Approved 2/14/08

LAW ENFORCEMENT

January 31, 2008

Minutes

Members Present:          Dianne Holman, Dale Copedge, Victor Celentino, Debbie DeLeon, Todd

                                       Tennis, Randy Schafer and Board Chairperson Marc Thomas

Members Absent:           None

Others Present:               John Neilsen and Jamie McAloon-Lampman

The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Holman at  6:01 p.m. in the Personnel Conference Room of the Human Services Building, 5303 S. Cedar, Lansing.

Approval of the January 10, 2008 Minutes

MOVED BY COMM. SCHAFER, SUPPORTED BY COMM. CELENTINO, TO APPROVE THE JANUARY 10 MINUTES AS SUBMITTED.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.  Absent:  Comm. Copedge

Limited Public Comment:          None

Additions to the Agenda:           None

1.         Animal Control Director Report – Department Initiatives

Ms. McAloon-Lampman stated the Department euthanizes pit bulls for safety reasons.  The Department also does not adopt out mix pit bulls.  This is Department policy.  The temperament is not known until the dogs are 18 months or two years old.  Ms. McAloon-Lampman further stated the Department does realize there are good pit bulls. 

Comm. DeLeon asked Ms. McAloon-Lampman if there are other dangerous breeds.  Ms. McAloon-Lampman stated there are other dogs that may be dangerous; however, pit bulls are the breed of choice for fighting. 

(Comm. Copedge arrived at 6:07 p.m.)

Comm. Copedge stated he received a telephone call from a constituent regarding an animal complaint.  Ms. McAloon-Lampman stated the dog in this matter was claimed by its rightful owner.  The cased is resolved. 

Ms. McAloon-Lampman stated she forwarded the Department’s licensing policy to the Commissioners for their information.  She then explained that in most cases, a dog owner will receive a fix it ticket for not having their dog licensed.  If a person receives a delinquent license violation, they have seven to 10 days to obtain a license.  She further stated the Court and the Department are notified when the license is obtained. 

Comm. DeLeon stated the County needs to be careful when it arrests people for not having their dog licenses.  The jail does not have enough room for these individuals. 

Ms. McAloon-Lampman stated the Department holds neighborhood licensing events on a monthly basis.  Dog owners can have their pets licensed and also obtain the necessary shots during these events.  The event schedule will be sent to the Commissioners. 

Chairperson Holman stated this Committee appreciates the efforts of Ms. McAloon-Lampman and her staff. 

Comm. Schafer asked if Animal Control Officers could offer assistance on regular police calls.  Ms. McAloon-Lampman stated the Officers are not trained to respond to people calls.  Board Chairperson Thomas stated the Officers have enough to do without adding this additional responsibility.  Ms. McAloon-Lampman stated the Officers may be placed in harms way by responding to police calls if they are not properly trained.  Comm. Schafer explained that the Offices would be a support for the regular police officers. 

Comm. DeLeon stated there have been many wonderful things happening at the Department since Ms. McAloon-Lampman assumed the position of Director. 

2.         Community Corrections Advisory Board – Resolution Authorizing the Community Corrections Advisory Board to Continue Staff Consultant Services in 2008

MOVED BY COMM. SCHAFER, SUPPORTED BY COMM. TENNIS, TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS ADVISORY BOARD TO CONTINUE STAFF CONSULTANT SERVICES IN 2008.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

3.         Controller’s Office – Resolution Authorizing a Contract Amendment with M/A-COM, Inc. for

Mr. Neilsen distributed copies of Mr. Myers’ email to the Board of Commissioners regarding this matter.  He then stated he and Mr. Myers met with MA/COM on January 24, 2008 and tentatively agreed to the following:

            a. Ingham County will pay a total of $995,118.22

            b. This includes the cost for equipment that M/ACOM cannot give us credit from the

                 stand alone antenna

            c. The County will keep $85,000 worth of parts that we will be able to use for the future

            d. The County will receive two years of free service for the software maintenance

                ($150,000 that would have been paid in 2009 and 2010, $75,000 each year)         

Mr. Neilsen stated the current contract with M/A-COM, Inc. for the multisite enhancement was not to exceed the amount of $405,000 and was approved by Resolution #07-123.  The Board of Commissioners approved an additional $500,000 per Resolution #07-311 for a total project cost of $905,000. 

This Resolution will approve an additional $150,000 from 911 funds for a total project cost of $1,055,000.

Comm. DeLeon stated she doesn’t understand why the County wants to keep the unusable parts.  Mr. Neilsen stated this matter is still being evaluated.  Some of the parts may be needed in the near future.  M/A-COM, Inc. stated the parts cannot be returned because they are used parts. 

Comm. DeLeon stated M/A-COM made the initial recommendations which included these parts.  M/A-COM should take some of this responsibility.  She then asked for the balance in the 911 fund.  Mr. Neilsen stated his best guess is approximately $1.8 million, before this current request. 

Comm. Celentino asked if the experimental software will have to be replaced each year.  Mr. Neilsen stated the software maintenance contract pays for all upgrades.  Comm. Celentino expressed his concern about the 911 fund balance.  Mr. Neilsen stated the County will not know if the software is successful until it has worked in the field for about one month. 

Comm. Tennis stated the Board directed Mr. Myers and Mr. Neilsen to negotiate the best deal they could.  Mr. Neilsen indicated he is comfortable with the current arrangement.  Comm. Tennis stated he has heard from people in the field that things are getting better.  M/A-COM has done a poor job at making this success.  He stated he is comfortable with the current arrangement.  If problems continue, we will probably start looking for a way to change to the State system.

Comm. Copedge asked if the communication problems have improved on the north side of Lansing.  Mr. Neilsen stated the entire Lansing Police Department will have their radios upgraded.  He further stated he is not aware of the upgrade status.  Comm. Celentino stated he believes the north side radios have been fixed. 

Comm. Copedge asked if M/A-COM has a deadline to make the necessary corrections.  He then stated this Committee should implement a subcommittee to look into funding opportunities for the state system.  Board Chairperson Thomas stated providing a deadline is a good idea.  He then stated he doesn’t know that the County can write off the $12 million cost of the system at this time.  Comm. Copedge stated the County should look into alternatives.

Mr. Neilsen stated we evaluated the State system at the same time as the current system.  He then stated he believes the current system will be successful.  Comm. Schafer stated he is reluctant to be too critical because he believes the current system will work.  We have to be patient.

Comm. Celentino stated he feels he has no choice but to support the Resolution.  He then asked what the County will do if the system is not successful in four months. 

MOVED BY COMM. TENNIS, SUPPORTED BY COMM. SCHAFER, TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A CONTRACT AMENDMENT WITH M/A-COM, INC. FOR A SIMULCAST SITE ENHANCEMENT TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY WIRELESS VOICE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM.

Comm. DeLeon stated we should speak with the County Attorney regarding our next step if the system does not work. 

Board Chairperson Thomas asked if the extra equipment can be used.  Mr. Neilsen stated TUSA and other technicians are looking at the equipment to gain a true sense of how it can be used.  If the equipment cannot be used, it will be returned to M/A-COM and dialogue with them will be reopened.  He further stated we have not signed a change order with M/A-COM yet. 

Comm. Copedge stated the County should record all the time and expense involved with maintaining the extra equipment.  If the equipment can be used in the future, the cost of the equipment should be determined at that time.

Board Chairperson Thomas stated Mr. Neilsen said the negotiations will be reopened if we cannot use the equipment. 

Mr. Neilsen stated the amounts in the Resolution are not to exceed amounts.  If the County is not satisfied with the service, we will not sign the change order.  Comm. Copedge stated it would be nice if M/A-COM would buy back any equipment we cannot use.

After additional discussion, the Committee consented to a Friendly Amendment to the Resolution:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Ingham County Board of Commissioners . . . for a cost not to exceed $995,000 or $590,000 over and above the original multisite contract to be completed and operational and accepted by Ingham County, by no later than July 2, 2008.

Comm. DeLeon asked if the parts piece and our position on this matter should be included in the Resolution.  Mr. Neilsen stated he is comfortable with this issue; however, language can be added to the Resolution if that is the desire of this Committee. 

MOTION CARRIED with Comm. DeLeon voting NO.

The Committee held a brief discussion regarding the hardware maintenance contract.  Mr. Neilsen stated M/A-COM has performed this service since October 2007.  It is appropriate for the Board Chairperson to sign the maintenance agreement. 

Announcements

Comm. Schafer stated he asked Chairperson Holman to provide a calendar of when specific discussions will take place as well as action plans.  Chairperson Holman stated she will develop such a calendar.

Public Comment:          None

The meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Debra Neff