Approved 10/11/07
JUDICIARY
September 5, 2007
Minutes
Members Present: Rebecca Bahar-Cook, Andy Schor, Tina Weatherwax-Grant, Dianne Holman, Deb Nolan, Randy Schafer and Board Chairperson Marc Thomas
Members Absent: None
Others Present: John Neilsen, Matthew Myers, Maureen Winslow, David Easterday, Judge Collette, Tom Shewchuck, Harry Moxley, Judge Aquilina, Anethia Brewer, Warren Henson, Tamiekco Smith, Shauna Dunnings, Rhonda Swayze and others
The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Bahar-Cook at 7:03 p.m. in the Personnel Conference Room of the Human Services Building, 5303 S. Cedar, Lansing.
Approval of the July 12, 2007 Minutes
MOVED BY COMM. NOLAN, SUPPORTED BY COMM. SCHAFER, TO APPROVE THE JULY 12 MINUTES AS SUBMITTED. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Absent: Comm. Weatherwax-Grant
Additions to the Agenda: None
Limited Public Comment: None
1. Budget Hearings
a. Probate Court
Mr. Neilsen informed the Committee that Mr. Strander accepts the Controller’s Recommended Budget for the Probate Court. The Court is, however, concerned about a few of the tight line items.
MOVED BY COMM. WEATHERWAX-GRANT, SUPPORTED BY COMM. NOLAN, TO APPROVE THE CONTROLLER’S RECOMMENDED BUDGET FOR THE PROBATE COURT.
Comm. Schafer expressed his concern with the Controller’s Recommended Budget as it pertains to the Prosecutor’s and Sheriff’s Offices. He explained he will not vote in support of the other department budgets as they have not sacrificed as the two Offices.
MOTION CARRIED with Comm. Schafer voting NO.
b. Jury Administration
MOVED BY COMM. WEATHERWAX-GRANT, SUPPORTED BY COMM. NOLAN, TO APPROVE THE CONTROLLER’S RECOMMENDED BUDGET FOR JURY ADMINISTRATION.
Mr. Shewchuck stated he is satisfied with the Controller’s Recommended Budget for Jury Administration. Mr. Shewchuck addressed a few questions from the Committee regarding Jury matters.
MOTION CARRIED with Comm. Schafer voting NO.
c. Friend of the Court Advisory Committee
MOVED BY COMM. WEATHERWAX-GRANT, SUPPORTED BY COMM. NOLAN, TO APPROVE THE CONTROLLER’S RECOMMENDED BUDGET FOR THE FRIEND OF THE COURT ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
Mr. Neilsen stated Ms. LeDuc advised him that she is satisfied with the Controller’s Recommended Budget for the Friend of the Court Advisory Committee.
MOTION CARRIED with Comm. Schafer voting NO.
d. District Court
MOVED BY COMM. WEATHERAX-GRANT, SUPPORTED BY COMM. NOLAN, TO APPROVE THE CONTROLLER’S RECOMMENDED BUDGET FOR THE DISTRICT COURT.
Ms. Brewer stated the District Court is satisfied with the Controller’s Recommended Budget. She then stated the Court is requesting that a part-time Court Officer position be placed on the z list. Judge Aquilina displayed a large number of items which were not caught through the security monitor at the Court. Due the high volume of people in the Court on certain days, more security is necessary. Ms. Brewer stated the part-time position will significantly help the Court with its security concerns.
Judge Aquilina stated the Court would also like to request funding for three additional work study positions. A portion of the funding for work studies is reimbursed by the federal government. The three positions were eliminated in the Controller’s Recommended Budget.
Ms. Morton stated the federal government would reimburse the County for 70% of the work study costs. The County pays 30% of the position costs as well as FICA. The additional positions would cost $12,724. Ms. Morton also stated the part-time Court Officer position would cost $23,954.
MOTION CARRIED with Comm. Schafer voting NO.
e. Community Agencies
Mr. Neilsen informed the Committee that the Controller’s Recommended Budget for Community Agencies is a 5% reduction from its 2007 level. The allocation of the funds will occur once the budget hearings have completed.
MOVED BY COMM. WEATHERWAX-GRANT, SUPPORTED BY COMM. NOLAN, TO APPROVE THE CONTROLLER’S RECOMMENDED BUDGET FOR COMMUNITY AGENCIES. MOTION CARRIED with Comms. Schafer and Schor voting NO.
f. Circuit Court
1. Friend of the Court
MOVED BY COMM. NOLAN, SUPPORTED BY COMM. SCHOR, TO APPROVE THE CONTROLLER’S RECOMMENDED BUDGET FOR THE FRIEND OF THE COURT.
Mr. Easterday stated the Friend of the Court accepts the Controller’s Recommended Budget. Ms. Dunnings stated the Court has submitted financial concerns to the Finance Committee. The Court is at risk of losing a significant amount of funding from the State government. The Court has cut a number of positions over the past one and a half years due to budgetary concerns. It is not known at this time if funds will be available to restore the deficit reduction act.
The Committee held a general discussion regarding Ms. Dunnings’ concerns. Mr. Moxley explained that five positions have been cut due to state and federal government funding reductions. Comm. Schor stated the County is often called upon to cover the funding cuts from the state and federal governments.
Comm. Schor requested clarification regarding the 2008 Budget for the Friend of the Court. Ms. Morton stated the Friend of the Court net increase over the normal amount is 40%. The net increase is only 14.5% when the reimbursement program and bench warrant revenue is taken into account. This year, the County started crediting the Friend of the Court with the indirect cost reimbursement program. Ms. Morton further stated the Friend of the Court budget is very complex.
Mr. Moxley stated the Court will lose approximately 15 positions if it cannot leverage sufficient County dollars.
MOTION CARRIED with Comm. Schafer voting NO.
2. Family Division
MOVED BY COMM. WEATHERWAX-GRANT, SUPPORTED BY COMM. NOLAN, TO APPROVE THE CONTROLLER’S RECOMMENDED BUDGET FOR THE FAMILY DIVISION.
Judge Collette stated the Circuit Court/Family Division accepts the Controller’s Recommended Budget. Ms. Winslow stated the Family Division appreciates the support of this Committee. She then updated the Committee regarding the continuum of care facility search. Comm. Nolan asked if costs will be reduced when the facility comes on line. Ms. Winslow stated placement funds will still be necessary; however, there will be a reduction in residential care costs.
MOTION CARRIED with Comm. Schafer voting NO.
3. General Trial
MOVED BY COMM. NOLAN, SUPPORTED BY COMM. HOLMAN, TO APPROVE THE CONTROLLER’S RECOMMENDED BUDGET FOR THE GENERAL TRIAL DIVISION.
Ms. Swayze stated the General Trial Division accepts the Controller’s Recommended Budget. She then stated the Division appreciates the support of the Board of Commissioners. The General Trial Division has seen an increase in collections as a result of the new position it received in the 2007 budget.
Ms. Swayze then updated the Committee on the scanner issue per the request of Comm. Schor. She explained the Court will have the ability to scan legal documents at the point of receipt. The scanners will allow court personnel to view the legal documents on line. The budget includes the cost for 14 scanner units and the vendor cost to assist with implementation of the scanner process. Judge Collette stated the scanner system is one small step in moving the court into the twenty-first century. It is also a good step toward an e-filing system in the future.
Comm. Weatherwax-Grant asked if there will be any coordination with the use of the scanners. Mr. Easterday explained the MIS Department would like to see a centralized scanning process; however, this may not be efficient for the court.
Comm. Nolan requested information regarding the effects of the collections monitor position. Ms. Swayze stated she would supply that information to this Committee at a later date.
MOTION CARRIED with Comm. Schafer voting NO.
2. Final Ranking
MOVED BY COMM. SCHOR, SUPPORTED BY COMM. NOLAN, TO PLACE $23,954 ON THE Z LIST FOR A PART-TIME COURT OFFICER AND $12,724 FOR THREE WORK STUDY POSITIONS FOR THE DISTRICT COURT.
Comm. Holman asked if any positions will be added to the Z list for the Sheriff’s Office. Mr. Myers explained that a number of positions within the Sheriff’s Office have been recommended for elimination. Ms. Morton stated the starting salary for a Corrections Officer is $58,672.
Judge Aquilina stated she would rank the part-time Court Officer position higher than the work study positions.
FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO THE ABOVE MOTION TO PRIORITIZE THE DISTRICT COURTS’ Z ITEMS AS PART-TIME COURT OFFICER NUMBER ONE AND WORK STUDY POSITIONS AS NUMBER TWO.
MOTION CARRIED with Comm. Schafer voting NO.
Announcements: None
Public Comment: None
The meeting adjourned at 8:02 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Debra Neff