HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE
					  MEETING MINUTES

					   July 2, 2002

A regular meeting of the Chippewa County Board of Commissioners' Health and Social Services Committee
was held on Tuesday, July 2, 2002 at the Chippewa County Courthouse in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.  
Chairman Postula called the meeting to order at 5:15 p.m. with a quorum present.

MEMBERS PRESENT: Ted Postula, Chairman, Rita Dale and Aaron Hopper (5:23)

MEMBERS ABSENT:	None

OTHERS PRESENT:	Tim Dolehanty, County Controller, Donald McLean and Christine McLean


Additions / Deletions to the Agenda
Chairman Postula called for additions or deletions to the agenda.  Hearing none, the agenda was declared
approved as presented.

Public Comments
Chairman Postula called for pubic comments.  Donald McLean conveyed his experiences with the Hiawatha 
Behavioral Health Authority (HBH).  McLean stated he struggled to get appropriate treatment for his
daughter. As a result of their experience, the McLeans regularly attend HBH board meetings.  McLean said
HBH now ignores them and the situation involving their daughter.  McLean said he and his wife Christine are 
now working to make changes in the way HBH is operated.  He asked the committee to seek changes in HBH
management or affiliate with another agency to provide mental health services.

Christine McLean emphasized many of the points made earlier and offered additional criticisms of HBH 
management. She reported on specific instances of patient treatment by HBH staff and its director.

Agenda Item: Hiawatha Behavioral Health
Chairman Postula asked for the thoughts of Committee members regarding HBH.  Commissioner Hopper
stated he was unsure of what County Commissioners could do to affect HBH.  Chairman Postula said the 
Board could not remove HBH employees, but could seek mental health services from another agency.

The Committee discussed the history of HBH and the County's participation in the three-county Authority. 
Chairman Postula suggested exploring alternatives to the current arrangement.  Seeking services from another 
agency, forming a new authority with an adjacent county, contracting for services and forming a single
county mental health authority were all mentioned as options.

Commissioner Dale stressed the importance of Chippewa County regaining seats on the HBH Authority 
Board in order to achieve fair representation for the County. The Committee discussed the current make-up of 
the HBH Board and the payments made by each of the County members.

The Committee directed the County Controller to explore alternatives to providing mental health services, to 
explore methods to secure additional seats on the HBH Authority Board and to report his findings to the
Committee at a future meeting.  Chairman Postula expressed interest in meeting with the HBH Authority
Board to discuss the County's concerns.

Public Comments
No public comments were offered.

Committee Comments
There were no additional Committee member comments.

Chairperson's Comments
Chairman Postula had no additional comments.

Adjourn
It was moved by Commissioner Dale, supported by Chairman Hopper, to adjourn the meeting.  On a 
voice vote, the motion was CARRIED.

Chairman Postula declared the meeting adjourned at 5:57 p.m.







__________________________________	__________________________________
Timothy J. Dolehanty, AICP, Recorder	Ted Postula, Committee Chairman