Amended 11/7/05

HUMAN SERVICES

Budget Hearings

September 12, 2005

Minutes

Members Present:         Curtis Hertel, Tina Weatherwax-Grant, Victor Celentino, Lisa Dedden, Dianne Holman, Mike Severino and Board Chairperson Mark Grebner

Members Absent:         None

Others Present:             John Neilsen, Bruce Bragg, Jerry Ambrose, Jared Cypher, Terri Younger, Susan O’Shea, Dr. Sienko, Randy Marwede, Steve Dougan, Pam Cook, Donna Hobart, Randy Bell, Bob Sheehan, and others

The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Hertel at 6:01 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

Chairperson Hertel stated the lead assessment program contained in the Health Department’s 2006 Budget request was not included in the Controller’s Recommended Budget.  Mr. Bragg explained the expanded service level regarding rental housing is contingent on a City of Lansing ordinance.  If the ordinance is enacted, there should be a funding source for the lead assessment program.  Recommendations regarding a sliding fee scale will be submitted to this Committee at a later date. 

MOVED BY COMM. CELENTINO, SUPPORTED BY COMM. SEVERINO, TO APPROVE THE CONTROLLER’S RECOMMENDED BUDGET FOR THE FOLLOWING ITEMS:

            a.         Veterans Affairs

            b.         Tri-County Aging Consortium

            c.         Transportation Millage

            d.         Substance Abuse

            f.          Medical Care Facility

            h.         Department of Human Services

            i.          Cooperative Extension

            j.          Community Mental Health

Comm. Severino asked if the Controller’s Recommended Budget for Substance Abuse included funding for the D.A.R.E. program at its current level.  Mr. Ambrose explained that the Controller’s Recommended Budget does not include funding for the D.A.R.E. program.   The Law Enforcement Committee did approve Z funding for the program. 

MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.  Absent:  Comm. Weatherwax-Grant

(Comm. Weatherwax-Grant arrived at 6:15 p.m.)

            g.         Health Department

Comm. Dedden requested clarification regarding indicators contained on pages HS 34 and HS 36 of the Controller’s Recommended Budget for the Health Department.  Ms. Younger explained that many categories within the Controller’s Recommended Budget have been changed.  Therefore, some indicators may not be in the proper places.   She also stated a copy of the Health Department’s Controller’s Recommended Budget was forwarded to that office for review.  Mr. Bragg stated he would review the indicators with the Budget Office prior to the Finance Budget Hearing. 

Mr. Ambrose explained that the Controller’s Recommended Budget is an evolving process.  It is also an effort to put many numbers into English.  Mr. Ambrose then explained that the proposed funding level for the expanding scope of the neighborhood network centers is far less than the requested level.  Mr. Bragg stated he would request this additional funding be placed on the z list.

Comm. Dedden stated the Finance Committee previously discussed the possibility of using a part of the $300,000 in unallocated funds for unfunded FTE requests.  This issue was discussed further. 

Comm. Severino expressed his concern that there isn’t an “apples for apples” comparison within the Health Department’s 2006 Recommended Budget.  He then stated he appreciated the Controller’s efforts in this matter.  All department budgets should be viewed in the same way by the Controller’s Office. 

MOVED BY COMM. SEVERINO, SUPPORTED BY COMM. CELENTINO, TO APPROVE THE CONTROLLER’S RECOMMENDED BUDGET FOR THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

MOVED BY COMM. CELENTINO, SUPPORTED BY COMM. SEVERINO, TO SUSPEND THE BOARD RULES TO ALLOW COMM. WEATHERWAX-GRANT TO VOTE ON THE PREVIOUS MOTIONS.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

PREVIOUS MOTIONS CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

            e.         Medical Examiner

Dr. Sienko informed the Committee that a Medical Examiner Investigator position has been in effect for approximately one year.  The position provides the Medical Examiner’s Office (Office) with very valuable information.  Good history and scene observations are vital to considering the whole view of a death.  The number of SIDS deaths has decreased as a result of having an Investigator.  Investigations provide adequate data for the Office to make appropriate determinations of death.

Dr. Sienko stated additional personnel are needed so that the Investigator can handle late-night calls when they are received versus having to wait until the following morning.  He requested funding for two Registered Nurse positions ($33,202) and one Maternal Infant Outreach Worker position ($22,241).  The additional personnel would provide 24 hour/seven days per week investigation services.  Dr. Sienko stated his hope that with better scene investigations, the number of autopsies will decrease. 

The Committee discussed the Office’s requests.  Chairperson Hertel asked Dr. Sienko how we would like his positions to be ranked.  Dr. Sienko stated the two Registered Nurses would bring a higher level of accountability to the Office. 

Comm. Weatherwax-Grant stated it would make sense for the Board of Commissioners to approve the requests as it would show its support for the Safe Sleep Campaign.  The additional funding would provide greater follow-through on cases. 

MOVED BY COMM. SEVERINO, SUPPORTED BY COMM. HOLMAN, TO APPROVE THE CONTROLLER’S RECOMMENDED BUDGET FOR THE MEDICAL EXAMINER’S OFFICE.

MOVED BY COMM. SEVERINO, SUPPORTED BY COMM. CELENTINO, TO AMEND THE PREVIOUS MOTION TO INCLUDE FUNDING FOR TWO REGISTERED NURSE POSITIONS ($33,202) AND ONE MATERNAL INFANT OUTREACH WORKER POSITION ($22,241).  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

MAIN MOTION AS AMENDED CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

k.         Community Agencies

MOVED Y COMM. CELENTINO, SUPPORTED BY COMM. SEVERINO, TO APPROVE THE CONTROLLER’S RECOMMENDED BUDGET FOR COMMUNITY AGENCIES. 

Mr. Ambrose informed the Committee that the Community Allocation funding level was increased by $6,000.  This increase represents a 5.4% increase.  The proposed funding level is approximately $200,000 short of meeting the Community Agency requests.  He further stated the Board of Commissioners previously established that the Community Agency requests should be for the purpose of meeting basic needs.

Chairperson Hertel explained that approximately $150,000 of the requested amount was made by three new agencies.  The three new agencies requested large amounts of funding. 

The Committee held a brief discussion regarding the deadline for submitting Community Agency funding requests.  Mr. Ambrose stated he would encourage the Board to be firm on its deadline for receiving funding requests.

MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

2.         Final Ranking

MOVED BY COMM. HOLMAN, SUPPORTED BY COMM. SEVERINO, TO RANK THE TWO REGISTERED NURSE POSITIONS AS ITEMS #1 AND #2; AND THE MATERNAL INFANT OUTREACH WORKER POSITION AS ITEM #3.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

Announcements:           None

Public Comment:          None

The meeting adjourned at 6:54 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Debra Neff