Approved 8/12/04

 

JUDICIARY

July 15, 2004

Minutes

 

 

Members Present:         Tina Weatherwax-Grant, Dianne Holman, Mark Grebner, Mary Stid, Randy Schafer and Board Chairperson Victor Celentino

 

Members Absent:         Calvin Lynch

 

Others Present:             John Neilsen,  Jerry Ambrose, Nervy Oliver, Christine Timmon, Dave Buck, David Easterday, Don Reisig, Anne Smiley, Richard Kerbawy, Maureen Winslow, Sue LeDuc, Travis Faulds, Jim Hines and others

 

The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Weatherwax-Grant at 7:15 p.m. in the Personnel Conference Room of the Human Services Building, 5303 S. Cedar, Lansing.

 

Approval of the June 10, 2004 Minutes

MOVED BY COMM. STID, SUPPORTED BY COMM. HOLMANN, TO APPROVE THE JUNE 10 MINUTES AS SUBMITTED.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.  Absent:  Comm. Lynch

 

Additions to the Agenda

2a.       Draft Administrative Order

 

Limited Public Comment

Ms. Timmon addressed the Committee regarding same sex marriages and the Tonya Bingham case.

 

Announcements:           None

 

  1. Youth Violence Prevention Coalition – Presentation by the YVPC Advisory Group on Policies and Procedures on Ingham County Juvenile Justice Issues

 

Ms. Smiley stated the YVPC Advisory Group would be more than happy to assist the County in making decisions regarding juvenile justice.  Ms. LeDuc stated the Group is ready for an assignment from this Committee.

 

Comm. Weatherwax-Grant thanked Ms. Smiley and Ms. LeDuc for their offer to assist in juvenile justice matters. 

 

MOVED BY COMM. SCHAFER, SUPPORTED BY COMM. HOLMAN, TO APPROVE A CONSENT AGENDA FOR THE FOLLOWNG ITEMS:

 

1.   55th District Court – Resolution to Authorize Budget Adjustments and New Positions within the 55th District Court

 

  1. Judiciary Committee – Honorary Resolution – Resolution Honoring Patricia A. French

 

6a. Controller’s Office – Resolution Authorizing Adjustments to the 2004 Ingham County Budget

 

MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.  Absent:  Comm. Lynch

 

MOVED BY COMM. SCHAFER, SUPPORTED BY COMM. HOLMAN, TO APPROVE THE ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGEND.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.  Absent:  Comm. Lynch

 

  1. Circuit Court – Resolution to Support ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER 2004-03 Regarding Circuit Court Hours of Operation at Ingham County Facilities

 

Mr. Easterday stated the purpose of this Order is to establish the hours for the 30th Circuit Court.  The hours are contained in a correspondence from Judge Collette.  This information is included in the agenda packet.

 

Mr. Easterday stated the Circuit Court Judges are supportive of the Order.  The downtown standard working hours will be 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.  The Public Business Hours for the Clerk’s Office will be 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.  The Public hours starting at 9 a.m. will give the  clerks one hour to address their volume of work before the Office opens for the public.  If a resident visits the Clerk’s Office before 9 a.m., the clerks will do their best to accommodate the resident’s request. 

 

In response to Chairperson Celentino, Mr. Easterday stated the downtown offices remain open between 12:00 and 1:00 p.m.  The Mason office closes for lunch due to the lower volume of traffic into the office. 

 

Comm. Stid thanked Mr. Easterday for his explanation of the Order’s implications.  She now knows that if a person does visit the downtown office prior to 9 a.m., that person will be helped.    Mr. Easterday also explained that the Treasurer’s Office is willing to accept payments from the clerk’s office between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. 

 

Mr. Neilsen stated all occupants of the downtown offices have received a copy of the Order. 

 

The Committee discussed this issue further.  Comm. Grebner suggested the County consider, in the future, having one person who is able to handle transactions for any of the County departments.

 

MOVED BY COMM. GREBNER, SUPPORTED BY COMM. SCHAFER, TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER 2004-03 REGARDING CIRCUIT COURT HOURS OF OPERATION AT INGHAM COUNTY FACILITIES.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.  Absent:  Comm. Lynch

 

  1. Circuit Court/Family Division

a.                   Quarterly Reports of Senior Staff on Juvenile Division Issues – Discussion

 

Mr. Oliver stated the Report is part of the Circuit Court/Family Division’s efforts to provide this Committee with more information.  This Quarterly Report contains Program Goals, 3rd quarter statistics and the number of youth active at the end of the reporting period.  Mr. Oliver explained the Report contains this information for the seven services of the Juvenile Division.  Those services and their representatives in attendance this evening include:

            Intensive Neglect Services, Maureen Winslow

            Intensive Probation Services, Dave Buck

            In-Home  Detention, Dave Buck

            Community After Treatment Care Services, Dave Buck

            Peckham Crossroads, Loretta Beachnau

            Intake Department & Juvenile Assessment Center, Richard Kerbawy

            Ingham County Youth Center, Travis Faulds

 

The service representatives reviewed their reports for the Committee.  Mr. Faulds thanked the Committee for the extra resources for the Youth Center.  The resources  included equipment and personnel. 

 

Comm. Grebner stated the decrease in the Youth Center’s days over capacity may  be proof that the County was short of beds, not secure beds.  Mr. Faulds stated the decrease in Center youth allows the Center’s staff to interact more with the youth. 

 

Chairperson Weatherwax-Grant stated she would like the next Report to include the number of repeat stays in the Center by the same youth.  Mr. Reisig stated it would be possible to provide a snapshot of the requested information. 

 

Mr. Kerbawy stated the determination of the actual process of conducting assessments involved a tremendous amount of time.  The assessment process was implemented on April 1, 2004.  He then reviewed the statistics contained in his portion of the Report.

 

Comm. Stid commended the Circuit Court/Family Division for the Report format.  She then stated she would like  the Reports to also include cumulative data.  Mr. Oliver stated this is a goal of the Family Division.  He then stated he expects the number of assessments will increase over time.  Approximately 300 assessments are necessary to crunch the numbers for this Committee.  Staff is enthusiastic about the assessment tool.

 

Chairperson Weatherwax-Grant thanked the representatives for their valuable information.

 

b.                  Risk Assessment Implementation Progress Report – Discussion

 

This item was discussed as part of agenda item 3a.

 

c.                   Resolution to Authorize Entering into a Contract with Sequel Youth Services for the Transitional Female Residential Program

 

In response to Chairperson Weatherwax-Grant, Mr. Oliver stated Sequel Youth Services was selected due to their creative approach in treating youth.  They have programs which were designed for females.  They are not programs for males which were changed to accommodate females. 

 

Comm. Holman asked where the Sequel facility would be located.  Mr. Reisig stated the contract will contain language which requires the location to be approved by the Board of Commissioners.  The facility would be similar to a large family home. 

 

In response to Comm. Schafer, Mr. Oliver stated the Court has referred youth to the Youth Challenge Academy.  However, the Court does not believe the Academy’s programs are appropriate for youth who are entering the court system.  Comm. Schafer stated many of his high school students were very impressed with the Academy information.  He then stated he would like this County to use the Academy more often, when appropriate.

 

Chairperson Weatherwax-Grant stated the Academy was sent a Request for Proposal.  They did not respond with a proposal.  Mr. Oliver stated the Academy provides excellent programming for specific cases. 

 

Mr. Reisig stated the RFP language was broad.  Gateway was upset that the language was not specific.  Comm. Stid stated she has several concerns regarding this issue.  At the start of this process, the discussion involved a group home for six females.  Sequel has large facilities.  She stated she could not see Sequel limiting themselves in this area to six beds.  Sequel’s proposed price is not the same figure they provided the County with earlier in this process. 

 

Mr. Reisig stated the Court could go back to the proponents to discuss pricing and discounts.  Mr. Neilsen explained that if Sequel opens its facility this year, it would receive a prorated amount of the $497,500. 

 

Comm. Grebner explained that a facility with more than six beds would require special zoning.  Therefore, he believes Sequel will provide the six-bed facility, not a large facility.   Chairperson Weatherwax-Grant stated this issue could be addressed in the contract between the County and Sequel.   Comm. Grebner stated the number of beds can also be controlled by the contract.  Mr. Reisig explained RFP’s would be reissued if Sequel decides to increase the size of its proposed facility.    He further stated he believes Sequel wants to have a facility in Michigan.  He does not believe they will eventually want a larger facility in this State. 

 

Comm. Holman stated contracting with Sequel would further expand its available programs for the County’s youth. 

 

MOVED BY COMM. SCHAFER, SUPPORTED BY COMM. GREBNER, TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE ENTERING INTO A CONTRACT WITH SEQUEL YOUTH SERVICES FOR THE TRANSITIONAL FEMALE RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM.  MOTION CARRIED with Comm. Stid voting NO.  Absent:  Comm. Lynch

 

  1. Controller’s Office
    1. Update on 2005 Budget  - Discussion

 

Mr. Ambrose stated the Budget will be the main focus of the next Board Leadership meeting in August.   He then stated he hopes to propose a Budget for 2005 without any position eliminations or loss of services.  However, the Budget may include a hiring freeze. 

 

    1. Response to Gateway Letter of Complaint about the RFP Process – Discussion

 

Mr. Neilsen stated the Purchasing and Properties Department reviewed this complaint letter from Gateway.  It has been determined the County followed proper procedures during this process.  Mr. Reisig sent a letter of response to Gateway and sent a copy of same to the Commissioners. 

 

Mr. Reisig stated his response letter to Gateway indicated they did not meet the security needs.  He also encouraged them to keep looking at our future programming needs.  Comm. Stid stated a representative of Gateway was present at several of the Judiciary meetings.  Therefore, they should have been more than aware of the County’s needs at this time.  Comm. Grebner stated the RFP process has been a new experience for Gateway.  Gateway is a wonderful group and their proposal was a good initial attempt.

 

2a.       Circuit Court – Draft of Revised Jail Overcrowding Order

 

Mr. Neilsen stated this is an informational item this evening.  Comment results will be available at this Committee’s August meeting.

 

Announcements

Comm. Stid stated if the Board Leadership meeting is held at the Fairgrounds, she will provide food for the Commissioners. 

 

Public Comment

Ms. Timmon spoke regarding Gateway and the Michigan Youth Challenge Academy.  She was supportive of the Academy.  The Juvenile Justice Millage was also addressed.

 

Mr. Hines addressed Comm. Holman’s comment in agenda item 3c.  He stated he hopes Highfield’s expertise will not be held against them the next time it bids on a service for the County.  Comm. Schafer agreed with Mr. Hine’s comment.

 

The meeting adjourned at 9:24 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Debra Neff