To: Martin L. Cousineau, Finance Committee Chairperson
From: Nathaniel C. Perry, III, Chief Public Defender
title
RE: Approval of a request to create, post, & fill one (1) Secretary position at Genesee County's Public Defender Office; this position is fully grant funded
recommendation
BOARD ACTION REQUESTED:
Approval of request to create, post, and fill one Secretary position within the Office of the Public Defender; position is fully grant funded
BACKGROUND:
In 2008, the National Legal Aid and Defender Association published a report finding that the State of Michigan failed to provide constitutionally adequate defense counsel to those who cannot afford an attorney. In 2013, the state legislature created the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission (MIDC) to establish and enforce minimum standards for the delivery of indigent defense. As of October 24, 2023, the MIDC has established a total of nine standards for indigent defense. As a condition of funding, the Office of the Public Defender is required to remain in compliance with all standards and reporting requirements.
DISCUSSION:
The MIDC has continued to increase requirements for data collection and reporting to monitor compliance. The Office of the Public Defender will need to add a Secretary position to the team to aid in data collection, office operations, and maintain compliance with the expanding administrative responsibilities of the grant. The MIDC recognizes that the enhanced requirements will require additional staffing and provides all funding for this position.
IMPACT ON HUMAN RESOURCES:
The position will need to be created and posted.
IMPACT ON BUDGET:
Funding for this position is covered through the MIDC grant, 2921-283.00. All MIDC Grant funding is included in the FY24/25 approved budget. No County appropriation is required.
IMPACT ON FACILITIES:
None.
IMPACT ON TECHNOLOGY:
New staff will require the usual equipment.
CONFORMITY TO COUNTY PRIORITIES:
The Office of the Public Defender is responsible for providing constitutionally guaranteed, quality legal representation to all adults charged with crimes in Genesee County who cannot afford an attorney, embracing diversity, equity and inclusion in our daily operations. This position also conforms to Long Term Financial Stability as it supports the growing needs of the Office of the Public Defender to monitor grant compliance and continued data-based decision making and planning.
resolution
TO THE HONORABLE CHAIRPERSON AND MEMBERS OF THE GENESEE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
BE IT RESOLVED, by this Board of County Commissioners of Genesee County, Michigan, that the request by the Chief Public Defender to authorize establishing, posting, and filling one new Secretary position, said new position to be fully funded by the MIDC Grant 2921-283.00-702.000 and related fringe accounts with no County appropriation required, is approved (a copy of the memorandum request and supporting documentation being on file with the official records of the April 16, 2025 meeting of the Finance Committee of this Board), and the Chief Financial Officer is directed to record the attached budget amendment.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this Board finds that extenuating circumstances exist supporting waiver of the hiring freeze, and directs the Director of Human Resources to have the necessary personnel position number created, as necessary, for said position and to commence the hiring process so that the position may be filled as soon as practicable in accordance with County policy and any applicable collective bargaining agreement.