Two aldermen push for council changes
Limits on committee service proposed
March 3, 2009 | 0 comments
Two Brookfield aldermen want the city to look at the structure of Common Council committees and how long elected officials can serve on those committees.
First District Alderman Dan Sutton and 5th District Alderman Scott Berg introduced separate legislative referrals to the Common Council in the last two months regarding appointments to council committees and potential term limits.
Mayor Jeff Speaker referred both issues to the city's Legislative and Licensing Committee, but no discussion dates have been set.
Sutton in January asked the council to look at appointments to committees, especially the committees he said are responsible for a lot of the city's policy work - the Finance Committee, the Legislative and Licensing Committee, the Human Resources and Public Safety Committee, the Board of Public Works, the Water and Sewer Board and the Plan Commission.
Sutton said every alderman - with the exception of the council president, who can only appoint himself to one committee - should serve on at least two of the major committees.
"I would say those six committees do the majority of the policy work for the city of Brookfield," he said.
Sutton said he made the referral because he wants to make sure each district has equal say in city decisions.
Berg's referral - made Feb. 3 - looks at limiting the terms of aldermanic appointments to city committees, boards and commissions. Berg proposed that no aldermen serve more than four consecutive years on any committee.
Berg said limiting the terms would give aldermen an opportunity to "be a little more rounded and be able to better understand the issues."
"I think the real problem is that people get entrenched on committees," he said.
If limits are enacted, Berg said he would like to see them in place by November, so that those interested in running for the council in 2010 are aware of the changes.
Berg last month also introduced a proposal to look at moving regular Common Council meetings from Tuesday nights. Berg said the meetings conflict with Elmbrook School Board and Brookfield Town Board meetings, meaning aldermen can't attend those meetings if they wish.
Berg said the city could also look at changing the nights of committee meetings.
No date has been set for those discussions.
Alan Hamari can be reached at (262) 446-6601.
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