stid agreed with Mr. Myers’ position on this issue. This Committee should consider the residual effects the Dare program has on the younger brothers and sisters of the program participants. Comm. Stid stated she is very supportive of the Dare program.
Comm. Holman stated she is not a huge supporter of the Dare program. She does, however, believe the policing aspect of the program has been more beneficial to the youth than the drug abuse prevention aspect. Comm. Holman further stated she does not believe the Dare program should be eliminated until a more effective program is put in place.
Comm. Swope stated he would support the Resolution at this time. However, he does share the thoughts of Comm. Holman. This discussion continued.
Mr. Neilsen reminded the Committee that the continuance of the Dare program is contingent on receiving the PA 2 funds.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Comm. Stid stated this Committee’s members should speak with the other commissioners regarding this matter.
b. Resolution Authorizing the Sheriff’s Office to Collect a Registration Fee as Recognized in the Sex Offenders Registration Act
MOVED BY COMM. SWOPE, SUPPORTED BY COMM. STID, TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE TO COLLECT A REGISTRATION FEE AS RECOGNIZED IN THE SEX OFFENDERS REGISTRATION ACT.
(Chairperson Celentino left the meeting at 6:38 p.m.)
In response to Comm. Schafer, Mr. Myers stated sex offenders must register every year. The registration fee is only paid the first time a sex offender registers for the Sex Offender list.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
2. Animal Control Advisory Board Appointments
The Committee held a brief discussion regarding the term lengths of the Animal Control Shelter Advisory Committee members. Mr. Neilsen stated half the members could serve one-year terms and the remaining half could serve two-year terms. He would prepare a resolution reflecting this change if this is the Committee’s decision.
MOVED BY COMM. SWOPE, SUPPORTED BY COMM. STID, TO RECOMMEND THE REAPPOINTMENTS OF HOLLY STROBEL ANDHANET HANNEMAN TO A ONE-YEAR TERM; LORNA ELLIOTT, MARI NICOL AND PENELOPE TSERNOGLOU TO A TWO-YEAR TERM. CASSANDRA VONG’S POSITION WILL BE CLASSIFIED AS A ONE-YEAR TERM. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Comm. Schafer expressed his concern that having two Commissioners on the Advisory Committee may no longer be warranted. Also, the Advisory Committee was set up with the idea of determining its continued need at the end of the first year. Chairperson Schor stated that if this Resolution is approved, it will send the message that the Advisory Committee is still needed. Comm. Stid stated the Committee should be continued. She does not, however, have an opinion on the number of Commissioners that should serve on that Committee.
Comm. Schor stated the one-year appointees’ terms will end December 31, 2005. Mr. Neilsen will draft a resolution reflecting the term length changes.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
4. Controller’s Office – Resolution Amending the Ingham County Animal Control Ordinance
Chairperson Schor stated the Resolution clarifies a contradictory clause in the Ingham County Animal Control Ordinance.
MOVED BY COMM. SWOPE, SUPPORTED BY COMM. MINTER, TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION AMENDING THE INGHAM COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL ORDINANCE. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
3. 911 Committee/East Lansing – Request for Reimbursement of Travel Expenses Associated with Training for the New Public Safety Radio System
Mr. Neilsen explained the City of East Lansing is requesting reimbursement for travel expenses for sending three people to three separate training programs in Lynchburg, Virginia. These training sessions were mandatory for the dispatch centers. The City of Lansing is paying for their travel expenses out of their existing 911 Dispatch Center’s operating budget.
The Law Enforcement and Finance Committees have traditionally approved these types of 911 bills. Mr. Neilsen stated he, as well as the Advisory Committee, is recommending the approval of the reimbursement request. These fund would come from the 911 Public Safety Radio System Contingency Fund.
Chairperson Schor expressed his concern that the City of East Lansing is not handling the travel expenses in the same manner as the City of Lansing. The City of East Lansing should be treated in the same manner as the City of Lansing in regard to travel reimbursements.
Comm. Swope stated he would like to see an itemized statement of the travel expenses. Mr. Neilsen stated the request is strictly for travel expenses. Chairperson Schor stated this Committee should also see a breakdown of the County’s expenses.
This discussion continued. Comm. Stid stated her concern that East Lansing was not aware of the travel expense agreement. Mr. Neilsen stated this request was unanimously approved by the Advisory Committee. He urged this Committee to approve East Lansing’s reimbursement request.
Chairperson Schor suggested this Committee table this item until representatives from East Lansing are present to address this Committee’s concerns.
MOVED BY COMM. SCHAFER, SUPPORTED BY COMM. SWOPE, TO TABLE THE REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF TRAVEL EXPENSES ASOSCIATED WITH TRAINING FOR THE NEW PUBLIC SAFETY RADIO SYSTEM. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
4. Late – DART program Grant
Mr. Neilsen informed the Committee that the County will not receive U.S. Department of Justice grant funds for the DART program for the 2004/05 fiscal year. The DART program should, however, have enough grant funds to last through mid December.
Announcements
Chairperson Schor advised the Committee that its next meeting is scheduled for November 18 at 7:30 p.m.
Public Comment: None
The meeting adjourned at 7:10 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Debra Neff