So, I didn’t exactly watch this meeting, I listened to it over the live stream while I was at the city council meeting. But, here’s what I caught during the first hour of their meeting . . . This is old news by now, but it is interesting to watch the politics of liberals vs. conservatives as well as note the formality and respect with which they mostly treat each other. It’s a much different dynamic than on the City Council.
SLOW START
I was beginning to worry that the streaming wasn’t working, they were silent a long time, then the mics came on, and from what I could tell from the side conversations, they might have been waiting for someone to get there. They finally started about 8 minutes late, which was annoying cuz I only TiVo’d an hour of the council meeting, so whatever went beyond that hour I was going to have to miss either the city council or county board meeting.
Chair Scott McDonell starts by announcing that normally people can’t be on the floor of the county board, but if they want to take pictures during the swearing in they may, but after that they must return to the galleries. Oops, they wait some more . . .
A. ROLL CALL
Finally, the clerk calls the roll. Everyone is present, go figure. The Council “10 minute break” goes on for another 10 minutes or so . . .
1. Prayer/Inspirational Message – Supervisor Bayrd (Bruskewitz next)
2. Pledge of Allegiance – Supervisor Bayrd
Carousel Bayrd talks about a New York Times aricle that talks about Nancy Pelosi and Sarah Palin and how they are similar because they each have 5 children, why do we care? Male politicians with 5 kids do not get grouped together for that common denominator. Pelosi and Palin are forces to be reasoned with. In Wisconsin 22% in government are women, we have 11 (12?) women or 33% tonight on the County Board, that’s double the US Congress number and 1/3 more than statehouse. She’d like to welcome everyone to the county board, but especially salute the women, she reads off their names (not in this order – Dianne Hesselbein, Barbara Vedder, Melanie Hampton, Eileen Bruskewitz, Sheila Stubbs, Robin Schmidt, Analiese Eicher, Cynda Solberg, Melissa Sargent, Sharon Corrigan, Denise Duranczyk) and then says “and me, your resident feminist”. With that, she asks them to join her in the pledge.
B. SPECIAL MATTERS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. Administering the Oath of Office – The Honorable Chief Judge William Foust
Faust says a few words welcoming them, then administers the oath.
McDonell tells them it is ok to come out and take pictures. They are asked to sign the pledge form and McDonell asks the chief judge to sign it this evening, so they need them tonight, they wait to comlete that task.
2. Organization of the 2010 – 2012 Dane County Board of Supervisors
a. Election of Board Chair – 2 years
Dave Wiganowski or “Wiggie” nominated John Hendrick to be acting chair during the elections.
McDonell says he’ll take nominations and then once they have two nominees they will have Hendrick chair.
Hendrick nominates Scott McDonell as chair of county board, he says his record speaks for itself, he runs the board meetings and the structure in a fair manner, there are things he supports but as chair of board he allows the other 36 to represent their district and their values. Secondly, McDonell shares belief that the county board is an independent branch of government, some say co-equal but we aren’t quite there, but lets get as far as we can, please join me in voting for McDonell for chair.
Bob Salov nominates Dave Ripp. He says he is the dean of the board, he has been on the board longer than any of us, he has institutional knowledge of the county, he has exemplified . . . missed some, sound cut out . . . talks about his management of landfill site making it profitable, he says that many people go to Ripp and ask him what do you think? What is the low down? What are the particulars? What do I need to consider and Dave has been fair and even handed in giving info out, gives full amount of info out regardless of politics. He has known Dave for quite a while, he thinks independently, brings people together, he has high regard and respect, vote with him for Dave Ripp as chair of county board.
McDonell asks the three times for other nominations, there are none.
McDonell asks to take up Wiggie’s motion at this time. The motion passes and Hendrick takes the chair.
Hendrick thanks Wiggie for the nominations, he notes that they started at same time on county board, the two of them are tied for second in seniority, he says the nominations closed, and asks for any discussion?
Mike Willett says that his comments are hopefully not necessary, reminds them that sometimes things get set long before we get to the board floor, we are supposed to listen and vote for the person, not the deal set up beforehand, hopefully that isn’t there, this is a sealed ballot, no one will know who you vote for, vote for who you believe is best.
Hendrick has them hand out the ballots. Hendrick says they prepared 7 ballots in case they have a repeat of a few years ago.
The pause to count the votes.
Hendrick announces the vote is 24-13, McDonell says he’ll hold his remarks til the end of the meeting. [Note two things. First of all one conservative voted for McDonell. Second of all, Willett’s speech seems to have backfired on him – he lost a vote as opposed to picking up votes.]
b. Election of First Vice-Chair – 2 years
Brett Hulsey nominates John Hendrick. He says he has served 16 years, that is the 2nd longest tied with Wiggie, he knows Roberts Rules of Oorder and has them at the ready and he is an attorney. He currently serves as first vice chair and runs good meetings, that is the most important job.
Cynda Solberg nominates Bob Salov. She says he has 14 years on board, 4th longest member, lived in his district for 40 years, he has budget experience, is the EMS chair and has served on EANR (Environment, Agriculture and Natural Resources), Executive, Finance, PP&J (Public Protection and Judiciary), 911 and Human Services. [I think I missed a bit as the sound cut in and out on me.]
They hand out ballots again, and wait . . . finally, McDonell announces the results of Hendrick 23 Salov 14.
c. Election of Second Vice-Chair – 2 years
Wiggie nominates Jack Martz. Says he has been on the board for 8 years, he has worked hard, won in close races, but continuously back in office. His experience working at state and in different communities is important . . . [I think I missed a bit as the sound cut in and out on me.] . . . Credits him with figuring out that the county buying supplies would save them sales tax. This is more of ceremonial position, only 3 or 4 times second vice does anything, if nonpartisan, they should work to elect Jack Martz. He is a moderate, further right leaning, but has knowledge on how to save money.
Dianne Hesselbein nominates Robin Schmidt, she has worked well with her, the went to a Wisconsin County Association training where they learned about Roberts Rules of order, and that was presented by J Michael Blaska. She knows a lot about energy saving and interoperability radios.
They hand out ballots again, and wait . . . finally, McDonell announces the results of Schmidt 23, Martz 14.
[Note: Despite Carousel’s little speech in the beginning, the “ceremonial position” goes to a woman.]
d. Election of Sergeants-at-Arms – 2 years
Hendrick nominates Dianne Hesselbein and Dave deFelice. He explains their job is to keep order and get quorum. He says that their first job is to talk to disruptive people and calm them down and he can’t think of anyone better than these two. The second job is to get quorum when people are out of the room and traditionally it has been one man and one woman so they can get people out of restrooms.
Eileen Bruskewitz nominates Melanie Hampton and Kurt Schlicht. She says the reason for Kurt is obvious. [He’s a rather large man for those who haven’t seen him.]. She says Melanie is a police officer and they make a good pair.
McDonell calls for other nominations. There are none, he says they can vote for two people.
Bruskewitz asks if they can vote in any combination.
McDonell says that traditionally they vote for one man and one woman but you can vote how you want – they can just yell in the restroom. It will be alright.
They hand out the ballots, there is more silence . . . until McDonell turns the mics back on to say good bye to his daugheters Annie and Elanor, all you hear is “Good bye girls, go to bed” then more silence as we wait . . .
McDonell announces Hesselbein and deFelice are elected sergeants at arms. He instructs the clerk to destroy the ballots.
e. Ord. Amdt. 1, 2010-2011 – Amending Chapter 7, County Board Rules
Kyle Richmond separates article 8.
Hendrick says may have an amendment, but separates article 11.
McDonell calls for them to pass the remaining portions of the ordinance.
Hendrick has an additional amendment, in section 7.85(5), if an item is in committee over a year it is considered indefinitely postponed, this amendment is just a clarification of that practice – this is currently what they are using, any non-final action of county board or request by sponsor they will allow another year before indefinitely postponed, purpose is obvious, if not 12 months there is no support or it does not need to be done. This is to clean up procedure to have it expire at some point, they do not expire at end of term, things are still pending from old county board. This says that unless taken action or if sponsor asks for it not to expire, doesn’t say how long it has if re-referred, will it be in committee for eternity or expire. Says that is what staff have been implementing, writing it into rule.
There is no discussion, the amendment passes.
Hendrick has an amendment 7.61(1)(g) regarding the county board calendar, currently is says zoning petitions shall not begin until 7:30 pm – if you have been on the board, you understand that sometimes all business is done before 7:20 and we have to wait, the other alternative is to be more verbose, this seems like good solution – if waiting for zoning petition might be glad to get it done.
There is no discussion and it passes. There are a few no’s.
Hendrick moves delete 7.13(4) members of Executive committee used to have a big role in budget, now personnel and finance do that, he suggests they delete the budget language – this is compromise language left in there, used to be Ways and Means committee but now realistically transferred budget to personnel and finance.
Dennis O’Loughlin understands where he is coming from, but when look at executive committee, it’s a very seasoned group with wealth of knowledge – reads language and says to remove those words would be wrong, it is important for executive committee to keep these things in mind – ok to let personnel and finance do the work, but keep the words to remind us of the responsibilities of the executive committee, asks to vote against the amendment.
Hendrick withdraws the amendment.
Hendrick says he had another amendment on the information technology report – but he was convinced not to move it.
Hendrick says he has one more motion – but he hopes he is not holding up getting to their party.
McDonell says the food won’t be ordered to 9:00 at the Essen Haus.
Hendricks motion is about the Zoning Committee . . . but . . .
THAT IS ALL
Ran out of TiVo time . . . the meeting lasted at least another hour and about 15 minutes, but I opted to go with the Council meeting instead of county board. I should have followed up to find out what else they discussed but didn’t have time today, maybe someone who knows can comment below.
f. Motion Designating Official Newspaper for 2010-2012 Board Years
3. Collection of Flower Fund
M. SUCH OTHER BUSINESS AS THE COUNTY BOARD IS AUTHORIZED TO CONDUCT BY LAW
N. ADJOURNMENT Until Thursday, May 6, 2010, 7:00PM, Or Call of the Chair
