Genesee County Board of Commissioners 11-12-2025

The meeting of the Genesee County Board of Commissioners addressed several contentious issues regarding local governance, specifically focusing on appointments and compensation. The session began with public comments regarding compensation transparency in Clayton Township 6:55 and a briefing on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Commission's appointment process 10:07.

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to Resolution 2025-2635, concerning an appointment to the County Road Commission. After candidate Frederick Caruso withdrew his name due to an incompatible office 14:42, the Board debated whether to proceed with the remaining finalist or restart the entire nomination process 17:08. Ultimately, the Board voted to restart the nomination process 35:23 before officially appointing Denise Smith Allen 37:32.

The Finance Committee presented several high-stakes resolutions regarding non-wage fringe benefits and wages for elected and non-union employees 1:03:58. This led to heated debates over establishing a "salary floor" for department heads, with proposals ranging from $90,000 2:14:04 to $101,000 1:19:16. While the Board rejected a $90,000 minimum 2:15:53, they did approve various amendments to specific roles within the Sheriff's department 1:18:56 and a 2% increase for several underpaid director positions 1:37:21.

• County Road Commission Appointments: Resolution and process regarding the vacancy following a candidate's withdrawal 13:17.
• DEI Commission Appointment Process: Aligning the DEI Commission's application process with standard County procedures 10:07.
• Department Head Compensation: Debates over establishing a minimum salary floor and addressing pay inequities among directors 1:19:16.
• Sheriff’s Department Wage Adjustments: Amendments to the wages of the Emergency Manager, Major, and Under Sheriff 1:12:24.
• Non-Union Employee Benefits: Adjustments to fringe benefits and one-time payments for various county positions 1:06:47.

• Delrico J. Loyd (Commissioner): Participated in roll call and voting 4:47.
• Charles H. Winfrey (Commissioner): Participated in discussions regarding DEI and department head wages 4:47.
• Gary L. Goetzinger (Commissioner): Participated in roll call and voting 4:47.
• Dr. Beverly Brown (Commissioner): Proposed a $90,000 salary minimum for department heads 2:14:04.
• James Avery (Commissioner): Provided the invocation 5:07 and participated in voting 4:47.
• Shaun Shumaker (Commissioner): Provided public comment 6:55 and introduced several resolutions 37:54.
• Martin L. Cousineau (Commissioner): Participated in the appointment process debate 4:47.
• Dale K. Weighill (Commissioner): Participated in discussions regarding appointment vetting 17:08.
• Brian K. Flewelling (Commissioner): Moved to approve previous meeting minutes 6:13.
• Rod Shoemaker (Public Speaker): Former Supervisor; raised concerns about Clayton Township compensation 6:55.
• Elizabeth Jordan (Public Speaker): Chair of the Genesee County DEI Commission; briefed the board on appointment processes 10:07.
• Frederick Caruso (Candidate): Withdrew from Road Commission consideration due to incompatible office 15:03.
• Denise Smith Allen (Appointee): Appointed to the County Road Commission 37:32.

• Approval of Minutes: The Board approved the minutes from the previous meeting 6:13.
• Resolution 2025-2635: The Board initially debated the appointment to the Road Commission, eventually voting to restart the nomination process 35:23 and subsequently appointing Denise Smith Allen 37:32.
• Resolution 2025-2650: Approval to clarify appointments to the County Road Commission 37:54.
• Resolution 2025-2651: Approval to update the appointment process for the DEI Commission 38:37.
• Resolution 2025-26070: Approval of non-wage fringe benefits and wage changes for elected and non-union employees, including amendments for the Sheriff's department 1:06:47.
• Adoption of Volunteer Days Policy: Approval of a policy for employees to utilize volunteer days 2:29:06.

• Appointment Deadline (Road Commission): Term expires 12/31/2027 13:17.
• Evaluation Period: The Board intends to evaluate department head salaries and DEI processes in the first quarter of the next year 1:25:58.

• Incompatible Office: Frederick Caruso withdrew because he was unwilling to relinquish his Deputy Supervisor position 14:42.
• Pay Equity: Commissioner Brown and others argued for higher minimums to address disparities where some directors earn significantly less than their subordinates or other department heads 1:36:36.
• Fiscal Responsibility: Commissioner Shumaker and others expressed concerns about the financial impact of broad wage increases and the necessity of staying within budget 2:07:16.

• Previous Meeting Minutes: Moved by Flewelling, supported by Shoemaker. Passed 6:13.
• Restarting Road Commission Nominations: Moved by Kusenol, supported by Gatsinger. Passed 35:23.
• Appointment of Denise Smith Allen (Road Commission):
  • Roll Call:
    • Yes: Lloyd, Winfrey, Brown, Avery, Kuzno, Weighill, Allen.
    • No: Gatsinger, Shoemaker, Flewelling, Piles.
  • Result: 5 In Favor, 4 Against. Passed. 37:32.
• Amendment to Increase Senior Services Salary by $10,000: Moved by Brown, supported by Kusenol. Failed (5 No, 4 Yes) 1:34:08.
• Amendment for 2% Increase (Animal Control, GIS, Veterans, Senior Services): Moved by Brown, supported by Kusenol. Passed 1:37:21.
• Amendment for $90,000 Department Head Minimum: Moved by Brown, supported by Avery. Failed (7 No, 2 Yes) 2:14:04.
• Resolution 2025-26070 (as amended): Moved by Shoemaker, supported by Avery.
  • Roll Call:
    • Yes: Lloyd, Winfrey, Gatsinger, Brown, Avery, Weighill, Flewelling.
    • No: Shoemaker, Kuzno.
  • Result: 7 In Favor, 2 Against. Passed. 2:24:24.

• Clayton Township Compensation: Concerns raised about a supervisor collecting multiple salaries totaling $170,000 7:36.
• DEI Application Questions: Debate over whether the DEI Commission should use unique application questions (e.g., philosophy on DEI) compared to other county boards 48:29.
• Vetting Processes: Concerns from Commissioners Kusenol and Weighill regarding the lack of a robust mechanism to vet candidates for eligibility (residency/incompatible offices) before they reach the final vote 22:08.
• Sheriff's Department Hierarchy: Discussion on adjusting wages for the Emergency Manager, Major, and Under Sheriff to maintain proper rank-based pay structures 1:12:24.

• Appointment Committee: To refine the vetting process for applicants to ensure residency and eligibility compliance 23:14.
• DEI Commission: To provide the Board with the specific language of their unique application questions for review 48:29.
• Staff/Administration: To update the Motherly Intercession resolution with corrected spelling and template errors 1:05:24.
• Department Heads/Board: To perform a thorough evaluation of all department head salaries in the first quarter of the upcoming year 1:25:58.
• Compliance Position: Commissioner Shoemaker proposed the creation of a "corporate compliance" position to ensure all board policies are followed 2:34:20.