9.
Old Business
Committee Chairman Surges stated he recently sent out an email to Committee
Members referencing misinformation on the budgetary journey. The County has
financial challenges and the Board is doing the best they can to address these issues.
Surges explained that as a collective Board, they do not take the time at the micro-level
to manage funds. The County Board has ordinances, codification, and inconsistent
information. Surges stated that if Board Members spoke to different administrations,
they would find discrepancies with how one administration handles tasks versus the
other. He explained that the verbalized task of the Human Services Committee was to
clean up ordinances or restructure policies to make departments/offices procedures
more cohesive across the County. He spoke on the Equity Study. This study was a
much larger part of the plan to look at the financial cohesion of how the County sets
budgets. Surges noted that approximately 70% of the annual budget is salaries. He
stated that when changes occur it becomes important that the County Board passes
agenda items that go along with what was passed a few years ago. It has been proven
that often times it doesn't. These efforts of change are being put in a negative light.
Surges took the blame on not communicating adequately on where the Human
Services Committee is at in these processes. He suggested that a AD HOC or
Subcommittee be developed to help work through these issues in a more in-depth
matter.
ASA Frank advised the Committee that (Pierog arrived in-person at 9:11 a.m.) the only
restraint within the Human Services Committee is the scheduling factor. He noted that
the Human Services Committee could invite additional Board Members to their
meetings in order to discuss these matters, but the scheduling of the meeting would
have to change in order to have adequate discussions. Frank stated that the County
Board could develop an AD HOC or Subcommittee, as well. Another option would be to
bring these matters to a Committee of the Whole meeting. Committee of the Whole
meetings are to have all Board Members come together for informational purposes.
Surges inquired if it would be appropriate to send notice of a Human Services
Committee meeting for conversational purposes only. Frank explained that the Open
Meetings Act (OMA) requires that a meeting be noticed to the public 48-hour before the
meeting takes place. His advice is to set a meeting in the County Board Room with an
agenda listing select talking points and is post it 48-hours beforehand.
Surges stated that he has allowed these tasks/chages to paint HRM Exec. Dir. Lobrillo
as the bad guy. He explained that he does not want others to blame her or believe this.
He values Lobrillo's expertise, opinion, and guidance. The Committee appreciates all
that she has done. He apologized to Lobrillo if any extra pressure has come upon her.
Discussion ensued.
Surges explained that he would like the Human Services Committee to take a look at
where the County was 18-months ago, the goals that still need to be met, and clearly
identify objectives. This way the Committee could provide full transparency. Surges
would like to schedule a meeting to invite other County Board members in order to go
over the goals and how to move forward. (Allan arrived in-person at 9:20 a.m.) Further
discussion ensued on the proper way to move forward with revising County
procedures. (Lewis left at 9:57 a.m.)
