Committee approves amended one-year contract with TipCo Automated Systems

The Wayne County Human Services Committee voted 5-0 Aug. 31 to authorize a revised one-year agreement with TipCo Automated Systems, approving the contract as amended, officials said.

Paul Walters, deputy commissioner for the Department of Social Services, presented the transmittal to authorize the county to execute an agreement with TipCo. Town Supervisor Tom Mettler raised concerns about the original five-year term and the risk that callers could become lost in a phone-tree system. Walters said the product allows callers to reach a live representative and that the county’s IT staff supports the product. Committee members recommended shortening the term to one year, adjusting the contract start date and including an explicit "out" clause; the resolution was approved 5-0 as amended. The minutes record the tally but do not list which members cast those votes.

The committee discussion noted that shortening the contract term may affect pricing. Walters said those contract details would be finalized during negotiations. The transmittal presented to the committee was recorded in the meeting minutes as “Authorization to Execute an Agreement with TipCo Automated Systems.” The committee did not record a mover or seconder in the minutes and did not provide a roll-call of individual votes.

Next steps: the county will finalize the one-year agreement, including any exit provisions and the start date, before executing the contract.