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Topic: Phil Shaltz- a county exec or a kingmaker?

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untanglingwebs
El Supremo

Questions about this agreement:

1. SHALTZ AND HIS COMPANY WANT TO BE A PARTNER-THAT IS MORE THAN A SHORT TERM ARRANGEMENT.

2. IS THIS A SNEAKY WAY OF SETTING THE STAGE FOR A NEW KIND OF COUNTY EXECUTIVE POSITION? If SO THEN THE CITIZENS OF THE COUNTY SHOULD BE ABLE TO VOTE ON THE ISSUE.

3. SINCE THE FLINT GENESEE REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WAS THE "NEUTAL CONVENOR" WILL THEIR MEMBERS RECEIVE A PRIORITY IN THE SELECTION OF VENDORS FOR THE CONTY AND THIS SOME KIND OF RECRUITMENT FOR THE CHAMBER?

4. HOW WILL THE ELECTED OFFICIALS OF GENESEE COUNTY ALLOW SHALTZ TO TAKE OVER THE FUNCTIONS OF THEIR DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED OFFICES. SOME OF THESE QUASI-GOVERNMENTAL OFFICES HAVE THEIR STATUS DETERMINED BY STATUTE. ARE THE COMMISSIONERS ATTEMPTING A COUP?


Last edited by untanglingwebs on Thu Apr 03, 2014 9:42 am; edited 1 time in total
Post Wed Mar 19, 2014 3:22 pm 
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo

Fonger posted the link to the proposal in the comments of this story below. It can also be found in the topic shown.

Topic: County-A no-bid contract to solve procurement!
Goto page 1, 2, 3, 4 Next


untanglingwebs
F L I N T O I D


Genesee County moves quickly toward hiring firm to look at goverment dysfunction
Print Ron Fonger | rfonger1@mlive.com By Ron Fonger | rfonger1@mlive.com
on March 12, 2014 at 6:00 PM, updated March 12, 2014 at 6:10 PM


GENESEE COUNTY, MI -- Flint businessman Phil Shaltz says he can save taxpayers money with recommendations for fixing a dysfunctional county government purchasing system and he's close to getting that chance.

The county Board of Commissioners gave initial approval today to paying Shaltz's HSS LLC $100,000 to evaluate the county's procurement process over a six-month period and make recommendations for fixing it, potentially starting a shared purchasing service that could also be used by other municipalities.

Commissioners split over the proposal, which was added to a committee agenda just before the initial vote today, March 12, after some board members said they hadn't had the chance to review the project proposal or consider any alternatives.

"I feel like this was crammed down my throat," said Commissioner Pegge Adams, D-Richfield Twp., one of three votes against the proposal, which could get final approval next week. Commissioners Ted Henry, D-Clayton Twp., and Archie Bailey, D-Flushing, also voted against the plan.

Six remaining commissioners approved the contract with HSS, and Controller Keith Francis said the current purchasing system is unstable and being circumvented by some departments in county government, which are making purchases independently and with no accountability.

"We have an opportunity for a company -- a very successful company to come in and do an analysis of our purchasing procedures compared to best practices," Francis said. "I'm in favor of going forward with this proposal."

Shaltz, a well known civic and business leader in the county, is the president and chief executive officer of Shaltz Automation, a managing partner for a number of downtown Flint restaurants, founder of the nonprofit Flint Diaper Bank, and a member of the Hurley Board of Managers.
Shaltz formed HSS in 1998 and the company's clients include General Motors while services include inventory management.

County board Chairman Jamie Curtis said the proposal from HSS came after hours of meetings and discussions about potential shared services for local communities -- talks that began in 2011 when former Lt. Gov. John Cherry and former Flint emergency manager Michael Brown led a study called "Future Genesee" that identified potential areas of cooperation and consolidation.

A directive issued by]Gov. Rick Snyder three years ago said Michigan communities must show they're willing to share services and be more efficient in order to get a piece of future state revenue-sharing.

George Wilkinson, director of shared services for the Genesee Regional Chamber of Commerce, said proposals for developing several shared services came from the Cherry-Brown "Future Genesee" study.

Wilkinson said the county has the potential for "significant cost savings" if it pursues a joint purchasing program with other agencies such as the city of Flint, Genesee Intermediate School District and county Road Commission.

"If we collaborate, we can drive down costs," said Wilkinson, who said discussions have also focused on the potential for a shared human resource service, tax services, countywide fire department and shared police detective services.

Curtis said the county has no choice but to look for cost savings in its purchasing because its property tax revenues may never rebound to peak levels and about two-thirds of county general fund expenses are fixed -- the cost of employees and retirees.

Francis said there is the potential for the county to save $2.5 million in general fund money if the county can trim 10 percent of its purchasing costs.

But Henry, who exchanged terse words with Shaltz at one point in today's meeting, said the $100,000 contract is problematic because HSS could end up bidding on providing the very service it ends up recommending the county use and because there was no effort to look at alternatives to today's proposal.

"I don't know how you do that and sleep tonight," Henry said.

Shaltz said he's offering his company's services only because he cares about the area and knows "we can save you money."

The HSS proposal says the company will "deep dive all departments" in the county, review purchasing requirements, identify areas where there are insufficient controls, evaluate vendor relationshjps, evaluate the current system, review current reporting and structure, and make recommendations.

"You guys are behind -- way, way behind. That's the cruel truth," he said.

Bailey said he might support the contract with Shaltz but asked for more time to consider the four-page document -- something Shaltz and other commissioners were opposed to.

"In government, when they say you have to do something right now, it's time to take a look (at it) from top to bottom," Bailey said.

Last edited by untanglingwebs on Wed Mar 12, 2014 7:18 pm; edited 1 time in total


Post Wed Mar 12, 2014 7:06 pm
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untanglingwebs
F L I N T O I D
Post Wed Mar 19, 2014 3:26 pm 
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo

County Manager or County Executive; Powers and Duties - Mich. Comp. Laws Section 45.558

Legal Research Home > Michigan Laws > Counties > County Manager or County Executive; Powers and Duties - Mich. Comp. Laws Section 45.558



45.558 County manager or county executive; powers and duties.


Sec. 8.

(1) A county manager or county executive shall:

(a) Supervise, direct, and control the functions of the departments of the county except those headed by elected officials.

(b) Coordinate the various activities of the county and unify the management of its affairs.

(c) Enforce all orders, rules, and ordinances of the board and laws of this state required to be enforced by his or her office.

(d) Not less than 90 days before the next succeeding fiscal year, prepare and submit to the board a recommended annual county budget and work program, and administer the expenditure of funds in accordance with appropriations. An elected officer or county road commissioner may appear before the board as to his or her own budget. Not less than once each year the appointed manager or county executive shall submit to the board a proposed long-range capital improvement program and capital budget.

(e) Appoint, supervise, and, at pleasure, remove heads of departments other than elected officials. The appointment of heads of departments shall require the concurrence of a majority of the county board of commissioners.

(f) Submit recommendations to the board for the efficient conduct of county business.

(g) Report to the board on the affairs of the county and its needs, and advise the board not less than every 3 months on the financial condition of the county.

(h) Perform other duties and activities as the board directs.

(i) Audit all claims which are chargeable against the county. A warrant shall not be drawn for a claim, nor shall the claim be paid, until the claim has been audited by the county executive, the county manager, or a designated representative of the county executive or county manager.

(2) The county executive or county manager may attend meetings of the board of commissioners, and may participate in accordance with the rules of the board, which shall allow for his or her participation.


History: 1973, Act 139, Eff. Mar. 29, 1974 ;-- Am. 1980, Act 100, Imd. Eff. Apr. 19, 1980
Section: Previous 45.554 45.554a 45.555 45.556 45.556a 45.556b 45.557 45.558 45.559 45.559a 45.560 45.561 45.562 45.563 45.564 Next
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Post Wed Mar 19, 2014 4:14 pm 
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo

(1) A county manager or county executive shall:

(a) Supervise, direct, and control the functions of the departments of the county except those headed by elected officials.
Post Wed Mar 19, 2014 4:14 pm 
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo

If I read this proposal from Shaltz correctly, his company believes it has control over the elected officials.
Post Wed Mar 19, 2014 4:16 pm 
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo

Businessman Phil Shaltz brokered Michael Brown's appointment as Flint city administrator


Ron Fonger | rfonger1@mlive.com By Ron Fonger | rfonger1@mlive.com
on February 11, 2009 at 10:00 AM, updated February 11, 2009 at 10:07 AM



FLINT, Michigan -- Businessman Phil Shaltz sat away from the fray Monday, saying nothing to draw attention to himself but possibly knowing everything about the behind-the-scenes events that led Mayor Don Williamson to announce his resignation.

Although details remain sketchy about private meetings leading up to Michael Brown's appointment as city administrator last week and Williamson's subsequent farewell, Shaltz was apparently right in the middle of it.

Flint Journal extras Man on a mission
• Name: Phil Shaltz

• Background: President of Shaltz Automation; a managing partner for Uptown Six investors.

• What he did: Brokered an agreement for Michael Brown to become city administrator for Don Williamson, setting the stage for Williamson to resign as mayor.

Brown and Shaltz acknowledged Tuesday that it was Shaltz, an influential investor and downtown booster, who approached Brown about three weeks ago with the idea of becoming city administrator.

After Brown said yes, Shaltz spoke to Williamson, who offered the top job in his administration to Brown just days before announcing his own plans to leave City Hall.

After his appointment, Brown initially declined to say who acted as a go-between him and the mayor, saying only that business people in the community acted in that capacity.

Sources say Shaltz, president of Shaltz Automation and a key downtown investor as a managing partner of the Uptown Six, had been increasingly seen with Williamson as he prepared to leave office.

Williamson announced his resignation Monday, saying his health prompted his decision to leave office. He also faced a Feb. 24 recall election.

Shaltz was there with Williamson on Monday morning before the mayor announced his retirement, according to one source who asked not to be named, and Shaltz sat in the audience during the mayor's news conference.

Shaltz initially would not comment on his motivation in advising Williamson about the hiring of Brown, but he said Tuesday that he was involved in talks between the two men and said the mayor "gave off a vibe" that he would leave office.

Williamson has not detailed why he chose to replace former Administrator Darryl Buchanan with Brown, turning over the reins of authority in City Hall to the former United Way official, but he has said Brown came highly recommended.

Shaltz apparently played a key role in that line of communication.

He said business people and others gave Brown "glowing remarks" as he advised Williamson.

"I had a request from the mayor, and I was fulfilling that request," Shaltz said of his role. "The mayor heard Mike Brown's name someplace and wanted to know what (I knew) about him. I went to Mike and said the mayor would like to know if you're interested in doing something for the betterment of the city."

Shaltz's behind-the-scenes work and Brown's sudden emergence as the new power inside City Hall raised eyebrows almost immediately.

The businessman has been active for years in community-boosting efforts such as the Crim Festival of Races, and he was among investors who tried to bring minor league baseball to Flint nearly a decade ago. But has not been seen as a key adviser to the mayor until just recently.

As a managing partner in the Uptown Six, he's invested in downtown's building boom. The partnership also has close ties to the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, which has spent millions funding some of the redevelopment efforts downtown.

A Mott Foundation spokeswoman said in an e-mail Tuesday that the organization, an anchor for decades in downtown Flint, was not a part of discussions between Shaltz and the mayor concerning Brown.

The foundation had increased funding to an arm of the Genesee Regional Chamber of Commerce when Brown was hired in November, helping finance his former position at the chamber.

State Rep. Woodrow Stanley, D-Flint, suggested Monday that the appointment -- coming just before Williamson's resignation -- raised questions about "who is calling the shots for the people of the city of Flint?"

The president of the Flint branch of the NAACP has suggested that racism could have played a role in Buchanan's last-minute removal as city administrator.

Brown is white. Buchanan, who was named to a new administrative post by Williamson, is black.

Shaltz said his discussions centered on Brown -- not Buchanan -- and said his goal in advising Williamson was simply to help.

"I've known the mayor three years or more," he said. "We both had to work together. We both want what's best for the community."


Post Wed Mar 12, 2014 7:37 pm
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untanglingwebs
F L I N T O I D


• Name: Phil Shaltz

• Background: President of Shaltz Automation; a managing partner for Uptown Six investors.

• What he did: Brokered an agreement for Michael Brown to become city administrator for Don Williamson, setting the stage for Williamson to resign as mayor.

Brown and Shaltz acknowledged Tuesday that it was Shaltz, an influential investor and downtown booster, who approached Brown about three weeks ago with the idea of becoming city administrator.

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Post Thu Apr 03, 2014 9:46 am 
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo

Word through the county is the move towards a county executive is continuing.
Post Thu Apr 03, 2014 2:14 pm 
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo

Wih all of the corruption in Wayne County and the possibility of a state takeover, a county executive did not do much for Wayne County.

Already here is a lot of corruption in Flint and Genesee County.
Post Mon Apr 07, 2014 6:49 am 
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