By Chad Selweski, Macomb Daily Staff Writer

The Macomb County Charter Commission will entrust a small committee of about a half-dozen members to tackle some of the thorniest political issues that will be written into Macomb's first constitution.

The 26-member Charter Commission voted this week to create a committee that will make recommendations on the power-sharing relationship between the elected county executive and the elected Board of Commissioners. The panel will deal with constitutional issues such as checks and balances, veto authority, legislative procedures and the power of the "purse strings."

Perhaps most importantly, the committee members will recommend how much to shrink the size of the Board of Commissioners. By law, the "home rule" charter — essentially a county constitution — can reduce the 26-member board to as few as five.

Charter Commission Chairman Jake Femminineo had proposed separate committees

to deal with executive and board issues. But the commission voted to combine the two. Overall, the commission will have five working committees.

"If we have 20 committees or we have four, all of these decisions still have to be made by the full commission," said Femminineo, a Mount Clemens Democrat. "I just think the way it was set up was a little uneven."

Femminineo said he wants to put five or six charter commissioners on each committee, with very few serving on more than one panel. Because of the scope of the executive/board committee, Femminineo said he may make that panel a bit larger.

The subject matter for the other four committees are: departments — consolidation and streamlining the overall bureaucratic structure; ethics — rules of conduct for all elected officials and possibly all employees; budget/taxes — limits on spending and millage rates; and drafting — the actual writing of the charter into a concise document.

Femminineo will entertain requests from each charter commissioner and then choose a lineup for each committee, based on experience and expertise. The committee appointments will be up for approval at the Charter Commission's next meeting on Jan. 7.

In other action taken on Tuesday, the commission:

Set their pay at $50 per meeting attended. Under state law, charter commissioners can be paid up to $65 per meeting for a maximum of 90 sessions.

Created a special committee, consisting of 10 members, which will choose legal counsel for the commission. The special panel, chaired by Charter Commissioner Tom Rombach, a lawyer and a Clinton Township Democrat, will meet Jan. 5 to hear 5-minute presentations from the 15 law firms that are interested in the job.

Charter commissioners are encouraged by the interest shown, including from Miller Canfield and Butzel Long, two of the biggest law firms in Michigan. Some of the proposals include offers of some pro bono work. The special committee will narrow the field to five contenders.

At the Jan. 7 meeting of the full commission, 10-minute presentations will be given by the finalists before a firm is chosen.

Decided to continue holding its meetings in the Board of Commissioners chambers, located on the ninth floor of the county Administration Building, until other locations are given full consideration. The Administration Building is in downtown Mount Clemens at Cass Avenue and Main Street. Beyond its committee meetings, the full commission will meet every other week on Wednesdays at 7 p.m.

Designated the four commission officers to recommend a staff for the group. The commission will likely appoint an executive director and one or two assistants. That staff will have offices on the sixth floor of the old County Building, virtually free of charge. The officers who will make the staff recommendations are: Femminineo; Vice Chair Marilyn Lane of Fraser; Secretary James Kelly of Eastpointe; and Treasurer David Willis of Center Line. All four are Democrats.

With the assistance of the county Clerk's Office, the Charter Commission has established a Web page that offers phone numbers and e-mail addresses for each charter commissioner. The site also provides agendas and meeting packets for upcoming meetings, plus streaming audio of prior sessions.

The Charter Commission Web site may be accessed at macombcountymi.gov, and e-mails may be sent to charter@macombcountymi.gov. The commission is encouraging the public to contribute comments, suggestions and questions throughout the charter-writing process.

Tuesday's session marked the last of two organizational meetings, which means the clock is ticking and the commission has 180 days to complete its work. That puts the finishing line at June 21, 2009.

"People will remember that this process began on one of the coldest, snowiest days of the winter," Femminineo said, "and on a warm, sunny day in June it will be all over with."