IN THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE OF JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI
                                                          WITHDRAWN 3/14/2005
 
Title
A RESOLUTION requesting that the County Executive implement the February 23, 2005 recommendations made by Sidney L. Willens regarding the Office of Human Relations and Citizen Complaints (OHRCC) and the OHRCC Commission.
 
 
Intro
RESOLUTION # 15401, February 28, 2005
 
INTRODUCED BY  Robert A. Stringfield,  County Legislator
 
 
Body
WHEREAS, the Jackson County Office of Human Relations and Citizen Complaints (OHRCC)  is a home rule charter office designed to operate as an ombudsman; and,
 
WHEREAS, under the charter, the County Executive appoints for terms a chairperson and seven commissioners who hire and fire the ombudsman; and,
 
WHEREAS, on September 7, 2004, Fowler Consulting issued a report on the performance of the ombudsman; and, 
 
WHEREAS, the ombudsman's budget for 2003 was $138,829.00; and,
 
WHEREAS, the Fowler report reveals that in 2003 the ombudsman handled only 31 complaints; and,
 
WHEREAS, more than $4,000.00 per complaint is an exorbitant and preposterous waste of taxpayer money; and,
WHEREAS, no county executive shall remain idle when public money is being spent wastefully; and,
 
WHEREAS, on October 25, 2004, the County Executive requested Sidney L. Willens, founder of the ombudsman office, to make recommendations to improve its performance; and,
 
WHEREAS, on February 23, 2005, Willens submitted three recommendations to the County Executive as the first steps to begin improving the ombudsman's performance; now therefore,
 
BE IT RESOLVED by the County Legislature of Jackson County, Missouri that the Legislature desires to go on record as stopping the waste of taxpayer money and favoring the immediate implementation of the Willens recommendations evidenced by attached letter of February 23, 2005.
 
 
Enacted and Approved
Effective Date:  This Resolution shall be effective immediately upon its passage by a majority of the Legislature.
 
 
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
 
 
____________________________                                              ______________________________
Acting Chief Deputy County Counselor                                                                County Counselor
 
 
Certificate of Passage
 
 
                     I hereby certify that the attached resolution, Resolution # 15401 February 28, 2005, 
was withdrawn BY SPONSOR STRINGFIELD, CONCURRED BY WAITS AND BURNETT on March 14, 2005 by the Jackson County Legislature. 
 
 
The votes thereon were as follows:
 
 
                     Yeas _______________                                                               Nays ______________
 
                     Abstaining _________                                                               Absent ____________
 
 
 
 
________________________                                                               ____________________________
Date                                                                                                                                                   Mary Jo Spino, Clerk of Legislature