Approved 9/17/07

HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE

August 20, 2007

Minutes

Members Present:         Curtis Hertel, Mark Grebner, Rebecca Bahar-Cook, Andy Schor, Tim Soule, Mike Severino and Board Chairperson Mark Thomas

Members Absent:         None

Others Present:             Jared Cypher, Peter Cohl, George Rowan, Amy Moore, Margaret Mays, Susan Hull, Jim Wilson, Mike Allen, Marcus Cheatham, Melany Mack, Donna Hobart, Randy Bell, Dr. Sienko and Jaeson Fournier

The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Hertel at 7:03 p.m. in the Personnel Conference Room of the Human Services Building, 5303 S. Cedar, Lansing.

Approval of the July 16, 2007 Minutes

MOVED BY COMM. GREBNER, SUPPORTED BY COMM. SCHOR, TO APPROVE THE JULY 16 MINUTES AS AMENDED.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

The Minutes were amended to reflect the following:

Comm. Bahar-Cook was added to “Members Present.”

Additions to the Agenda

2.         Substitute Resolution

3e.       Additional Information

3f.        Resolution Honoring Patricia Lamison

Limited Public Comment

Dr. Sienko addressed the Committee regarding the Stockbridge Clinic. He stated the Clinic will be closed due to financial concerns.  The Health Department has an obligation to inform its patients of this closure.  Mr. Fournier stated the Department needs 30 days to notify the patients of the clinic’s closure by return, receipt mail.  The patient’s medical records will be provided to them upon request.

Comm. Schor asked if the Leslie Clinic is ready for additional patients due to the Clinic’s closure.  Mr. Fournier explained area clinics are aware of the pending closure and are prepared to receive additional patients.  Approximately 360 patients will be affected by the closure of the Stockbridge Clinic. 

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

1.         Tri-County Office on Aging – Resolution Approving Tri-County Office on Aging’s Annual Implementation Plan for Fiscal Year 2008

2.         Department of Human Services/Controller’s Office – Substitute Resolution Authorizing a Contingency Appropriation to the Department of Human Services 2006-07 Child Care Fund Budget

3.         Health Department

a.         Resolution to Authorize Amendment #3 to the 2006-07 Comprehensive Planning, Budgeting and Contracting Agreement with the Michigan Department of Community Health

b.         Resolution to Authorize Amendment to Lease Agreement with JWJ Company, LCC

c.         Resolution to Authorize an Agreement with Capital Area Community Services to Serve Early Head Start Children Through the Jump Start Program

d.         Resolution to Authorize a Child Care Training Agreement with the Michigan 4C Association for Fiscal Year 2008

f.          Resolution Honoring Patricia Lamison

MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

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

3e.       Health Department – Discussion – Revised Tobacco Regulation and Response to Questions from Commissioners

Dr. Sienko reviewed the revised “Issues raised by the Human Services Committee at its May 14, 2007 meeting- Draft August 6, 2007.”  This Draft was distributed to the Committee.  Dr. Sienko stated Subsection 8 of the Regulation has been removed. 

Mr. Rowan, Board of Health, stated the Board is committed to having no smoking policies throughout the County.  The Board and its staff have reviewed the concerns as expressed by this Committee at its May 14 meeting.  Several members of the Board of Health are concerned when they see youth sitting with families in smoking sections at restaurants.  The Board cannot stop families from subjecting their children to smoke in restaurants. 

Comm. Bahar-Cook asked for clarification regarding Section 1016; subsection C of the Revised Regulation.  Dr. Sienko explained the Section contains a timeline for complying with the regulation.  If a restaurant can make a case for hardship, the Board of Health will grant them a five-year exemption to allow them time to ease into the regulation.

Mr. Rowan stated the Board of Health grants approximately three to four waivers per year in regard to the current Smoking Regulation.  Comm. Grebner stated his draft did not include a provision that businesses must be smoke free for one year before receiving a hardship exemption. 

Chairperson Hertel stated the Board of Health removed a section of the Regulation based on the County Attorney’s advice.  The section was apparently in violation of state law.  He then asked what the Board of Health would do if the County Attorney advised the entire Regulation was in violation of state law. 

MOVED BY COMM. BAHAR-COOK, SUPPORTED BY COMM. TENNIS, TO ENTER INTO A CLOSED SESSION FOR THE PURPOSE OF DISCUSSING THE COUNTY ATTORNEY’S OPINION.  MOTION APPROVED BY THE FOLLOWING ROLL CALL VOTE:  YEAS, COMMS. HERTEL, GREBNER, BAHAR-COOK, SCHOR, SOULE AND SEVERINO.

The Committee returned to regular session at this time.

Comm. Grebner asked if the Committee would like to move ahead and schedule a public hearing.  Comm. Bahar-Cook explained that she is still uncomfortable with the one year suspension.  This issue should be resolved before a public hearing is scheduled.  Comm. Schor stated he is comfortable with the original proposal regarding the implementation and the 5 and 10 year increments.   He further stated the Board of Commissioners should judge the exemption requests.

Chairperson Thomas stated this matter should be considered further.  It may not be appropriate to have elected officials judge the exemption requests.  Comm. Grebner stated his proposal indicated the Health Department would make determinations regarding requests for exemption from the regulation. 

Chairperson Hertel stated he supports banning smoking wherever possible.  He then stated he is not sure the County should challenge state law; however, he will support the Committee if it wants to move forward.  Comm. Grebner could make changes to the proposal and bring the changes back to this Committee for review at its next meeting.  The public hearing determination could be made after that discussion. 

Comm. Bahar-Cook stated the Committee should also keep an eye on this issue at the senate level.  Chairperson Hertel explained the County should know where the senate is on this issue by January 2008.  Comm. Bahar-Cook expressed her concerns regarding the renovation costs business owners will be subjected to in order to bring their businesses into compliance with the regulation. 

4.         Board Referral – Letter and Resolution from Citizens for Alternatives to Chemical Contamination Regarding Pending CAFO Legislation

The Board Referral was received and placed on file.

Announcements:           None

Public Comment:          None

The meeting adjourned at 8:04 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Debra Neff