LEGISLATIVE AND HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE MINUTES. Tuesday, September 27, :30 a.m. Board Room County Administration Building

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1 LEGISLATIVE AND HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE MINUTES Tuesday, 8:30 a.m. Board Room County Administration Building MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Dan Koorndyk; Commissioners Marvin Hiddema, Tom Postmus, Art Tanis, Dick Bulkowski, Paul Mayhue, Ted Vonk, Harold Mast, and Nadine Klein ALSO PRESENT: Assistant Administrators Mary Swanson and Wayman Britt; Executive Assistant to the Board Jim Day; County Lobbyist Becky Bechler; Legal Analyst Sangeeta Ghosh; Management Analysts Darwin Baas, Jennifer DeHaan, and Matthew VanZetten; Human Resources Director Donald Clack; Human Resources Deputy Director Gail Glocheski; Fiscal Services Director Bob White; Facilities Management Director Bob Mihos; Undersheriff Jon Hess; Chief Deputy Tom Hillen; Lt. Randy Demory; Kent/MSU Extension Director Betty Blasé; Kent/MSU Extension Administrator Helen Gutierrez; Information Technology Director Craig Paull; County Clerk Mary Hollinrake; Sr. Administrative Specialist Pam Van Keuren Chair Koorndyk called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. I. PUBLIC COMMENT None. II. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES Mr. Postmus moved to approve the September 13, 2005, minutes as written. Supported by Mr. Mast. Ms. Klein moved to amend the minutes of September 13 to delete the reference of SB 694 in Item V of the minutes. Supported by Mr. Postmus. Mr. Mayhue stated that he will be voting no on amending these minutes as he opposed the motion at the September 13 meeting. Motion to amend the minutes carried. Ayes: Commissioner Klein, Hiddema, Mast, Tanis, Bulkowski, Postmus, and Vonk Nayes: Commissioner Mayhue Motion carried on amended minutes. III. LEGISLATIVE UPDATE PUBLIC AFFAIRS ASSOCIATES Ms. Bechler reported this is the last week the Legislature has to finalize the budget. They are focusing on finalizing budgets relative to the state police and closings of three posts which

2 Page 2 are now expected to remain open, and also the Remonumentation budget which the Legislature is expected to introduce legislation that will increase funding to this budget. The Legislature is also working on legislation relative to Small Business Tax (SBT) and the bond proposal/economic package. Workgroups have been created to address these proposals. The Legislature continues to work on the Telecommunication re-write, the Drain Commission bills, and also the eminent domain legislation. Ms. Bechler stated she will continue to monitor these bills and keep the County apprised of any changes that could impact the County. legislation. Mr. Mayhue asked for an update on Medicaid, mental health, and prison re-entry Ms. Bechler sated that the Medicaid and mental health budgets did not have drastic cuts as once thought. In an effort to reduce co-pays for Medicaid patients, the State is trying to encourage people to live healthier life styles which would result in reduced co-pays. Ms. Bechler will check on the status of the prison re-entry proposal. Chair Koorndyk thanked Ms. Bechler for the report. IV. COOPERATIVE EXTENSION POSITION CONVERSIONS Ms. Swanson stated approval is requested to recommend to the Board of Commissioners to convert one temporary part-time Clerk I (UAW 12) to a 1.0 FTE regular position and create the classification Cooperative Extension Education Assistant (UAW 12), and convert one temporary part-time Clerk I (UAW 12) to a 0.5 FTE regular position and create the classification Cooperative Extension Gardening Assistant (UAW 12). This request is proposed to go to the Board on October 13, A summary of the request follows: Cooperative Extension currently employs two part-time temporary Clerks I (UAW 12) to support 4-H and Master Gardener programs, respectively. Expansion of the urban 4-H program to twenty schools and requests to participate by additional schools require full-time, full-year support for proper administration and delivery of in-school, after-school and summer programs for Kent County youth. Coordination of the Master Gardener program and related horticultural programs and events, and training and direction for hotline volunteers, has also grown into year-round activities. The two temporary positions currently supporting the 4-H Youth Development and Master Gardener programs are no longer seasonal and should be converted to regular positions. Conversion of the positions to regular positions requires the creation of two new classifications to properly document the functions. The pay range will not be affected. The net addition to annual salary and benefits costs will be $26,853; the net addition to FY 2005 salary and benefit costs will be $6,197. Cooperative Extension is requesting no additional allocation of general funds to cover the additional salary and benefit costs. Cooperative Extension will fund the additional salary costs with currently budgeted contractual salary funds and MSU program dollars.

3 Page 3 If funds from the MSU 4-H program are no longer available to cover the costs of the positions, the positions will be reduced to fit within the County budget. The cost is $26,853 annually. No new funding is required. Mr. Postmus moved to recommend to the Board of Commissioners to convert one temporary part-time Clerk I (UAW 12) to a 1.0 FTE regular position and create the classification Cooperative Extension Education Assistant (UAW 12), and convert one temporary part-time Clerk I (UAW 12) to a 0.5 FTE regular position and create the classification Cooperative Extension Gardening Assistant (UAW 12). Supported by Mr. Bulkowski. Mr. Hiddema commented on the number of changes being recommended at a reasonably low cost to the County. Ms. Blasé explained that the success of the programs, the hard work of the employees and an increased workload has lead to these proposed changes. Ms. Glocheski added that the positions were initially hired as seasonal temporary employees and creating these classifications would document the functions of these positions versus using a generic job title. available. Mr. Postmus asked what would happen to the positions should the funding no longer be Ms. Blasé answered that adjustments to the positions would be necessary. Motion carried. V. SHERIFF DEPARTMENT SOCIAL WORKER I COMMUNITY RE-ENTRY CENTER CORRECTIONAL FACILITY Ms. Swanson stated approval is requested to recommend to the Board of Commissioners to approve adding one.5 FTE Social Worker I (UAW-19) position to provide expanded services at the Community Re-Entry Center - Correctional Facility. This request is proposed to go to the Board on October 13, A summary of the request follows: The Community Re-Entry Center promotes public safety by housing low risk offenders in a supportive environment to develop them into productive citizens through employment, education, vocational training and services as they transition from incarceration into the community. Included within the Community Corrections Comprehensive Plan is a request to fund one Social Worker I position at the Community Re-Entry Center for the period October 1, 2005 through September 30, The position will expand the services provided by the Center to include

4 Page 4 evaluating the suitability of each resident to participate in any of the Office of Community Corrections funded programs. Funding has been authorized by the Michigan Office of Community Corrections in the amount of $19,000 to cover the employment costs of one.5 FTE Social Worker I (UAW-19) needed to accomplish the expanded activities. The cost of the salary for the part-time position is $15,215, and the cost of benefits is $3,595. In the event grant funding is eliminated or decreased, the position will be eliminated unless continuation funding is approved pursuant to the Fiscal Policy on Grants. The cost is $19,000. Accept funds from the Michigan Office of Community Corrections to expand the Community Re-Entry Center services for the period October 1, 2005 through September 30, No County funds are required. Mr. Mast moved to recommend to the Board of Commissioners to approve adding one.5 FTE Social Worker I (UAW-19) position to provide expanded services at the Community Re-Entry Center - Correctional Facility. Supported by Mr. Postmus. Mr. Mayhue asked how this will be facilitated. He feels this may be difficult to accomplish because of the current job market. Lt. Demory explained the social worker position would coordinate with offenders and various service providers to identify various needs and services in the community. Mr. Mayhue commented on the difficulty offenders have in obtaining ID s which has become a major barrier in getting these people the jobs and benefits they need. He asked how this might be handled. Lt. Demory stated that the department provides transportation to the Social Security Administration and other agencies for people who need identification. He added that this Social Worker position could be an asset in assisting in this area as well. Motion carried. VI. MISCELLANEOUS Appointment Process Chair Koorndyk noted the deadline for accepting resumes to begin the review process for the various boards, committees and commissions is Friday, September 30. A subcommittee consisting of himself, and Commissioners Vonk and Klein will begin the interview process after September 30.

5 Page 5 Community Re-Entry Program identification. Mr. Mayhue asked how the County Clerk facilitates working with offenders who need Clerk Hollinrake replied the Clerk s Office has been willing to work with offenders to help them obtain proper identification and her staff has been instructed to work with offenders on what they need to do in order to obtain ID s. She added that the Secretary of State is also doing what she can to get these people identification as well. VII. at 9:00 a.m. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business for discussion, Chair Koorndyk adjourned the meeting ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVAL FOR DISTRIBUTION prv

LEGISLATIVE AND HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE MINUTES. Tuesday, December 13, :00 a.m. Board Room County Administration Building

LEGISLATIVE AND HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE MINUTES Tuesday, 8:00 a.m. Board Room County Administration Building MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Dan Koorndyk; Commissioners Dick Bulkowski Marvin Hiddema, Nadine Klein,