Board confirms standing committee rosters, fills multiple vacancies and appoints James Sasaki to Road Commission

The Oakland County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 13, 2025 unanimously approved standing committee assignments for 2025 (resolution 2024-4839) and confirmed a slate of appointments to boards, commissions and special committees (resolution 2024-4840). Later in the meeting the board confirmed James Sasaki to the Oakland County Road Commission following a separate vote.

The committee assignments resolution (noted in the meeting as resolution 2024-4839) was moved by Commissioner Brendan Johnson and seconded by Commissioner Luebz; the clerk recorded an 18–0 vote in favor. The broader appointments package (resolution 2024-4840), which the committee said did not include the Road Commission nomination in that packet, was also adopted after recorded votes (the clerk announced 17–0 in favor for that portion of appointments).

On the Road Commission nomination, the Legislative Affairs and Government Operations Committee recommended James Sasaki. Commissioner Johnson moved Sasaki's appointment; the motion was seconded by Commissioner Hoffman. Commissioner Penny Lubes moved an amendment to instead appoint Andrea Lalonde; that amendment failed on a 6–12 vote. The main motion to confirm James Sasaki then passed by a recorded tally of 16 yays to 2 nays.

The board also confirmed a long list of appointments submitted by County Executive David Coulter in a Jan. 13, 2025 letter. The confirmations included appointments and reappointments with specified term end dates for bodies such as the Oakland County Historical Commission (terms to Dec. 31, 2027), Community Development Citizens Advisory Council (terms to Dec. 31, 2026), Human Trafficking Task Force (terms to Dec. 31, 2028), Local Road Improvement Program Special Committee (terms to Dec. 31, 2028), the Special Committee to Study Road Commission for Oakland County Operations (terms to Dec. 31, 2028), Sanitary Code Appeal Board (terms to Dec. 31, 2027), Substance Use Disorder Oversight Policy Board (terms to Dec. 31, 2026), Oakland County Transit Ad Hoc Committee (terms to Dec. 31, 2028), and the Oakland County Safer Communities Ad Hoc Committee (terms to Dec. 31, 2028). The clerk noted the confirmations were recorded as unanimous for the listed items.

The board also received communications from County Executive David Coulter notifying the board of multiple appointments, including the appointment of James Crisbrook to the Oakland County Art Institute Authority and the reappointment of Dr. Dragovic as county medical examiner; Coulter's letter said the medical examiner's confirmation is required by Public Act 181 of 1953. The board motion to receive and file the communications was adopted unanimously.

Ending: The confirmations fill vacancies across county advisory bodies and set leadership for committees in 2025; the Road Commission appointment will take effect immediately following the board's confirmation.