ADOPTED - JANUARY 26, 2010

Agenda Item No. 42

Introduced by the Judiciary and Finance Committees of the:

INGHAM COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

RESOLUTION TO APPROVE CONTRACTS FOR ATTORNEY SERVICES FOR PROBATE COURT MENTAL ILLNESS MATTERS HEARD AT ST. LAWRENCE HOSPITAL

RESOLUTION #10-029

WHEREAS, the Ingham County Probate Court, in response to recent budget difficulties, seeks to reduce expenses wherever possible while maintaining services; and

WHEREAS, the Probate Court, by statute, must provide legal counsel to respondents in involuntary mental illness matters; and

WHEREAS, the Probate Court has for some time entered into cost-saving contractual relationships with a few local attorneys to provide mental-illness-related legal counsel services at St. Lawrence Hospital as part of a tri-county coverage of local mental illness cases; and

WHEREAS, the amount of $10,000 is a fair and appropriate amount for the provision of said services for an entire year, which for Ingham County represents 37 out of 52 weeks of St. Lawrence hearings; and

WHEREAS, the attorneys Michael Staake and William Metros have provided these services in the past, have rendered good services, are willing to continue for the 2010 year, and this Court is willing to have them so continue; and

WHEREAS, attorney Michael Staake is willing to provide said services for 25 of the 37 relevant weeks, for a prorated compensation of $6,756.75, and attorney William Metros is willing to provide said services for the remaining 12 weeks, for a prorated compensation of $3,243.25.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Ingham County Board of Commissioners hereby approves Probate Court’s legal counsel service contracts to represent respondents in involuntary mental illness matters at St. Lawrence Hospital for an amount not to exceed $10,000 for the 2010 Fiscal Year from the existing Probate Court Budget as follows:

1.  Attorney Michael Staake for 25 weeks - not to exceed $6,756.75; and

2.  Attorney William Metros for 12 weeks - not to exceed $3,243.25.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Chairperson of the Ingham County Board of Commissioners and the County Clerk are authorized to sign any necessary contractual documents consistent with this Resolution and approved as to form by the County Attorney.

JUDICIARY:  Yeas:  Nolan, Bahar-Cook, Davis, Bupp, Schafer, Dougan

     Nays:  None     Absent:  None          Approved  1/14/10

FINANCE:  Yeas:  Grebner, Tennis, Bahar-Cook, Schor, Holman, Dougan

     Nays:  None     Absent:  None          Approved  1/20/10