Genesee County Board of Commissioners 10-29-2025

The meeting opened with a critical presentation from Cara Ross, CEO of the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan, regarding the threat of SNAP benefit suspensions due to a federal government shutdown [5:3/6:01]. Ross detailed the vulnerability of the 88,000 Genesee County residents who rely on these benefits and emphasized the food bank's role in providing emergency support through mobile distributions and partner agencies 7:47.

The session included a lengthy public comment period featuring candidates for the Road Commission and the Genesee County District Library (GDL) Board, as well as a report from the County Prosecutor regarding recent homicide and felony convictions 36:26.

A major point of contention arose during the Government Operations Committee report regarding the implementation of a new policy to evaluate direct reports (the Director of Administration and Corporation Counsel) 1:22:34. While some commissioners argued that formal evaluations are necessary for professional standards and fairness 1:27:12, others expressed concerns regarding the timing and the potential for using evaluations to influence wages 1:33:55.

• Food Insecurity & SNAP Benefits: The impact of a federal shutdown on local food assistance 5:39.
• County Appointments: Filling vacancies on the Road Commission and the GDL Board 53:50, 11:15.
• Taxation: Adoption of the 2025 tax apportionment report 40:26.
• Personnel Management: Debating the implementation of performance evaluations for county directors 1:22:34.
• Law Enforcement Updates: Recent criminal prosecutions and warrant statistics from the Prosecutor's office 36:26.

• Delrico J. Loyd: Board Chair 4:11.
• Dr. Beverly Brown: Commissioner 4:11; provided the invocation 4:31.
• Dale K. Weighill: Commissioner; requested the Food Bank presentation 5:39.
• Cara Ross: CEO of the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan 6:01.
• David Leighton: Genesee County Prosecutor; provided updates on trials and warrants 36:26.
• Dr. Denise Smith Allen: Public speaker; candidate for Road Commission 27:10.
• Leah Johnson: Public speaker; discussed GDL Board vacancies 29:41.
• Brooke Ga: Public speaker; candidate for GDL Board 31:26.
• Joelina Sins: Mont Morris Township Supervisor; candidate for Road Commission 34:01.
• Commissioner Martin Kuseno: Finance Committee Chairperson 1:19:42.
• Commissioner Sean Shumaker: Vice Chairperson of Government Operations 1:21:29.

• SNAP Benefit Threat: The potential suspension of SNAP benefits as of November 1st due to a federal shutdown 6:24.
• Tax Apportionment: Approval of the 2025 tax apportionment report and related certificates 40:26.
• GDL Board Appointments: The appointment of Brooke Ga 11:23 and Jordan Johnson 1:17:52 to the GDL Board 11:15.
• Road Commission Postponement: A multi-round vote for Road Commission candidates ended in a 4-4 tie, resulting in the item being postponed to the November 12th meeting 1:09:33, 1:10:17.
• Staff Evaluations Debate: A disagreement over whether to proceed with evaluating the Director of Administration and Corporation Counsel 1:22:34.

• November 1st: Potential end date for SNAP benefits 6:24.
• October 5th, 2025: The date of the previous meeting minutes approved 25:43.
• November 12th, 2025: The next meeting date where postponed Road Commission appointments will be revisited 1:10:17.

• Food Bank Necessity: The food bank must increase product purchases (averaging $400,000 monthly) to prepare for increased demand 8:30.
• Incompatible Office Concerns: Discussion regarding whether candidates holding township positions could legally serve on the Road Commission due to potential conflicts of interest 56:39.
• Evaluation Motivation: Commissioners argued that evaluations are necessary for "continuous improvement" and to provide staff with professional feedback 1:27:12, 1:32:51.

• Cara Ross (Food Bank CEO): Provided an urgent briefing on the potential loss of SNAP benefits for 88,000 residents and requested community support via donations and volunteering 7:06.
• David Leighton (Prosecutor): Detailed a series of high-profile criminal convictions, including homicides and vehicular manslaughter, and reported that over 700 warrants were issued since September 1st 36:26, 38:38.
• Commissioner Wayhill: Advocated for the use of performance evaluations to ensure staff excellence and professional standards 1:24:03.
• Commissioner Kuseno: Expressed opposition to conducting evaluations specifically for two individuals at this time, suggesting that such processes should apply to all staff to avoid perceptions of unfairness regarding wages 1:23:18, 1:33:55.

• Approval of Minutes: Motion by Wayhill, seconded by Shoemaker; approved 25:43, 26:05.
• Resolution 2025-2579 (Tax Apportionment): Motion by Clerk/Council; approved 53:08.
• GDL Board Appointment (Brooke Ga): Motion by Chairperson; approved with 5 votes 11:23, 11:25.
• GDL Board Appointment (Jordan Johnson): Motion by Chairperson; approved with 5 votes 1:17:52, 1:17:58.
• Road Commission Appointment: After three rounds of voting ended in a 4-4 tie, the board voted to postpone the decision to the November 12th meeting 1:09:33, 1:10:17.
• Finance Committee Resolutions (1-3): Moved by consent; approved 1:19:42.
• Government Operations (Items 1-11): Moved by consent; approved 1:21:29.
• Government Operations (Item 12-15 separation): Separated for discussion; passed with dissent from Commissioner Kuseno regarding the nature of the evaluations 1:22:10.

• The "Incompatible Office" Issue: The legal and ethical implications of appointing individuals to the Road Commission who hold other township positions, such as Deputy Supervisor 56:39, 1:02:02.
• Direct Report Accountability: A debate on the scope of the Board's authority over "direct reports" and whether the Board should manage day-to-day activities or focus on high-level policy 1:25:49, 1:37:58.
• Evaluation Fairness: Whether evaluating only two specific employees is a fair practice or if it unfairly targets them in relation to wage discussions 1:33:55.

• Flyer Distribution: Commissioner Wayhill intends to distribute information regarding food bank resources to his constituents 18:22.
• Staff Evaluations: The Board will revisit the implementation of the evaluation process for direct reports 1:10:17.
• Road Commission Appointments: Re-evaluate candidates at the next meeting on November 12th 1:10:17.