Amended 5/19/08

HUMAN SERVICES

May 5, 2008

Minutes

Members Present:         Andy Schor, Rebecca Bahar-Cook, Curtis Hertel, Tim Soule, Mike Severino and Steve Dougan            

Members Absent:         None

Others Present:             Jared Cypher, Dr. Sienko, Melany Mack, John Jacobs, Laura Peterson, Barb Monroe and others

The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Schor at 7:05 p.m. in the Personnel Conference Room of the Human Services Building, 5303 S. Cedar, Lansing.

Approval of the April 21, 2008 Minutes

MOVED BY COMM. HERTEL, SUPPORTED BY COMM. DOUGAN, TO APPROVE THE APRIL 21 MINUTES AS SUBMITTED.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

Additions to the Agenda:           None

Limited Public Comment:          None

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

1.         Local Emergency Planning Committee – Resolution to Authorize a SARA Title III Data Analysis Grant Contract Between the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and Ingham County Local Emergency Planning Committee

2b.       Health Department - Resolution to Authorize a Grant from the American Legacy Foundation to Address Disparities in Cessation Access for Low Income Pregnant and Parenting Women

3b.       Controller’s Office - Resolution Authorizing Adjustments to the 2008 Ingham County Budget

MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

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

2.         Health Department

            a.         Resolution to Authorize a Lease Agreement with Sparrow Health System

MOVED BY COMM. SOULE, SUPPORTED BY COMM. SEVERINO, TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH SPARROW HEALTH SYSTEM.

Dr. Sienko stated the County has had a lease agreement with Sparrow to house its Well Child Health Center on the second floor of Sparrow’s 901 E. Mount Hope, Lansing, Michigan facility since June 13, 2005.  Sparrow has proposed that the monthly rental rate for June 13, 2008 through June 12, 2009 be $5,716.42.  The subsequent two years of this lease would then incur an annual increase of three percent.  The current monthly rental rate is $5,547.95. 

Comm. Dougan stated the three percent increase is aggressive in this market.  He then asked if the County can tell Sparrow that it can’t afford the three percent increase.  Comm. Severino asked if general fund monies are used in this matter.  Mr. Jacobs stated the funds come from the budget for Well Child Health Center. 

Comm. Dougan stated the staff needs to review all of our agreements of this nature.  Dr. Sienko stated the lease agreement expires in about five weeks.  He then stated he will provide this Committee with more information at the next meeting. 

Comm. Hertel asked if we still have other space with Sparrow.  Dr. Sienko stated the Health Department has a clinic at the St. Lawrence campus. 

The Committee continued its discussion of this item.  Comm. Hertel stated he is a little concerned about the relationship with Ingham Health Plan and the Sparrow Board of Directors.  We should not go back to Sparrow to ask for a one or two percent change on a relatively small arrangement.  Comm. Dougan stated he respects Comm. Hertel’s statement.  However, the Board of Commissioners should red flag anything that is higher than two percent. 

MOVED BY COMM. DOUGAN, SUPPORTED BY COMM. BAHAR-COOK, TO TABLE THE RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH SPARROW HEALTH SYSTEM.  MOTION FAILED with Comms. Bahar-Cook, Schor and Dougan voting YES. 

Dr. Sienko stated he could have the information for the Finance Committee.. 

MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 

c.         Discussion – Office for Young Children’s Use of General Fund Monies

Dr. Sienko stated the Office for Young Children provided a presentation to this Committee on February 25, 2008.  This Committee wanted the Health Department to look into how general fund dollars are spent by the Unit.  He distributed a memo to the Committee.  The memo contained a summary of the general fund expenses. 

d.         Discussion – How Do We Provide Financial, Support to Neighborhood Associations

Dr. Sienko distributed the IHP Enrollment Summary for FY 2007.  He reviewed the Summary for the Committee.  Dr. Sienko stated the neighborhood centers do more than enroll people in the Ingham Health Plan.  The centers referred people to other services to meet their needs.  The referral information is contained in the Summary.

The Committee held a brief discussion on this item.  Comm. Hertel stated it appears that the community coalition is doing a good job in establishing a medical home.  Ms. Mack stated the coalition tries to link everyone with a medical home. 

COMM. BAHAR-COOK DISCLOSED THAT THE ALLEN AND NORTHWEST NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS ARE HER CLIENTS.

Comm. Bahar-Cook stated she has voted in the last few years to give the neighborhood centers more money because they provide many various ways to support the residents.  She will continue to fight for more money for the centers that make huge differences in people’s lives. 

Chairperson Schor asked about the IHP enrollment process.  Ms. Mack stated the outreach teams work with the highest need areas of the community.  It may take two or three times to make contact with a resident. 

e.         Discussion – How the Power of We Consortium Determines Community Indicators

Dr. Sienko stated the Health Department provided a Power of We Consortium Report to this Committee recently.  The Committee asked about food security issues at that time.  Dr. Sienko stated he received information which explains the history of the Power of We and what indicators they review.  The Consortium has a community data committee to look at the indicators.  The data committee determines what to measure and sets the criteria.

The data committee has about 33 indicators.  They recognize that food security is an important issue that can be presented to the data committee.  Dr. Sienko stated the data committee will apply their parameters to this issue to determine if it should be added to the indicators.  The indicators will be put on the website by fall of this year. 

Dr. Sienko stated he would be willing to take this issue to the data committee if that is what this Committee wants.  Comm. Bahar-Cook stated she would like the Health Department to follow up on this matter. 

3.         Controller’s Office

            a.         Discussion – Draft Resolution Updating Various Fees for County Services

Mr. Cypher stated this is a discussion item for this round of meetings.  The liaison Committees will take action on the Resolution Updating Various Fees for County Services during the next round of meetings.  Mr. Cypher then reviewed the proposed changes relating to the Health Department. 

Comm. Dougan addressed the tobacco sale violations.  He stated he would support a request to increase the fee for the fourth violation.   Comm. Bahar-Cook stated the fees were just increased one year ago.  The Committee should wait longer before raising same.  Comm. Hertel agreed with Comm. Dougan’s position about the fourth violation issue.  The other violation fees are being increased; therefore, the fourth violation fee should also be increased.  

Comm. Bahar-Cook stated she is concerned about how the increased fees will affect the businesses.  Chairperson Schor asked staff to bring back information on this matter to this Committee’s next meeting. 

Comm. Soule stated many breeders and show dog owners have contacted him regarding the licensing fees for dogs.  Spayed or neutered dog owners can purchase licenses at a reduced fee.  Show dogs cannot be spayed or neutered.  The owners of the animals feel it is unfair that they pay a higher license fee because their animals are not spayed or neutered.  Comm. Soule stated he would like to see some type of waiver for these people.  Comm. Dougan stated if someone can prove their association with the AKC, they should be exempt from the higher license fee. 

Chairperson Schor stated staff will adjust the fourth violation fee upwards and then this Committee can discuss this further at its next meeting

The Committee continued their discussion about the tobacco sale violations.  Ms. Mack stated the highest fee before was $500.  The $250 fee was for the third and subsequent violations.  Retailers could purchase a three year tobacco sales licenses for $155 in the past.  This fee had not been raised since 1992. 

Comm. Hertel stated the Committee has to be cognizant that the fee was not raised for several years because of a loophole.  All other fees have been increased during this time.  Comm. Bahar-Cook stated the County should recoup as much of the money to implement the program as we can.  The County should also be careful about setting a precedent about an issue that we care about.  Comm. Hertel stated some fees have to be increased in order to receive the full reimbursement rate. 

            c.         Community Agencies – 2008 Contracts

Mr. Cypher stated four of the Community Agencies did not meet the liability insurance requirement.  The rate had been set at $500,000.  The County Attorneys took an average of the contract amounts for the County and determined the Agencies should have $1 million in liability insurance.  Mr. Cypher stated the average lawsuit award is between $500,000 and $1 million. The Community Agencies signed contracts which indicated they must have a $1 million liability insurance policy. 

Comm. Bahar-Cook stated if the smaller Agencies cannot afford the higher insurance; then County should waive the higher level.  Comm. Soule stated he is in favor of waiving the higher rate for the smaller Agencies. 

Mr. Cypher stated the County Attorney’s recommended the minimum rate be $500,000.  Comm. Dougan stated he would be in favor of reducing the rate to $500,000 for contracts less than $10,000.   Comm. Severino stated he would like to see the insurance rates before this Committee makes any adjustments for the Community Agencies.  Having this information will allow the Committee to make an informed decision.

Chairperson Schor said this Committee has to make a decision about this year’s liability insurance rates. 

MOVED BY COMM. BAHAR-COOK, SUPPORTED BY COMM. SOULE, TO WAIVE THE CURRENT LEVEL OF GENERAL LIABILITY INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE FOUR AGENCIES FOR THE CURRENT YEAR.  MOTION CARRIED with Comm. Schor voting NO.

Announcements

Mr. Cypher informed the Committee that Sue Hull left the County’s DHS for Oakland County’s DHS.  The Deputy Director for Genesee County is the new Director for Ingham County’s DHS. 

Mr. Cypher stated the food pantry building was appraised for a commercial rate.  Staff will now conduct a residential appraisal of the building. 

Public Comment:          None

The meeting adjourned at 8:08 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Debra Neff