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Commission approves Clemis participation agreement and $18,316 budget amendment
Summary
The commission authorized the city to join the Clemis authority, authorized the city manager and police chief to sign the form agreement, and approved a budget amendment; the city's FY26-27 share was identified as $18,316 and commissioners raised contractual warranty and data-responsibility concerns.
The Lapeer City Commission on July 6 voted to approve a participation agreement with Clemis (the county-level dispatch/records authority) and adopted a budget amendment to cover the city's share of costs for fiscal year 2026-27.
Commissioners and staff discussed contract language that disclaims warranties about uninterrupted or error-free service and shifts data-responsibility risks to the public agency. "The contract basically says the authority makes no warranties the service will meet public-agency requirements ... that the service will be uninterrupted, timely, secure, or error-free," Commissioner McCarthy said while reading contract language. She asked for feedback about those disclaimers and the practical implications for the city's data and operations.
Police staff and other officials described Clemis as an established product used regionally for about 15 years and central to dispatch and records operations. Chief Howe and a staff member said Clemis has been an "invaluable part of law enforcement," and that alternatives are limited. Staff explained the budget amendment was necessary this year because central dispatch historically absorbed some vehicle/MDC costs but had shifted the costs to participating departments; staff identified the city's annual payment for FY26-27 as $18,316.
City attorney and contract reviewers noted the agreement resembles prior contracts municipal clients have used; they said many IT/dispatch contracts include similar limitation-of-liability and warranty language, though commissioners pressed for clarity on the exact cost schedule and how increases are applied.
After discussion the commission approved the agreement, authorized the city manager and police chief to sign on behalf of the city, and adopted the presented budget amendment.
What's next: The city manager and police chief will sign the participation agreement; staff will monitor fee schedule changes and report back on material contract changes.
