Approved 11/15/07
JUDICIARY
November 1, 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, Jane Martineau, Angela Tripp, Lori Pourzan, Shauna Dunnings, Carol Read, Maureen Winslow and Judge Lawless
The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Bahar-Cook at 7:34 p.m. in the Personnel Conference Room of the Human Services Building, 5303 S. Cedar, Lansing.
Approval of the October 11, 2007 Minutes
MOVED BY COMM. SCHAFER, SUPPORTED BY COMM. WEATHERWAX-GRANT, TO APPROVE THE OCTOBER 11 MINUTES AS AMENDED.
The Minutes were amended to reflect the following:
Page 2, item 2, second paragraph, first sentence: “Comm. Nolan asked about the number of teachers.” The sentence was changed to “Comm. Nolan asked how many behavior specialists on are the staff.”
Additions to the Agenda: None
Limited Public Comment: None
1. Judiciary Committee
a. Resolution Honoring James M. Wahl
MOVED BY COMM SCHAFER, SUPPORTED BY COMM. WEATHERWAX-GRANT, TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION HONORING JAMES M. WAHL. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
b. Resolution Opposing the Proposed Budget Cuts to Child Support Enforcement Dollars to County Friends of the Court Operations
Ms. Dunnings informed the Committee that the senate bill to restore the Friend of the Court’s funding has been approved. The funding is contingent on the State receiving specific funds from the federal government. Ms. Dunnings stated she is confident the State will receive the federal funding.
Mr. Neilsen stated this Resolution can be withdrawn. Chairperson Bahar-Cook stated the Resolution is withdrawn from this agenda.
2. Judge Lawless – Information on Drug Court
Judge Lawless stated approximately 80% all child abuse and neglect cases involve drug and/or alcohol problems. The Court applied for and received a training grant for a family dependency treatment court for child abuse and neglect cases. Judge Lawless then stated the implementation grant funds are not available. DHS has committed one case worker to the treatment court. Judge Lawless stated she will be the judge in this court. The Court has committed one intensive neglect worker to the Court. The first case was held last week. The treatment court will be held every Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. Drug Court is also held on every Tuesday.
Comm. Nolan asked how the cases will be prioritized. Judge Lawless stated she anticipates there will be more than 20 cases. Statutory guidelines do eliminate some people from the court. People also have to want to participate in the treatment court.
Comm. Weatherwax-Grant commended Judge Lawless for her passion in putting this treatment court together. She then stated if Judge Lawless needs some assistance, she should return to this Committee. Judge Lawless thanked Comm. Weatherwax-Grant for her offer of assistance. She then stated she will send the Board invitations to the first graduation ceremony from the treatment court.
Comm. Holman asked about the length of the treatment program. Judge Lawless stated the program will take approximately one year to complete. Some people will need more time.
3. Controller’s Office – Resolution Authorizing 2008 Agreements for Community Agencies
Mr. Neilsen stated this Committee has $44,650 for its Community Agencies. Legal Services of South Central Michigan has requested $50,000 and Sixty Plus, Inc. has requested $6,000.
Comm. Schor asked how certain agencies end up in specific Committees. Mr. Neilsen explained that the agencies are placed on Committees based on the services they provide to the public.
Comm. Weatherwax-Grant stated she appreciates the programming efforts of the two agencies; however, she does not know if they have any new and innovative ways to assist our community. She further stated she is compelled to redirect some of the funds from this Committee to the Human Services Committee to assist those agencies in meeting people’s basic needs.
Comm. Nolan stated many foundations are changing their philosophies of how they give away money. Foundations are requiring measurable outcomes from agencies that receive their funding. Comm. Nolan further stated she is troubled by tonight’s requests. The Board of Commissioners should create a subcommittee to refocus the County’s community agency process for 2009.
Legal Services of South Central Michigan - Angela Tripp, Lori Pourzan, Jane Martineau
Ms. Pourzan, Legal Services of South Central Michigan (LSSCM), stated LSSCM works closely with EVE and it serves 13 counties. The Ingham County Office serves 6 of the 13 counties. LSSCM’s staff consists of six staff attorneys, one grant manager, two legal assistants and between 10 to 15 law school students. The Office is currently at a full staffing level.
Ms. Pourzan stated LSSCM’s federal funding has been reduced. A main area of focus with LSSCM is domestic violence. She then explained the services that are provided in this type of case.
Ms. Tripp stated LSSCM assisted approximately 102 clients in 2006 with a 94% positive outcome rate for its clients. A majority of LSSCM’s funding comes from federal grants (40%), state grants (40%) and 20% from the County. LSSCM has started a Friends of Legal Aid campaign to raise additional funds to enable them to assist County residents.
Ms. Tripp further stated LSSCM does try to help people meet their housing needs. She then thanked the Committee for its past support of Legal Services of South Central Michigan.
Chairperson Bahar-Cook asked if LSSCM receives funding from other counties. Ms. Martineau stated LSSCM has not requested funding from the other counties in recent years. Chairperson Bahar-Cook suggested LSSCM seek funding from the other counties they assist to alleviate the burden on Ingham County.
Comm. Nolan stated LSSCM should show the other counties how they benefit from the services and then provide them with a targeted funding level. Ms. Tripp stated they will look into this suggestion. Comm. Nolan suggested LSSCM seek this additional funding before next year’s budget process.
Mr. Neilsen stated Sixty Plus, Inc. was notified of tonight’s meeting. He did not receive any notification today that they would not be present.
Comm. Weatherwax-Grant asked LSSCM if they have suggestions on how the EVE Office functions may improve. Ms. Pourzan stated LSSCM works closely with EVE. Ms. Tripp stated LSSCM has a meeting scheduled with EVE to discuss how to help cover the funding shortfall and how the two agencies may work together more closely.
MOVED BY COMM. SCHAFER, SUPPORTED BY COMM. HOLMAN, TO ALLOCATE $39,000 TO LEGAL SERVICES OF SOUTH CENTRAL MICHIGAN AND $4,000 TO SIXTY PLUS, INC.
Comm. Weatherwax-Grant stated she is very supportive of LSSCM; however, she stated her concern about allocating approximately 20% of the total funding amount to one agency. She then stated the allocation should be reduced by a few thousand dollars in order to recognize the current economy and to leave more money available for meeting basic needs.
Comm. Weatherwax-Grant suggested the motion be amended to allocate $35,000 to LSSCM and $3,000 to Sixty Plus, Inc.
Comm. Schafer accepted Comm. Weatherwax-Grant’s suggestion as a Friendly Amendment to his motion. He then asked for a recommendation of where the additional funding will be allocated. Comm. Weatherwax-Grant stated the additional funds should be allocated to assist in meeting basic needs. Comm. Nolan stated safety is a basic need.
Chairperson Bahar-Cook agreed with Comm. Weatherwax-Grant’s statement about allocating 20% of the total available funding to one agency. The local food bank needs food for area children. Comm. Nolan stated the Committee should be fair to the two agencies and give them notice that the community agency process will be different next year. LSSCM should be given a reduced funding target for next year.
Comm. Holman stated the Lansing Area Safety Council does not meet the funding requirements of the Juvenile Justice Millage. Chairperson Bahar-Cook and Mr. Neilsen supported this statement.
The Committee continued this discussion. Comm. Weatherwax-Grant stated the agencies are put on notice every year that the process will be different the following year. The agencies are aware the community agency funding is seed money, it is not ongoing funding.
Comm. Nolan stated she is not in favor of giving up community agency dollars to another Committee. Board Chairperson Thomas agreed with Comm. Weatherwax-Grant that the agencies are put on notice every year. He stated he is very comfortable with making a change with this year’s process by moving some of the community agency funding from this Committee to the Human Services Committee. This Committee can only recommend how the funds should be used.
Board Chairperson Thomas stated the Law Enforcement Committee should be informed that the Lansing Area Safety Council does not meet the funding requirements of the JJM.
Chairperson Bahar-Cook stated LCSSM was informed last year that it would need to seek other funding sources. Allocating $39,000 to one agency is difficult when there are so many other agencies in need of money. Chairperson Bahar-Cook also stated she would support allocating $3,000 to Sixty Plus, Inc.
MOTION FAILED with Comms. Holman, Nolan and Bahar-Cook voting NO.
MOVED BY COMM. WEATHERWAX-GRANT, SUPPORTED BY COMM. SCHAFER, TO ALLOCATE $36,000 TO LEGAL SERVICES OF SOUTH CENTRAL MICHIGAN AND $3,000 TO SIXTY PLUS, INC. MOTION CARRIED with Comm. Bahar-Cook voting NO.
Chairperson Bahar-Cook stated she would like to see additional cuts in order to help fund the other agencies which are requesting small amounts to help meet basic needs.
This Committee consented to move the remaining $5,650 in Community Agency funding from this Committee to the Human Services Committee.
Comm. Weatherwax-Grant stated the County should allocate Community Agency funding to those programs which can demonstrate measurable outcomes.
Mr. Neilsen stated the Law Enforcement Committee requested the County Attorney review the Lansing Area Safety Council issue. He also stated he would pass this Committee’s consensus to the Law Enforcement Committee.
4. Board Referrals
a. Resolution from Tuscola County Opposing Certain Changes to the Department of Human Services Budget
b. Letter from the Department of Human Services Approving the Amended 2006-07 Annual Plan and Budget for Child Care Fund Expenditures
The Board Referrals were received and placed on file.
Announcements: None
Public Comment
Ms. Pourzan thanked the Committee for its funding recommendation. She stated LSSCM will request funding from the other Counties that it serves.
The meeting adjourned at 8:42 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Debra Neff