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Commissioners approve extension of surplus office-supplies donation pilot; Grace Centers of Hope to receive leftovers
Summary
After questions about planning and approvals, the committee approved an extension of the county’s pilot free-sale of surplus office supplies. The program is scheduled for Sept. 16 and leftover items will be donated to Grace Centers of Hope in Pontiac.
Kelly (last name Humes referenced in the packet) told the committee the county’s first free-sale office-supplies swap was held last year, drew more than 29 attendees and redistributed hundreds of items from 12 departments. Staff recommended extending the pilot and holding a second free sale on Sept. 16 at the EOB Conference Center for county employees; leftover items would be donated directly to Grace Centers of Hope in Pontiac and distributed across its shelter, daycare and executive-office programs.
Kelly said roughly 10 departments were confirmed to participate in the second event and staff had worked with Neighborhood and Community Development to identify a receiving nonprofit. She noted last year’s leftover items were accepted by the “Selwyn Township Salvation Army” (as reported in the staff packet) and this year staff had a verbal agreement with Grace Centers of Hope.
Commissioners asked procedural questions. Commissioner Johnson said she supported the substance but criticized planning the event before formal board authorization; other commissioners raised similar checks-and-balances concerns and asked about outreach. Staff said communications would be coordinated with Human Resources and internal channels (digital signage and employee networks) and that data collection and metrics would be improved for the second pilot (itemized counts of items taken and donated).
Commissioner Taylor moved to forward the extension and recommendation to finance; Commissioner Smiley supported the recommendation. The committee later voted to approve the extension/authorization to donate leftover supplies following the free sale; the committee vote was 6-0 in favor.
Staff said that if leftover items could not be donated, the county would retain and store them for future reuse or disposal.
