MCSSA DISTRICT IV
MEETING
Hosted by
at the
Clifford Lake Inn,
Philip Larson,
Director of Ionia/Montcalm DHS, welcomed District IV MCSSA/ MCSSW
representatives and board members.
Introductions were made. The two
groups (MCSSA and MCSSW) conducted business meetings in the morning and
reconvened for lunch.
Guest Speaker: Donald Mussen,
Director, Income Support Programs,
Topic: Changes in Income Support Programs. (Note:
Due to a scheduling conflict, the guest speaker was unable to arrive
timely for the afternoon session.)
I. Meeting Called to Order at
II. Agenda Update/Announcements
Introductions
were made. Mr. Bortz
asked that the MCSSA financial situation be added to the agenda. Ms. Bailey-Carman noted that it would be
added under the Executive Committee Report.
III. Disposition of Minutes
Moved
by Jay Bortz and supported by Philip Larson to
approve the minutes of the
IV. Committee Reports
A. Adult
and Health Services – Liz Krause
The
next meeting is scheduled for Monday, September 26.
B. Automated Systems – Louise Wing
Ms.
Wing shared that meetings had been suspended during the summer months. Meetings will resume this fall. Two field trips are tentatively planned. The first is to look at Document Imaging (currently
in use at Office of Personnel Services).
The second is boiling down PEM and PAM into
yes or no decision trees. There is a
group that is currently working on this, and the committee wants to meet with
them to see how the process is supposed to work.
C. Child and Family Services – Jay Bortz
Mr.
Bortz noted that the committee was scheduled to meet
the following week. However, as no
copies of legislation have been sent to the members for review, he will suggest
to them that the meeting not be held. A
brief discussion was also held on LEIN checks for
foster parents.
D. Conference Planning
No
one from District IV is on the committee.
Ms. Bailey-Carman and Mr. Larson shared information on the sites of
upcoming conferences. They are: 2006 Annual Conference/Bay City, 2007/
Frankenmuth, and 2008/Pontiac. Mid-Year
Legislative Conferences for 2006 and 2007 will be held at the Lansing Radisson.
E. Standard of Living/Housing/Employment
Programs – No report.
F. Constitution, Bylaws, and Platform – Susan
Bailey-Carman
Ms.
Bailey-Carman reported that many of the constitutional and bylaws changes were
taken care of at last year’s summer conference.
Anyone having suggestions for new changes should forward them to the
MCSSA office. Ms.
Bailey-Carman and Lloyd Fett Co-Chair the committee.
G. Scholarship Committee
Ms.
Bailey-Carman shared that four scholarships were awarded at the summer
conference. Unfortunately, none of the
recipients were able to attend the President’s Banquet.
H. Planning and Development – Jay Bortz
A
lot of work was done to tighten up MCSSA staff positions, rules, and the
issuance of payments. The Strategic Plan
for the association was reviewed as well.
I. Nominating Committee – No report.
V. Chair Reports
A. Executive
Committee
Ms.
Bailey-Carman and Jay Bortz shared information that
was discussed at the Annual Business Meeting t the conference regarding budget
issues, dues, financing the association, and structure of the association.
The
Executive Committee recommended that dues be frozen at the current level, and
recommended a deficit budget (using approximately $44,000 from the reserve
account).
Members
were polled about increasing the dues and many initially indicated their
support. However, it was explained that
it would require doubling the dues for all 83 counties to meet the deficit.
Mr.
Bortz shared information on income for the association
from Michigan County Medical Care Facilities Council (MCMCFC). Presently, they are contributing
approximately $57,000 to MCSSA for representation. However, MCMCFC has given some consideration
to hiring their own Executive Director to provide them with representation with
the legislature and other entities.
Ms.
Bailey-Carman stated that the position announcement for the MCSSA Executive
Director’s position would be published that week on the website, an ad run in
the Lansing State Journal, and announced in the FYI publication within
DHS. Each district will have members on
the search committee. Either Jim Beach
or Mel Haga will be at the next District IV meeting for further discussion and
recommendations from members on the Executive Director position and the budget.
Information
was also shared about personnel policies and procedures that have been reviewed
and revised for all MCSSA staff positions.
B. Legislative Committee – Susan Bailey-Carman
No
meetings had been held since the last District IV meeting.
C. Board of Directors – Susan Bailey-Carman
The
outgoing Board of Directors meeting was held at the conference at Sault Ste.
Marie. After the business meeting, a
short incoming Board of Directors meeting was also held to set the dates for
future meetings.
D. Advisory Committee – Susan Bailey-Carman
The
October meeting has been canceled.
VI. Roundtable
Members
shared information about activities in their respective counties.
VII. Adjournment
The
meeting adjourned at