Administration and Information |
Services Committee |
Rochester Hills
1000 Rochester Hills |
Drive |
Rochester Hills, MI 48309 |
Home Page: |
www.rochesterhills.org |
Minutes
Jim Duistermars, Bob Grace, Barbara Holder, Brad Kinker, Pam Lee, Jane Leslie, Ashley |
McCormick, James Rosen, Camille Smith-Winberry, Gerard Verschueren, Jeff Wojcik |
5:00 PM
1000 Rochester Hills Drive
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
CALL TO ORDER
Chairperson Holder called the Administration & Information Services (AIS)meeting to |
order at 5:02 PM. |
ROLL CALL
Barbara Holder, James Rosen and Gerard Verschueren
Present:
Jim Duistermars and Brad Kinker
Absent:
Non-Voting Members Present: Bob Grace, Pam Lee, Jane Leslie, Camille |
Smith-Winberry and Jeff Wojcik |
Non-Voting Members Absent: Ashley McCormick |
Others Present: Council Member Ravi Yalamanchi |
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
2006-0289
Special Meeting - March 21, 2006
Special AIS DRAFT Minutes.pdf; Draft Resolution.pdf
A motion was made by Verschueren, seconded by Rosen, that this matter be |
Approved. |
Resolved that the Administration & Information Services (AIS) Committee hereby |
approves the Minutes of the Special Meeting of March 21, 2006 as presented. |
The motion carried by the following vote: |
Aye:
Holder, Rosen and Verschueren
Absent:
Duistermars and Kinker
2006-0376
Regular Meeting - May 9, 2006
Draft Minutes.pdf; Draft Resolution.pdf
A motion was made by Verschueren, seconded by Rosen, that this matter be |
Approved. |
Resolved that the Administration & Information Services (AIS) Committee hereby |
approves the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of May 9, 2006 as presented. |
The motion carried by the following vote: |
Aye:
Holder, Rosen and Verschueren
Absent:
Duistermars and Kinker
2006-0446
Special Meeting - May 23, 2006
DRAFT minutes - Special Mtg.pdf; Draft Resolution.pdf
A motion was made by Verschueren, seconded by Rosen, that this matter be |
Approved. |
Resolved that the Administration & Information Services (AIS) Committee hereby |
approves the Minutes of the Special Meeting of May 23, 2006 as |
presented/amended. |
The motion carried by the following vote: |
Aye:
Holder, Rosen and Verschueren
Absent:
Duistermars and Kinker
COMMUNICATIONS
None.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
2006-0119
Review of City Council Rules of Procedures
082406 Memo Holder-recap Art VIII Sec 6.pdf; 092606 Kibby |
suggestions.pdf; 080806 Galeczka Memo-misc.changes.pdf; 070606 |
Memo Galeczka - Written Comm.pdf; 030706 AIS Draft notes.pdf; 030306 |
Memo Galeczka.pdf; 020206 Memo Holder.pdf |
The Committee briefly discussed the suggested changes to Council's Rules of |
Procedure and noted the following: |
* The suggestions submitted by Mr. Kibby will be reviewed at a future time. |
* Mr. Rosen commented that rules should not be made too rigid to follow. |
Recommended for Approval to the City Council Regular Meeting
Member Duistermars entered at 5:12 PM |
Jim Duistermars, Barbara Holder, James Rosen and Gerard Verschueren
Present:
Brad Kinker
Absent:
2006-0377
Review of City Council Policy - Litigation / Public Hearing Policy
030706 AIS Draft notes.pdf
The Committee commenced discussion regarding the Litigation/Public Hearing Policy. |
Mr. Bob Grace, Director of MIS asked a question regarding a "list service" that is |
currently under review to be added to the City's web page whereby residents can |
register to receive email notifications on city topics. Since the City will have to pay for |
each list, the question is how broad or how narrow should the topic be for which |
residents can sign up to receive notification of when the topic will be discussed at a |
Council meeting. Currently, if the list is focused on one project, when that project is over, |
the list cannot be reused; the City would have to purchase another list. |
Mr. Rosen commented that Council has decided to continue with the current way of |
notifying residents regarding litigation issues. The Committee continued discussion and |
noted the following: |
* Some residents question why they are receiving an agenda in the mail because there |
is no explanation that goes along with it. |
* Perhaps it may be less expensive to use a standard postcard that could contain |
information stating something like, "... a possible litigation will be discussed by City |
Council..." and provide a phone number where they can call to find out the meeting date |
or more information if desired. |
Ms. Jane Leslie, City Clerk, gave an update that included the following: |
* A new ruling from the State of Michigan regarding if a mailing is to be made to an |
apartment or office building, the communications must be made with every unit and suite |
within that building. Due to the new ruling, the City's Planning Department's cost for |
postage and time involved in identifying the occupant of each appartment unit or |
business suite with respect to mailing notifications has increased significantly. |
* The Council Team maintain lists of residents who have requested to be notified on |
specific agenda items. The residents currently receive agendas for Council meetings at |
which the specific item(s) will appear for discussion. The most recent topics were |
related to the Hamlin/Adams area, Grand Sakwa or REI issues. The Council Team lists |
are combined with lists from the Planning Department regarding the same agenda |
item(s). Generally speaking, if an issue does not have a list of interested residents, the |
notice is published in the newspaper only. |
Ms. Holder suggested that it may be helpful to the residents, if at the beginning of a |
Council meeting, the Council President could announce any litigation issues that were |
set to be discussed at the next Council meeting. Mr. Rosen agreed that was a good |
idea especially if the item has been set for the next agenda. |
Mr. Grace and Ms. Leslie offered to investigate methods of using postcards that contain |
explanations for the notification in lieu of mailing meeting agendas to interested |
residents and also the costs involved. |
The Committee consensus was that no changes were needed for the Litigation/Public |
Hearing Policy at this time. The policy may be revisited in the future after Council has |
had a chance to use the suggestions made from this discussion. |
Closed
2006-0720
Request from Council Member Yalamanchi to investigate removing the |
Accounting Division from the Clerk's Department and moving it under the |
Mayor's Office - Finance Department |
Chpt VIII, Sec. 8.11 of City Charter.pdf
Chairperson Holder explained that Council member Yalamanchi was invited to the |
meeting to provide insight for the request to investigate moving the Accounting Division |
under the Mayor's Finance Department. Mr. Yalamanchi gave a presentation from his |
point of view and noted the following: |
* Section 8.11, paragraphs 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the City Charter speak to the Clerk's Office |
as being a strong legislative branch of the City which includes paragraph 10 referring to |
a "chief accountant". |
* The accounting function is typically an administrative function under the executive |
area and not usually under the legislative branch. This may be a "housekeeping" item |
that should be examined. The issue is not who currently is occupying each position but |
rather placing the accounting function under the administrative/mayor area rather than |
the legislative/clerk's office area. |
* Once an entity becomes a city, the administrative and legislative functions should |
mirror that of other cities. |
Ms. Jane Leslie, City Clerk, offered the following information about a township form of |
government: |
* Paragraph 10 contains the term "chief accountant" which is a standard term used by a |
township form of local government. Townships do not typically have a separate finance |
division under a township supervisor. The supervisor is elected as the chief executive |
officer and is responsible for the budget. The clerk is also elected and is responsible for |
accounting function to create a separation of duties and balance of powers. |
* Generally, cities usually have a finance division of some type. |
The Committee commenced discussion and noted the following: |
* Moving the Accounting Division under the Fiscal Department may be merely a change |
on paper. There should not be any additional salary costs due to the City already |
having a Finance Director. |
* If the original charter members' intention of placing the Accounting Division under the |
Clerk's office was to support some sort of vital "check and balance", then the it should |
probably remain where it is. |
* By having the accounting function separate from the budget function may be a better |
way to demonstrate the "checks and balances" to the community. |
Ms. Pam Lee, Human Resource Director, noted that the concerns regarding the current |
organization structure have been expresses by both the current and previous finance |
directors. |
The Committee consensus was to continue discussion at a later date along with any |
other charter amendment concerns and to invite the Finance Director to any future |
meetings to participate in the discussions. |
Closed
YOUTH COMMENTS
Regarding notification for public hearings, Ms. Winberry agreed that post cards may be |
a good way to provide notice to interested parties. |
Council member Yalamanchi exited at 5:53 PM. |
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
2006-0788
Review of Chapter 82, Personnel Ordinance Amendments
Agenda Summary.pdf; 12/13/06 Agenda Summary.pdf; Ordinance |
Amendment.pdf; First Reading Agenda Summary.pdf; First Reading |
Resolution.pdf; 111406 AIS Minutes.pdf; 12/13/06 Resolution.pdf; 0788 |
Resolution.pdf |
Ms. Pam Lee, Human Resource Director provided an update regarding the amendments |
being presented to City Council for their review and vote. She highlighted the changes |
and noted the following: |
* The personnel ordinance is the vehicle that provides rights and benefit provisions for |
to non-union employees. One of the proposed changes is to take out the reference to |
administrative and managerial employees and replacing it with the general language of |
"full-time non-union employees. |
* The Personnel Board provisions are being updated to reflect changes in which |
employee representatives are appointed. It also provides the full-time non-union |
employees with a "just cause" status as opposed to "at will" status. |
* The provision for extending the probationary period has been updated. |
* More general language is being suggested to describe pension vesting which should |
allow pension plan amendments to be adopted to the Personnel Ordinance more |
concisely. |
* Any changes in the pension plan will come to council for approval in December. |
* Insurance coverages have been updated which includes reference to retirees as a |
group and provides for employee premium contributions. |
* A major area of change has to do with specific references to ICMA as the provider for |
the City's 457 Benefit Plan which will allow for competitive quotes in the future. |
Chairperson Holder asked for clarification regarding Section 82-64, paragraph (b) Plan |
amendment that reads: "The pension plan may, from time to time, be modified or |
changed by a resolution duly adopted by the city council or by collective bargaining |
agreement." The Committee discussed the meaning of the word "or" and asked that Ms. |
Lee provide more clarification when presenting the item to Council at the November 15 |
meeting. Ms. Lee agreed to provide more clarification. |
Referred to the City Council Regular Meeting
Enactment No: RES0011-2007 |
NEXT MEETING DATE
Tuesday, December 5, 2006 - 5:00 PM.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to discuss, Chairperson Holder adjourned the meeting |
at 6:10 PM. |
Minutes prepared by Denise Mertz. |
Minutes were approved as presented at the December 5, 2006 Regular Administration & |
Information Services Committee Meeting. |