Full Commission
Wayne County Commission
Politics
Remote
Join meeting online: https://waynecounty.zoom.us/my/waynecountycommission
Check the source website for additional information
Reporting
Edited and summarized by the Detroit - MI Documenters Team
Note-taking by
Damien Benson
Medicare Advantage prescription drug plan for retiree stipend program approved. Commissioners seek solutions to illegal and unsafe uses of fireworks.
Live reporting by
Kayleigh Lickliter
Commissioners seek solutions to the illegal and unsafe use of fireworks.
Kayleigh Lickliter
@kayleighrenel
Goooood morning, Wayne County! š„ļø
Iāll be live-tweeting the Wayne County Commission Full Commission meeting today at 10:00am for #DETdocumenters
@media_outlier @BridgeDet313 @freep @PlanetDetroit @wdet @metrotimes @chalkbeatDET @MichiganRadio @wxyzdetroit @DetDocumenters
Iāll be live-tweeting the Wayne County Commission Full Commission meeting today at 10:00am for #DETdocumenters
@media_outlier @BridgeDet313 @freep @PlanetDetroit @wdet @metrotimes @chalkbeatDET @MichiganRadio @wxyzdetroit @DetDocumenters
08:27 AM Jul 6, 2023 CDT
Instructions to join the meeting can be found at the top of the agenda.
Additionally, meetings are (usually) live-streamed on YouTube: @waynecountycommission4711' target='_blank'>youtube.com/@waynecountycoā¦
Additionally, meetings are (usually) live-streamed on YouTube: @waynecountycommission4711' target='_blank'>youtube.com/@waynecountycoā¦
If youāre following along with me today, watch for a āšØā to signify the start of public comments
Note: there are *eight* public hearings on the agenda today for ordinance amendments that create county departments, repeal previously established departments and/or reorganize/revise the departmentās scope.
āšØā will signify the start of general public comments only twitter.com/kayleighrenel/ā¦
āšØā will signify the start of general public comments only twitter.com/kayleighrenel/ā¦
There was no audio on Zoom when the meeting started. I didnāt hear roll call but it appears that all commissioners are present today. https://t.co/FWlpbjeEWS
We are under unfinished business. As noted above, there are 8 public hearings on the agenda to create/revise various departments https://t.co/A0W6vgk2dQ
Rather than opening a public hearing for each ordinance, the commission took all of them up at the same time under one hearing. Nobody from the public was present for public comment. All 8 ordinances were adopted.
Now under reports from the Committee on Public Services. All 9 items were approved.
Note: there are 3 emergency contracts for various materials to ensure safety in pods D-H at the Division 3 jail. https://t.co/UncckRnAVN
Note: there are 3 emergency contracts for various materials to ensure safety in pods D-H at the Division 3 jail. https://t.co/UncckRnAVN
Two reports from the Committee on Audits were received and filed. https://t.co/E2D5d54Ynh
Two contracts from the Committee on Public Safety, Judiciary and Homeland Security were approved https://t.co/h6kydCN28W
Now under new business. Chair Alisha Bell said the executive office asked the commission to address two appointments today, rather than the usual legislative process which requires items be passed through committee. https://t.co/6CW2Vub8kw
Gregory Hurst Jr. is being appointed to the Director of the newly created Department of Facilities Management & Planning. Heās overseen 120 DPSCD facilities in the past.
Melissa Fernandez was the Director of the Juvenile & Youth Services Division when it was under the Department of Health. Sheās being appointed to Director of the newly created Department of Juvenile and Youth Services where sheāll continue overseeing a $100M+ budget
Both appointees were present and expressed appreciation for considering their appointments. Fernandez received praise from multiple commissioners for the work sheās done on key issues, including the juvenile detention facility.
Low and behold, an addenda was posted at some point between 9:00am and now. I was not aware until they showed an addenda on screen because it was not posted when I tweeted the link to the agenda. https://t.co/lYa7EKkW6C
Currently discussing a voluntary prescription drug plan for retirees covered under the āRetiree Stipend Programā.
The program is only available to retirees who are covered under the āMedicare stipend groupā
The program is only available to retirees who are covered under the āMedicare stipend groupā
The county is only a group sponsor for this program. Thereās a bit of confusion among commissioners and even commission counsel about what that means and why the plan wouldnāt be offered to all retirees.
From what Iām able to gather based on the discussion, the plan will be extended to other retiree groups if itās found to be beneficial.
Retirees that enter the program would be enrolling in Medicare Advantage which would limit their ability to go back to a supplemental plan (?). Iām having a hard time comprehending the jargon theyāre using and whatās the intended purpose is.
Last but not least, assuming thereās not another surprise addenda, is the re-appointment of Edith Killins and appointment of Ebony McCann to Wayne Countyās Department of Human Services Board.
Each county has its own board and the state administers each of them. The original purpose of the board, as described by Commissioner Tim Killeen, is to gather input from counties about various state health programs.
Commissioner Killeen noted that Ms. Killins has served on the board for approximately 20 years but he has not seen any other appointments or activity related to the board since he was elected (in 2007)
Ebony McCann is being appointed by the commission and Ms. Killins by the county executive. Executive Evans is able to appoint one more person to the board.
The appointments to the Department of Human Services Board were approved.
Testimonial resolutions were received and filed. https://t.co/lsTCSK1aNm
Now on memoriams. Chairwoman Bell shared a positive word about Ms. Ernestine Taylor who wouldāve been 101 years young this year. https://t.co/y4auo5Lhtb
ā”ļø Moment of silence was held. Chairwoman Bell acknowledged the lives lost to gun violence and offered condolences to the family of Wynter Smith.
šØ Public Comments starting now
There were no in-person or virtual participants. One email was recieved and read into the record that addressed concerns about a federal policy amendment they think would be unconstitutional.
There were no in-person or virtual participants. One email was recieved and read into the record that addressed concerns about a federal policy amendment they think would be unconstitutional.
And that concludes public comment. Now hearing remarks from commissioners.
Commissioner Raymond Basham addressed the difference between legal and illegal fireworks. Heās concerned that law enforcement isnāt monitoring the use of illegal fireworks (dynamite, M-80s, etc).
Chairwoman Bell said her neighbor started fireworks in the middle of the night. Sheās on board with Basham.
Vice Chair Pro Tem Sam Baydoun said firework activity was worse this year. He noted that kids in Dearborn were lighting fireworks into traffic. He said if anything can be done about it, heās in āfull supportā
Sounds like commissioners will be drafting a resolution that speaks to the regulation and/or enforcement around the sale and use of fireworks.
Commissioner Irma Clark-Coleman said she thought there were tighter restrictions on the sale of fireworks and asked who someone would call about pop up tents that sell fireworks. Sounds the type/volume/etc would be a factor in determining what agendy to call.
Commissioner Glenn Anderson is discussing previous debates around firework sales among state legislators. One specific benefit was the amount of money that flows into the economy by allowing the sale of fireworks. He mentioned taking the issue to the Michigan Association ofā¦ twitter.com/i/web/status/1ā¦
Commissioner Anderson also recognized someone (Nino) in the military whose headed to West Point.
Commissioner Kinloch offered a comedic break and jokingly motioned to end 4th of July
Commissioners introduced an intern from Northville High School. Heās also serving on the Youth Council.
Announcement: Applications for the Youth Council will be open in August and September.
Chair Bell invited commissioners to her annual legislative review outing at Hines Park this year. Various county officials will be there to answer questions. I didnāt catch the date (š¤¦š¼āāļø) and didnāt see it posted on her social media but sounds like itās in the very near future.
And with nothing further, the meeting adjourned at 11:12am! š
This concludes the Wayne County Commission Full Commission meeting on Thursday, July 6th, 2023.
For more meeting coverage, check out Documenters.org šš¼
For more meeting coverage, check out Documenters.org šš¼
Attachments
Agency Information
Wayne County Commission
The Wayne County Commission and its employees are the legislative branch of county government. The chief role of the commission is to adopt a budget and enact ordinances. The commission also approves contracts, appointments and rules. The money is spent and ordinances are enforced through the administrative branch. The $1.5 billion budget runs the county operations that serve the more than 1.8 million people living in Wayne County.
