Approved 6/6/01
Members Present: John Czarnecki, Curtis Hertel, Jr., Thomas Minter, Chris Swope and Calvin Lynch
Members Absent: Randy Schafer and Amy Krause
Others Present: Jerry Ambrose, Mark Grebner and Bruce Bragg
The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Czarnecki at 7:04 p.m. in the Personnel Conference Room of the Human Services Building, 5303 S. Cedar, Lansing.
Approval of the May 2, 2001 Minutes
MOVED BY COMM. LYNCH, SUPPORTED BY COMM. MINTER, TO APPROVE THE MAY 2 MINUTES AS SUBMITTED. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Absent: Comms. Schafer and Krause
Additions to the Agenda
3. Friend of the Court - Resolution Authorizing a Contingency Appropriation and Amendments to the Friend of the Court Budget for Leasing Office Space and Related Costs - This item was removed from the agenda.
4. Circuit Court - Resolution Authorizing the Creation of a Temporary Courtroom Clerk Position at the Ingham County Circuit Court - This item was removed from the agenda.
6. Human Resources - Resolution Approving Changes in the Managerial/Confidential Personnel Manual - This item was removed from the agenda.
8a. Substitute Resolution
Limited Public Comment: None
MOVED BY COMM. MINTER, SUPPORTED BY COMM. SWOPE, TO APPROVE A CONSENT AGENDA FOR THE FOLLOWING ITEMS:
1. Treasurer - Resolution to Enter into an Agreement with Certain Veterinarians for the Sale of Ingham County Dog Licenses
2. Health Department
a. Resolution to Authorize a Public Health Nursing Letter of Understanding with the Ingham Intermediate School District
b. Resolution to Authorize Seven "EQUIP" Special Project Grants with the Michigan 4C Association
5. Parks Department - Resolution Authorizing a Contract for the Purchase and Application of Liquid Chloride for 2001
7. Fair Board - Resolution Authorizing City of Mason's Request to Permit Placement of a Well at the County Fairgrounds
8b. Controller's Office - Resolution to Submit to the Electorate a Special Millage Question for a Countywide Transportation System Primarily for the Disabled and Elderly
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Absent: Comms. Schafer and Krause
MOVED BY COMM. MINTER, SUPPORTED BY COMM. SWOPE, TO APPROVE THE ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Absent: Comms. Schafer and Krause
8. Controller's Office
a. Substitute Resolution Authorizing an Appeal of 2000 Census Counts for Ingham County
Mr. Ambrose explained that changes were made to the original Resolution at the direction of the County Attorney. The Resolution has to be specific in terms of initiating a challenge. A consultant identified eight different locations that were suspect in regard to the census count. The consultant appeared before the Administrative Services/Personnel Committee to discuss this issue.
In response to Comm. Minter, Mr. Ambrose explained the County Attorney advised that specific information was needed to launch the challenge. Once the challenge is addressed, additional information may be added at that time.
MOVED BY COMM. LYNCH, SUPPORTED BY COMM. MINTER, TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AN APPEAL OF 2000 CENSUS COUNTS FOR INGHAM COUNTY. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Absent: Comms. Schafer and Krause
c. Resolution Submitting to the Electorate a Tax Levy of .2425 Mills for Five Years to Offset the Required Millage Rollback of the Previous Voted Ingham County Tax Allocation Rate of 6.8 Mills
Comm. Minter stated he believes it is appropriate to approve this Resolution. However, the Commissioners should be prepared to hear concerns from the County residents.
MOVED BY COMM. HERTEL, SUPPORTED BY COMM. SWOPE, TO AMEND THE RESOLUTION TO ADD THE FOLLOWING WHEREAS:
WHEREAS, THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS HAS NO CURRENT INTENTION OF RAISING THE LEVIED MILLAGE ABOVE ITS CURRENT RATE.
Comm. Minter suggested the following language that is contained in the ballot question in the Resolution be removed unless it is legally necessary:
"(If approved and levied in full, this millage will raise in the first year of levy an estimated increased revenue of $1,412,905 in 2001)."
Mr. Ambrose stated he believes the language is required to be contained in the ballot question.
Comm. Lynch stated Comm. Hertel's proposed amendment should be reviewed by the County Attorney.
Comm. Hertel's proposed amendment was accepted as a friendly amendment to the Resolution.
In regard to Comm. Minter's proposed amendment, Chairperson Grebner suggested Corporate Counsel should review this issue. The Attorney should also be consulted on whether or not the future tense of the verb "will" in the phrase above can be changed to "would."
MOVED BY COMM. MINTER, SUPPORTED BY COMM. LYNCH, SUBJECT TO APPROVAL BY CORPORATE COUNSEL THE LANGUAGE "(IF APPROVED AND LEVIED IN FULL, THIS MILLAGE WILL RAISE IN THE FIRST YEAR OF LEVY AN ESTIMATED INCREASED REVENUE OF $1,412,905 IN 2001)" AS CONTAINED WITHIN THE BALLOT QUESTION WILL BE DELETED. IF NOT APPROVED BY CORPORATE COUNSEL, THE CURRENT LANGUAGE WILL BE AMENDED TO REFLECT CHAIRPERSON GREBNER'S OFFERED LANGUAGE. IF THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE, THE LANGUAGE WILL REMAIN AS STATED.
Comm. Swope stated he believes the language is required in the ballot question. He also stated it is right to inform the people of this matter.
In response to Comm. Hertel, Comm. Minter's motion was separated as follows:
MOVED BY COMM. MINTER, SUPPORTED BY COMM. LYNCH, SUBJECT TO APPROVAL BY CORPORATE COUNSEL THE LANGUAGE CONTAINED WITHIN THE BALLOT QUESTION: "(IF APPROVED AND LEVIED IN FULL, THIS MILLAGE WILL RAISE IN THE FIRST YEAR OF LEVY AN ESTIMATED INCREASED REVENUE OF $1,412,905 IN 2001)" WILL BE DELETED.
Comm. Minter stated if the County is going to levy the approved amount, the statement should remain in the ballot question. However, the County has indicated it is not going to levy the full millage and that there is no financial implication to the County residents. Leaving the language in the question will conflict with the stated intention. Comm. Swope stated it is legal taxing authority that a future commission could raise the millage at any time by a majority vote. Comm. Swope explained he does not intend to raise the millage rate. However, the County should be honest with the residents. The Committee discussed this issue further.
MOTION CARRIED with Comms. Swope and Hertel voting NO. Absent: Comms. Schafer and Krause
MOVED BY COMM. MINTER, SUPPORTED BY COMM. LYNCH, THAT IF THE ABOVE MATTER IS NOT APPROVED BY CORPORATE COUNSEL, THE CURRENT LANGUAGE WILL BE AMENDED TO REFLECT CHAIRPERSON GREBNER'S OFFERED LANGUAGE. IF THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE, THE LANGUAGE WILL REMAIN AS STATED.
This motion was accepted as a friendly amendment to the Resolution.
MOVED BY COMM. LYNCH, SUPPORTED BY COMM. MINTER, TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION SUBMITTING TO THE ELECTORATE A TAX LEVY OF .2425 MILLS FOR FIVE YEARS TO OFFSET THE REQUIRED MILLAGE ROLLBACK OF THE PREVIOUS VOTED INGHAM COUNTY TAX ALLOCATION RATE OF 6.8 MILLS AS AMENDED. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Absent: Comms. Schafer and Krause
Mr. Ambrose provided the Committee with a copy of some information which was included in the Law & Courts' last agenda regarding the Renovation project. The Law & Courts Committee reviewed the proposed renovation plans and also toured the new court facility. That Committee will tour the Grady Porter Building during its May 31 meeting. Staff is reviewing whether it is possible to develop another option which does not totally vacate the building during the renovation.
Comm. Swope stated he was contacted by an employee who is concerned that cubicles will be used by employees who meet with the public in a confidential manner on a routine basis. This is a valid issue. Mr. Ambrose stated this is an issue of considerable debate and is also an issue of expense. Circuit Court leadership has spent considerable time reviewing this matter. Current plans indicate that some juvenile court officers will be using modular furniture. Circuit Court leadership is comfortable with this arrangement. Changing this arrangement would have significant cost ramifications to the project.
In response to Comm. Minter, Mr. Ambrose stated the alternative to cubicles is private offices. Plans would have to be redrafted for the third and fourth floors. In response to Comm. Swope, Mr. Ambrose stated it is possible to have furniture that extends from the floor to the ceiling. He further stated the concerned employee may not be aware that there are several extra conference rooms included in the plans. Confidential conversations can be conducted in those conference rooms. Mr. Swope stated an employee may not always know that a conversation will take a confidential turn. Mr. Ambrose stated this is a valid concern. Employees should speak to their supervisors regarding their concerns.
Comm. Lynch agreed that the employees should consult their supervisors. It is not the Commissioners' place to address this concern. Chairperson Grebner stated the Board should ensure that the Judges will not address the Board next year in regard to needing private offices in place of the modular furniture. The Committee discussed this issue further.
In response to Comm. Minter, Mr. Ambrose stated he has a letter from the architect which states the estimated project cost is $8 million, including furnishings. There is no question that the cost information in the letter was an error. The County has no recourse on this matter. Mr. Ambrose stated he is not happy with the increased cost. The renovation project can be scaled down to reduce the cost. The idea of vacating only part of the building is being reviewed.
Comm. Minter expressed his concern regarding the no-fault approach to the project cost. The cost has increased by approximately 25% due to the inability of the architect to adequately prepare a financial plan. He also stated he wanted to know what the architect was planning to mitigate this circumstance. Comm. Lynch stated the County has not sustained any damages in regard to this matter.
In response to Comm. Minter, Mr. Ambrose stated he believes there is room to negotiate regarding the architect's fee for this project. Comm. Minter stated he may offer a motion to pay the architect the amount he would have received for the original $8 million estimate. Mr. Ambrose stated he understands Comm. Minter's concerns.
Comm. Lynch stated the County can save some money on the leasing and furnishings. Furnishings can be purchased on the internet for reduced rates. In response to Comm. Minter, Mr. Ambrose explained the current furniture in the Grady Porter Building is fully depreciated. The Committee continued its discussion of this matter.
Announcements: None
Public Comment: None
The meeting adjourned at 7:41 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Debra Neff