Oakland County Deputy Sheriffs Association General Membership Meeting Minutes October 26, 2010, at 1700 hrs Held at the OCDSA Union Hall Officers present: President Ken Hiller, VP of Patrol Services Arnie Terrell, Treasurer Dave Curtis, Secretary Jim Boomer, VP of Corrective/Court Services Dan Wait, Chief Steward Bill Christensen, Alt. Chief Steward Brian Partogian Officers absent: None Committee heads present: None Legal counsel present: Attys. Jim Moore Guests present: Angela Cusmano, Dahring/Zewe and Associates Call to Order: The meeting was called to order by President Hiller at 17:05 hrs. Angela Cusmano reminded members to frequently look at their allocations and to contact her for assistance with managing their portfolios. Angela stressed the importance of managing credit card debt by transferring balances to cards with lower rates of interest, if possible. Approval of Minutes: A motion was presented by Christensen, seconded by Hiller to approve the minutes from the September General Membership meeting as submitted. The motion carried by unanimous vote. A motion was presented by Curtis, seconded by Partogian to modify the motion to include the waiving of a reading of the minutes from the September meeting. The motion carried by unanimous vote. Treasurer s Report Curtis presented the treasurer s report. After some discussion, A motion was presented by Boomer, seconded by Christensen to approve the Treasurer s report as submitted. The motion carried by unanimous vote.
Officer s Reports: President Hiller: Hiller advised that a date of November 17 has been set for Corrective/Court Services mediation. The County recently filed for arbitration on the Patrol Services contract. Hiller advised that 15 volunteers were needed to man the polls during the Oxford twp millage renewal election. Hiller further advised that the Village of Oxford has submitted a proposal to Oxford Twp. To provide police coverage. Their proposed cost is 20% below the Sheriff s Office proposal. Hiller advised that in January we are facing up to 7 reductions on the Road Patrol. If Pontiac is absorbed by the Sheriff s Office, that would more than off-set these reductions and lay-offs would be avoided. Hiller advised that the Executive Board met with representatives from the Pontiac Police Union earlier in the day to answer their questions regarding the absorption. Their union will be meeting in the near future to take a vote on whether or not to resist the absorption via a court battle. Hiller advised that there will be a meeting in November with Command to discuss the use of reserves. VP of Patrol Services Terrell: Nothing to report. VP of Corrective/Court Services Wait: Nothing to report. Secretary Boomer: Nothing to report.. Treasurer Curtis: Curtis advised that there is a proposal going before the Holly village council that provides for the use of part-timers in Holly/Rose/Groveland Twps. A meeting is being held on October 27 at 1900 hrs at either the Holly Twp offices or at the fire department. Chief Steward Christensen: Christensen advised that the County denied the grievance on prescription drug coverage changes and that it will be forwarded to arbitration. Any members who have had problems with their prescription coverage should contact an EB member.
Christensen advised that any member wishing to serve on the Building Committee should contact him. Alternate Chief Steward Partogian: Nothing to report. Committee Reports: DSAM: Rami Abi-Adal reported to the membership regarding activity at DSAM. Abi-Adal reported that DSAM is currently in a transitional phase with new leadership. DSAM was instrumental is preventing the Michigan Sheriff s Training Council from using funds for things other than Corrections training. HB 6112 died without reaching the Senate floor thanks to Senator Mike Bishop. Rami advised that 58 seats are up for grabs in the November elections, and that there likely will be up to 2 billion dollars in cuts at the State level. DSAM recently stopped the State from re-allocating 416 funds to the Michigan State Police. The Trooper s Association has a well-funded PAC to fight this. DSAM s PAC advised that it could cost up to $16000 to fight this. Unfinished Business: There was no unfinished business brought before the Board. New Business: There was discussion regarding the formation of a Lay-off Relief Committee. The committee would develop ways to assist our members who are laid off. The primary concern is the continuation of health care benefits. The County has advised that the average cost of COBRA is $1000 per month per member. This would vary depending upon which coverage they had. Curtis suggested that the Christmas Party and the Summer Picnic be cancelled and that the funds allocated for those events be used to pay COBRA benefits. Jon Peters suggested re-allocating the money set aside to purchase retiring member s guns. Cavalier warned that a benefit like this could break the union as more members face being laid off. Curtis suggested that once the money was depleted, no more members would receive the benefit. There was discussion regarding the fairness of limiting the benefit to some members instead of guaranteeing it for all members. Abi- Adal suggested purchasing a policy that would provide laid-off members with basic insurance coverage.
The following election tellers were elected by the membership present at the meeting: Tom Cavalier Genefer Harvey Angie Morrone The committee welcomes any other member to assist with the election. Nominations were taken for the upcoming Executive Board election. Alternate Chief Steward Tom Renusch was nominated by Jon Peters, seconded by Angie Morrone Dustin Woodliff was nominated by Michelle Peterson, seconded by Jim Boomer Pat Weir was nominated by Tom Cavalier, seconded by Steve Erkins Sherry Locher was nominated by Rod Denmark, seconded by Dave Rheaume Chief Steward Brian Partogian was nominated by Ken Hiller, seconded by Genefer Harvey Steve McPherson was nominated by Dave Szydlowski, seconded by Benito Vasquez Rod Denmark was nominated by Sherry Locher, seconded by Dave See Treasurer Dave Curtis was nominated by Charlie Rash, seconded by Tom Cavalier Greg Sako was nominated by Dave Szydlowski, seconded by Tim Lanfear (DECLINED) Jon Peters was nominated by Tim Lanfear, seconded by Benito Vasquez
Secretary Jim Boomer was nominated by Bill Christensen, seconded by Brian Partogian Dave Szydlowski was nominated by Tim Lanfear, seconded by Hollie Spear Sherry Locher was nominated by Tom Cavalier, seconded by Mark Mackie (DECLINED) Dave Bach was nominated by Arnie Terrell, seconded by Katie Green Ray Kujawa was nominated by Rod Denmark, seconded by Tom Mance VP of Corrective/Court Services Dan Wait was nominated by Bill Christensen, seconded by Jim Boomer Tim Lanfear was nominated by Dave Szydlowski, seconded by Benito Vasquez VP of Patrol Services Arnie Terrell was nominated by Dave Rheaume, seconded by Rod Denmark Rami Abi-Adal was nominated by Steve Erkins, seconded by Genefer Harvey President Bill Christensen was nominated by Ken Hiller, seconded by Jim Boomer Rami Abi-Adal was nominated by Yassir Zora, seconded by Tim Rowbotham (DECLINED) Tom Mance was nominated by Craig Hanselman, Jr, seconded by Benito Vasquez Hollie Spear was nominated by Angie Morrone, seconded by Benito Vasquez
A motion was presented by Boomer, seconded by Christensen to close the nominations for office. The motion carried by unanimous vote. Adjournment: A motion was presented by Hiller, seconded by Terrell to adjourn at 18:01 hours. The motion carried by unanimous vote. Respectfully submitted, James A. Boomer Secretary, Oakland County Deputy Sheriff s Association