Commissioners approve committee recommendations; board backs amended pay change after debate

The Muskegon County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 18 approved multiple committee recommendations and voted to amend a Ways & Means pay item after a lengthy discussion.

The board voted to forward and approve the community development committee items listed in the agenda record as CDFP25… (items described in the meeting record as “CDFP 2,502-01 through CDFP 2502-05”) after adding the phrase “subject to final approval by corporate counsel” for the Granite Canvas contract. The courts and public safety committee items (listed as CPS25/02/03 and CPS25/02/04 in the agenda) and human services item HS25/02/10 were also approved during the meeting. The transportation committee forwarded items (identified in the meeting record as TI205/02/08 through TI205/02/10) and the Ways & Means package (WM25/02-08 through WM25/02-16) likewise passed by roll call.

Most contentious was a separate Ways & Means agenda item identified in the record as WM25-01-06. Commissioner Matthew Herrmann moved an amendment to increase the proposed pay adjustment by 50% (the motion language in the record: “adjust the pay raise to an increase of 50% of what it is now”). After debate about the salary-study data and comparisons with neighboring jurisdictions, the amendment passed on a roll call (vote recorded in the meeting as 5 yes, 2 no). Chairman Nash recorded a “no” vote; the meeting record does not provide a complete unambiguous list of every individual yes/no vote beyond the tallies cited during roll call.

Clerks recorded that the committee-forwarded items were approved by roll call votes (the record repeatedly notes “7 yes” on several committee motions). Few substantive amendments were attached to those committee motions beyond the Granite Canvas counsel condition and the separately voted pay amendment.

The board also approved citizen appointments to various county advisory boards and commissions and adopted a proclamation under unfinished business as noted on the agenda.

Votes at a glance - Community Development: CDFP items forwarded and approved (record: “CDFP 2502-01 through CDFP 2502-05”); outcome: approved; vote recorded by roll call (majority affirmative). - Courts & Public Safety: CPS25/02/03 and CPS25/02/04; outcome: approved; vote recorded by roll call (majority affirmative). - Human Services: HS25/02/10; outcome: approved; vote recorded by roll call (majority affirmative). - Transportation: TI205/02/08 through TI205/02/10; outcome: approved; vote recorded by roll call (majority affirmative). - Ways & Means: WM25/02-08 through WM25/02-16; outcome: approved; vote recorded by roll call (majority affirmative). - Ways & Means (separate item WM25-01-06): amendment to increase proposed pay adjustment by 50%; mover: Commissioner Matthew Herrmann; second: Commissioner Hayes Camp (support recorded in the meeting); outcome: amendment approved (recorded vote: 5 yes, 2 no). Chairman Nash recorded a “no” vote. Final disposition of any downstream budget adjustments tied to this amendment was not detailed in the meeting record.

The meeting record shows the board debated the pay amendment at length, with several commissioners noting concerns about using limited or incomplete salary-study data and the need for prudent stewardship of taxpayer dollars. One commissioner argued raises previously approved for elected officials and staff made an additional change difficult to justify; another commissioner said the salary studies were rooted in data and urged adherence to study findings.

The board returned to the regular agenda after the roll-call votes and proceeded with liaison and appointment business.