Macomb County commissioners appoint two to Veterans Affairs Commission, approve committee recommendations and resolutions

The Macomb County Board of Commissioners on July 24 appointed Manny Gonzales and Lance Pittman to the Macomb County Veterans Affairs Commission and approved a slate of committee recommendations and resolutions in unanimous votes.

The appointments filled two four‑year vacancies on the Veterans Affairs Commission; terms were described on the record as expiring July 31, 2029. Commissioner Howard moved to appoint Manny Gonzales and Lance Pittman; Commissioner Wallace supported the motion. The board voted 13‑0 to confirm both appointees.

The approvals came largely on consent. Commissioners voted to adopt the meeting agenda and to approve full board minutes from June 12, 2025. The board also received and filed a newly formed ethics ordinance work group and approved committee recommendations from Health and Human Services, Internal Services, Government Oversight, Finance/Audit/Budget, Public Services, and Records & Public Safety. Two resolutions were read and adopted: one opposing the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services’ plan to implement a competitive procurement process for prepaid inpatient health plans (listed on the record as 2025‑13775), and a second to approve legal services for the prosecuting attorney (listed on the record as 2025‑13699). All listed motions passed with unanimous tallies reported in the meeting transcript.

Why it matters: the Veterans Affairs Commission oversees county-level advocacy and benefit coordination for veterans. The ethics work group will review the county’s ethics ordinance and is expected to return a draft to the full board for deliberation. The resolutions and committee approvals clear items that direct county policy, spending, or administrative practice and were presented as routine or committee‑vetted actions.

Board action and context - Appointments: The board appointed Manny Gonzales and Lance Pittman to two vacancies on the Veterans Affairs Commission. The clerk announced there were multiple applicants; Gonzales and Pittman received a majority of commissioner votes in the board’s roll‑call of nominations and were then formally moved, seconded, and approved 13‑0. The clerk noted the two vacancies carry four‑year terms ending July 31, 2029.

- Ethics ordinance work group: The board approved formation of a work group to review the county’s ethics ordinance. Commissioner Romano moved to receive and file the item; Commissioner Grove supported the motion. Commissioners explained the work group will consult with the county executive and other countywide elected officials before returning a draft ordinance to the full board.

- Committee recommendations and consent items: Committee recommendations approved on the record included Health and Human Services items 10a‑10h; Internal Services items 11a‑11h; Government Oversight items 12a‑12g; Finance/Audit/Budget item 13a; Public Services items 14a‑14i; and Records & Public Safety items 15a‑15j. Each committee item was presented as previously discussed at committee and approved by the full board without additional debate.

- Resolutions: The board adopted two resolutions read into the record as 2025‑13775 (opposing MDHHS competitive procurement of prepaid inpatient health plans) and 2025‑13699 (authorizing legal services for the prosecuting attorney). Commissioner Kraft moved and Commissioner Wallace supported the motion to adopt both resolutions; the motion passed unanimously.

- Closed session and follow‑up: The board entered closed session to consider two ongoing legal matters: a Michigan Supreme Court case listed on the record and an appeal in the County of Macomb matter involving the prosecuting attorney and county executive. After closed session, the board voted to accept independent counsel’s recommendation regarding the Michigan Supreme Court matter; that vote was recorded as 12‑0 in the public minutes.

Votes at a glance (motions recorded in the public transcript) - Adopt agenda — Moved: Commissioner Ramos; Supported: Commissioner Wallace; Outcome: approved; Tally: 13‑0. - Approve full board minutes (06/12/2025) — Moved: House; Supported: Lacito; Outcome: approved; Tally: 13‑0. - Appoint Manny Gonzales and Lance Pittman to Veterans Affairs Commission (two 4‑year vacancies, terms to expire 07/31/2029) — Moved: Commissioner Howard; Supported: Commissioner Wallace; Outcome: approved; Tally: 13‑0. - Receive and file: Ethics ordinance work group (chair appointment and member list) — Moved: Commissioner Romano; Supported: Commissioner Grove; Outcome: received/filed; Tally: 13‑0. - Receive and file: 6 Rivers Land Conservancy and Detroit Regional Chamber presentations (items a and b) — Moved: Commissioner Grotz; Supported: Commissioner Lucido; Outcome: received/filed; Tally: 13‑0. - Approve committee recommendations: Health & Human Services (10a‑10h) — Moved: Commissioner Grotz; Supported: Commissioner Howard; Outcome: approved; Tally: 13‑0. - Approve committee recommendations: Internal Services (11a‑11h) — Moved: Commissioner Van Sickle; Supported: Commissioner Perna; Outcome: approved; Tally: 13‑0. - Approve committee recommendations: Government Oversight (12a‑12g) — Moved: Commissioner Haas; Supported: Commissioner Lacito; Outcome: approved; Tally: 13‑0. - Approve committee recommendations: Finance/Audit/Budget (13a) — Moved: Commissioner Kraft; Supported: Commissioner Haw; Outcome: approved; Tally: 13‑0. - Approve committee recommendations: Public Services (14a‑14i) — Moved: Commissioner Lucido; Supported: Commissioner Wallace; Outcome: approved; Tally: 13‑0. - Approve committee recommendations: Records & Public Safety (15a‑15j) — Moved: Commissioner Ramos; Supported: Commissioner Wallace; Outcome: approved; Tally: 13‑0. - Adopt resolutions 2025‑13775 and 2025‑13699 — Moved: Commissioner Kraft; Supported: Commissioner Wallace; Outcome: adopted; Tally: 13‑0. - Enter closed session (legal matters) — Motion and support recorded; Outcome: approved; Tally: 13‑0. After closed session, accept independent counsel’s recommendation regarding Michigan Supreme Court case — Moved: Commissioner Lacido; Supported: Commissioner Howard; Outcome: approved; Tally: 12‑0.

What commissioners said and next steps Commissioners who moved or supported motions briefly thanked applicants and staff and noted the ethics ordinance work group will seek input from the county executive and other countywide officials before drafting proposed changes. The county clerk’s office handled roll calls and the clerk announced vote tallies on the record. The board did not debate most consent items on the floor; staff and committee chairs told the board those items had been discussed in committee.

Ending The board closed its public meeting after completing the agenda, entering a closed session for attorney‑client matters and taking follow‑up action on counsel’s recommendation. The board’s routine approvals advance the county’s committee work and place the ethics ordinance review on a path to return to the full board for deliberation.