Commission approves Oracle/Connect 43 maintenance contracts amid continued questions about timeline and costs

The Wayne County Commission voted to approve four retroactive cooperative agreements with Oracle America to provide managed services and cloud maintenance for the Connect 43 project, which implements the county’s human capital, financial and budgetary planning systems. Mike Jamieson, Connect 43 project director, said the contracts are interim "bridge" agreements to align start/stop dates while the county negotiates longer‑term, multi‑year contracts.

Jamieson told commissioners the three major systems have gone live on staggered dates — HCM on July 1, 2024; ERP on Oct. 6, 2025; and EPM on Oct. 27, 2025 — and that final implementation work centers on an ERP data warehouse component. He said the county anticipates concluding implementation and reverting to routine maintenance in June–July 2025, after which annual managed services costs would continue.

Multiple commissioners expressed frustration with the drawnout timeline and continuing cost increases. Commissioner Kinlock requested clearer sunset dates and urged staff to prioritize shortening extensions rather than lengthening them. Commissioner Baker McCormick pressed whether contract delays or repeated extensions trigger penalties; Corporation Counsel said penalties depend on contract language and that no obvious basis for penalties was evident from the materials presented. The chair announced a committee‑of‑the‑whole meeting in early February to review project costs, delays, outstanding issues and the terms of current and proposed Oracle agreements.

A consolidated motion to approve the Connect 43 maintenance contracts was moved by Commissioner Clemente and supported by Commissioner Dobb; the motion carried.