BOC News Briefs

BoC News Briefs

2012

11/20/2012	At its November 2012 full board meeting, the BoC passed a resolution requiring added detail for line items in the 2013 budget presented to the Board from the Office of the County Executive. The Board’s action requires that salary information for different employee classifications (managers and supervisors, professional support, and clerical) as well as information on fridge benefits and other categories be spelled out in the budget for all county departments.
10/31/2012	The Michigan Court of Appeals today ruled in favor of the Macomb County Board of Commissioners in the Board’s attempt to keep the county’s contracting and purchasing activities subject to public scrutiny, as outlined in the Macomb County Charter. A lawsuit was filed against the Board in early 2012 by the Office of the County Executive challenged the Board’s right to review and approve contracts, as stated in the Charter. In a May 2012 Circuit Court ruling, the court rendered Macomb County the only county government in Michigan without contract approval required from an elected governing body, thus allowing publically funded purchasing and contracting deals to be executed behind closed doors. The Board filed the winning appeal of this decision later that month. The Macomb County Charter, approved by voters in 2009, grants the Board of Commissioners legislative duties and oversight of the county budget.
9/28/12	The Board of Commissioners adopted a comprehensive budget for the county’s special revenue and enterprise funds for fiscal year ending September 30, 2013 at a special full board meeting Thursday. The county’s Special Revenue and Enterprise Funds take into account the use of revenue earmarked by law for a particular purpose, and the county services provided to the public on a user-charge basis. The Special Revenue and Enterprise Funds budget totals approximately $364.5 million, and includes approximately $200 million in Community Mental Health funding, health grants, Sheriff Department and Prosecutor grants, and Friend of the Court funding, among other areas. At the meeting, the Board also approved the Rules of Procedure for the county’s Ethics Board. The Macomb County Ethics Board was created by Article II of the Home Rule Charter of Macomb County in 2009 to ensure all public servants (elected officials, appointed officials, employees) and vendors doing business with Macomb County comply with all laws and policies of county government.
9/13/12	The Board of Commissioners voted at its September full board meeting to reject the proposed rules of procedure for the county’s Ethics Board on the basis of lack of clarity throughout the document. The Board asked the Ethics Board to include additional details and explanation of several points in the document, including the retention of records, forms and documents, and the specific inclusion of the Board of Commissioners as a county agency responsible for making policies and procedures. The feedback will be reviewed by the Ethics Board at its next meeting on Sept. 20 and re-submitted for consideration by the Board of Commissioners at a future full board meeting. The Macomb County Ethics Board was created by Article II the Home Rule Charter of Macomb County in 2009 to ensure all public servants (elected officials, appointed officials, employees) and vendors doing business with Macomb County comply with all laws and policies of county government.
8/17/12	At its August 2012 full board meeting, the Macomb County Board of Commissioners passed a proclamation claiming October 2012 as “Respect Life Month” in Macomb County. The proclamation was signed by the following commissioners” Kathy D. Vosburg, Don Brown, Jim Carabelli, Phil DiMaria, Roland Fraschetti, Ray Gralewski, Joe Sabatini and Marv Sauger.
8/17/12	The Board of Commissioners has proclaimed Sept. 11-17, 2012 Patriot Week, and September 17, 2012 Constitution Day in Macomb County. For more information on Patriot Week, visit www.patriotweek.org .
7/26/12	The BoC appointed Therese Wrobel and Michael Salyers to the Veterans Affairs Commission for four-year terms beginning August 1, 2012 and ending July 31, 2012.
7/26/12	The BoC issuesd a proclamation recognizing the Macomb Oakland Regional Center on its 40th Anniversary at the Board's July full board meeting.
7/26/12	The Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 154 presented the Board of Commissioners with a POW-MIA flag to be displayed in the Board's meeting room on the 9th floor of the County Administration building at Cass and Main in Mount Clemens.
6/6/12	Chair of the Macomb Orchard Trail Commission Troy Jeschke updated Macomb County Economic Development Committee on plans to re-plant vegetation cut down by ITC along stretches of the Macomb Orchard Trail last year. The first phase of the planting is currently underway at the locations which were impacted the most with clear-cut vegetation, and a fall planting schedule is also anticipated for the remaining areas. Among the trees and shrubs selected are species which will not grow to exceed height limitations imposed by ITC in order to protect power lines from obstruction. They include: Red Twig Dogwood, American Cranberry, Lilac and Nannyberry. For more information, click here.
6/6/12	The Macomb County Board of Commissioners is pleased and proud to honor more than 60 outstanding volunteers from in and around Macomb County at a special awards recognition ceremony June 7. See a list of honorees here.
6/5/12	The Macomb County Board of Commissioners' Justice & Public Safety Committee passed a resolution in support of pending state legislation banning the sale of K2/Spice and similar substances, classified as synthetic cannabinoids.
5/16/12	Macomb County Commissioner Joe Sabatini hosts a May 22 outreach for Macomb Township veterans in partnership with the Office of the Clerk/Register of Deeds Carmella Sabaugh, and the Macomb County Veterans Affairs Department. The outreach serves to connect veterans with local officials and make county services more accessible. WHO/WHAT: Active duty military, retired veterans, and their families can: Speak with Macomb County Commissioner Joe Sabatini about county government and have your questions answered. Speak with representatives from the Macomb County Veterans Affairs Department regarding the full range of programs and benefits available to them through the county. Find out about the new photo ID program offered through the County Clerk/Register of Deeds Carmela Sabaugh's office. This service is provided at the clerk’s office in Mount Clemens, but will be made available at the outreaches venues. Veterans must bring a photo ID and discharge papers. IDs are $10 and by appointment only at this event. Please call the Clerk/Register of Deeds at 586.469.7935 for an appointment. WHEN/ 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday, May 22, 2012 WHERE: Marvin Blank Senior Center 19925 23 Mile Rd., Macomb Township, MI 48042 (one mile east of Romeo Plank), Call 586.992.2900
3/24/12	The Macomb County Board of Commissioners approved the publishing of the Articles of Incorporation for a Macomb County Art Institute Authority. The next step will be the consideration of approval of the articles at the Thursday, May 3, 2012 special full board meeting. If approval is granted, seven-member authority would be formed to support the operation of The Detroit Institute of Arts, and the authority would be responsible for placing a request for .2 mills on the ballot for the voters to decide whether to assess this millage request for 10 years.
2/28/12	Macomb County Commissioner Don Brown invites the public to two informational forums with the Macomb County Department of Roads to report on this year’s construction program, road funding, and issues related to roads in northern Macomb County. Staff from the Department of Roads will be on hand to answer questions from the public and hear any concerns specific to the area. Questions on the events should be directed to Commissioner Don Brown at (586)469-5125. 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday, March 6, 2012, Washington Township Hall, 57900 Van Dyke, Washington, MI 48094 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday, March 20, 2012, Knights of Columbus Creek Center, 72025 North Avenue, Armada, MI 48005 The public and local media are encouraged to attend each event.
2/23/12	The Macomb County Board of Commissioners has voted to override executive vetoes of both the contracting policy and procurement ordinances adopted by the Board January 26. The 10-3 override votes occurred during the Board’s monthly meeting on February 23. Commissioners Phil DiMaria, Marvin Sauger and Bob Smith opposed the override. The policies in question promote fiscal responsibility and sound purchasing policies while continuing the commitment to, and practice of, transparent government, Board of Commissioners Chair Kathy D. Vosburg said. “We have a right and responsibility to fulfill our duties as outlined by the county charter,” Vosburg said. “As public representatives, it is incumbent upon us to exercise and enforce the checks and balances and transparency in government that our constituents expect and the charter authorizes.”
2/17/12	Monique Stanton, the new President/CEO of CARE of Southeastern Michigan will speak at a meeting of the Macomb County Health and Human Services Committee at 9 a.m. Tuesday. CARE’s mission is to educate, link and support individuals, families, businesses and communities affected by family concerns, workplace challenges, mental health conditions and the misuse of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. Ms. Stanton will provide an overview of county trends and CARE services. Macomb County Board of Commissioners meetings are held in the Board Room on the 9th floor of 1 South Main, Mount Clemens. For more information, call 586.469.5125. The public and members of the media are invited to attend.
1/26/12	The Macomb County Board of Commissioners established both a contract policy and procurement ordinance for the execution of county business at its January 26 meeting. The pro-active measures were approved unanimously by the 13-member board. The comprehensive policies and procedures govern the awarding of contract in excess of $35,000 and cover the procurement and handling of services, supplies, materials, and equipment. In addition, thresholds have been established for sealed and comparative bids. Upon approval, contracts will also be posted on the Macomb County website at: (www.MacombCountyMI.gov) for public viewing.
1/26/12	The second annual AT&T Project ReDirectory phone book recycling campaign is now underway until March 12, with even more schools joining the contest to recycle outdated telephone directories this year! The program is a combined effort by the Macomb County Green Schools Program, Synergy Environmental, and AT&T. Three schools participated last year, collecting nearly 16,000 outdated directories (or 28.57 tons), and with three additional schools participating this year, organizers hope to exceed that amount. Schools will receive cash prizes based on the amount of directories they collect. The participating schools are: Carlton Middle School, 8900 15 Mile Road, Sterling Heights; De La Salle Collegiate High School, 14600 Common Road, Warren; Flynn Middle School, 2899 Fox Hill Drive, Sterling Heights; Holden Elementary School, 37565 Calka Drive, Sterling Heights; Pearl Lean Elementary School, 2825 Girard, Warren; and WCS Career Prep Center, 12200 15 Mile Road, Sterling Heights. For more information, click here.
1/19/12	The Macomb County Green Schools Program held its first Growing Green Schools workshop yesterday with a group of more than 60 educators interested in learning how to improve their Green Schools initiative, tap into additional resources, or even start a program at their school. The Green Schools program in Macomb County is facilitated by a partnership between the Macomb County Board of Commissioners and the Macomb Intermediate School District.
1/17/12	The Macomb County Board of Commissioners is pleased to announce that through the generosity of county employees, more than $18,000 was collected in 2011 through causal Friday fundraisers to assist numerous charities. The money was contributed by county employees who donated a dollar to wear jeans or casual clothing. Groups such as Meals on Wheels, Care House, Special Dreams Farm and Myasthenia Gravis Association are among those that will benefit from this effort. The initiative, sponsored by the Board of Commissioners, raised more than $16,000 in 2010 and has been helping charities since 1994.
1/13/12	Commissioner Toni Moceri will participate in a panel discussion on the changing geography of race and class in the Detroit region, hosted by U of M's Urban Planning program on Jan. 18 in Ann Arbor. Moceri will be speaking as an expert in public service in an increasingly diverse inner-ring suburb, and her efforts to engage young minds in public service.
1/11/12	Board Chair Kathy D. Vosburg applauded the results of the Macomb Business Climate Survey released today by the Department of Planning and Economic Development. The survey reflects the opinions of 551 people who reported their perceptions about Macomb County’s business environment. For example: "Over 80% report that current business conditions are equal to or better than they were at this time last year; 40% report revenue growth and improved bottom lines compared to last year." "Overall, the survey reports an optimistic business community, and that is key to driving success of the business climate in Macomb County for 2012," Vosburg said. View the survey.
1/10/12	The BoC this morning voted that members Marv Sauger (Vice-Chair) & Fred Miller (Sergeant-at-Arms) continue in their respective supporting officer roles for 2012.
1/10/12	The Board Operations Committee this morning heard an informational report from the Board's independent counsel regarding ongoing talks with the Office of the County Executive (OCE) regarding the right to review and approve county contracts. Talks continue, but attorney Andrew Richner told the committee "We've come a long way from where we were in this process."