The Public Policy Committee of the DeKalb County Board met on Monday, December 16, 2002 at 6:30p.m. at the DeKalb County Legislative Center’s Freedom Conference Room. Chairman Ruth Anne Tobias called the meeting to order. Members present were Pat LaVigne, Richard Osborne, Patricia Vary and Joseph Wiegand.  Mr. Pritchard was absent. 

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

Moved by Mr. Osborne, seconded by Ms. LaVigne, and it was carried unanimously to accept the minutes of the October 2002 meeting.

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

Moved by Ms. LaVigne, seconded by Mr. Wiegand, and it was carried unanimously that the agenda be approved.

PUBLIC COMMENT

No one was present for public comment.

NEW BUSINESS:

Chairman Tobias briefly explained what the duties are of the Public Policy Committee.  She stated that on the website it explains that this committee advises the DeKalb County Board in matters relating to its Legislative Agenda, Customer Service and Intergovernmental Relations.  She explained that some members of the committee go down to Springfield on “Topic Day” and that they communicate with local governments throughout the County.  One or more members go to city council meetings and explain what our committee does and listen to any concerns that they might have that relate to the county and how we might be able to help them. 

Chairman Tobias also explained to the committee that we work on the County Government Week Proclamation in the spring to help the public become aware of what the county’s various departments’ duties are and how they can serve them better.  Last year the committee also held an Essay Contest with the local middle school children on ways the county could improve their website.  Ms. Vary suggested that we might want to produce a 3-fold brochure listing the various county departments, what they do and possibly have something from Chairman Pritchard.  The committee could distribute them at the various city council meetings, libraries, or departments so that the public could see them and take one.  This would be a form of public relations that we could produce.

Another duty that this committee has is to suggest various awards that the county departments could apply for.  Last year Chairman Tobias had recommended one to Mr. Paul Miller, Planning and Zoning Director for DeKalb County, regarding the creation of the Regional Planning Commission.  They didn’t have much of a turn-around timeframe for Mr. Miller to write something up, but he did in one-day and the commission told him that he did not win anything this year, but to reapply next year (2003) for the same award.

OLD BUSINESS:

Legislative Agenda for review-set the date for legislative agenda breakfast.

Chairman Tobias reviewed the list of legislative agenda items for the committee to familiarize themselves with what the past committee members discussed.  After reviewing the list Mr. Wiegand stated that he would be able to support items numbered 3, 8, 11 and 10.  The other items he would not be able to support and that he would be writing a Minority Report on this.  It was agreed that items numbered 12 and 13 were federal items and not state so they would not be working on these items.  It was agreed that all members would work on a certain number of items from the list and contact the department heads that had recommended the issues.  They then would send their research list to Chairman Tobias by January 3, 2003 so that she could compile the final list to be presented to the full board for approval at the county board January meeting.

Ms. LaVigne will be researching items numbered 6, 18 and 17.  Ms. Vary will be researching items numbered 4 and 14.  Mr. Osborne will be researching items numbered 10, 11 and 15. Mr. Wiegand will be researching items numbered 3 and 8.  Chairman Tobias will be researching items numbered 1, 2, 9 and 16.

ADJOURNMENT

Moved by Ms. Vary, seconded by Mr. Wiegand, and it was carried unanimously to adjourn the meeting. 

Respectively submitted,

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                                                                                                Chairman Ruth Anne Tobias

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Mary C. Supple, Secretary