By Chad Selweski, Macomb Daily Staff Writer

The heat is on as deadlines approach and the normally calm and cool deliberations of the Macomb County Charter Commission are boiling over.

With just 10 days to complete the county charter — Macomb's first constitution — the charter commissioners have grappled with numerous amendments that would alter the bureaucratic structure and power-sharing arrangements between the elected executive and the Board of Commissioners.

Many of the issues are highly technical but could have long-term implications for the cost and day-to-day operations of county government. The stakes are high, as evidenced by the closing moments of Wednesday's 3-hour session when Charter Commission Chairman Jake Femminineo of Mount Clemens and Charter Commissioner Lou Burdi of Warren engaged in a shouting match.

Burdi lost his bid to challenge the chair and he created growing animosity with Femminineo in the process. The chairman said that he believes several charter commissioners have become obstructionists as the process moves toward a conclusion on June 17.

"To me, they are trying to chip away at the power of the county executive, in favor of their pro-Board of Commissioners views. They're wasting a lot of time with motions that are later withdrawn," said Femminineo, an attorney.

Femminineo singled out five charter commissioners who he said are displaying divided loyalties and obstructionist behavior. They are: Donna Cangemi of Sterling Heights, Cynthia Konal of St. Clair Shores, Nick Ciaramitaro of Roseville, David Willis of Center Line and Burdi. Cangemi and Ciaramitaro are union officials who represent county workers. Konal is a county employee. Willis is a county sheriff's deputy and his mother serves as a county department head. Burdi is a longtime member of the county mental health board. All are Democrats.

At Wednesday's meeting, where 11 amendments were on the agenda, members of the Board of Commissioners engaged in the process for the first time. Board Chairman Paul Gieleghem and Commissioner Ed Bruley urged the Charter Commission to weigh carefully the wording of the document. The Clinton Township Democrats are concerned that the county could be stuck with unwise spending requirements.

"It's kind of like what's happening in California … where everything is built into their constitution," Gieleghem said. "We have to be careful not to tie the hands of future elected officials."

With three meetings left — on Wednesday, June 15 and June 17 — these are the key issues still to be resolved by the 26-member charter panel:

Pay and benefits for the part-time Board of Commissioners. For legal reasons, it's unclear whether a salary will be specified in the charter. But fringe benefits may be limited to match those offered to the lowest-paid, part-time county worker. That would mean commissioners would receive only health care benefits, and only if they pay out of pocket for about half the cost of their insurance policy.

Language that prevents the Retirement Commission from adjusting benefits for retired employees. With retiree health care costs skyrocketing, critics say the existing charter language would freeze benefits and eliminate cost-saving options for the Board of Commissioners.

Term limits for the elected executive. The 26 charter commissioners have a wide array of views on this issue, though it appears a consensus may be developing to limit the executive to 12 years — three 4-year terms.

A provision to grant special status to the Veteran's Affairs Department and the Community Mental Health Department. Both of those agencies are unique in that they are controlled by an internal board. Funding for the veterans derives from a voter-approved millage. Nearly all of the funding for mental health comes from the state and federal government. The dilemma is this: how to preserve the two agencies within the charter without saddling the Board of Commissioners with funding requirements if the revenues dry up.

Several provisions that would require the Board of Commissioners to take action on policies or proposals forwarded by the executive within 60 days. Inaction by the board would result in automatic approval.

On Wednesday, the Charter Commission unanimously approved budget adjustment requirements for the executive. When signs of a budget deficit emerge, the executive would submit a series of cuts to the Board of Commissioners, similar to an executive order issued by the governor. The board would have 45 days to approve the cuts or propose an alternative set of reductions.

The Charter Commission must submit a final charter to the governor by June 19. If the governor approves the document, it will face voter approval in November.