359 Degrees

In Brookfield city government, the first detailed debate on an issue happens in a committee.  That allows a few alderman to focus on a topic and make the first judgment on what is reasonable. 

Here are the committees appointed on Tuesday, May 6.

The Finance committee sets policy on the entire city budget.  One major task is debating the annual budget proposed by the Mayor and staff every October for the following year.  Continuing duties include approving purchases over $50,000, dealing with claims from residents (e.g. snowplow hit my mailbox), selecting the bank for city funds, etc.

One common debate is whether the Finance Committee can effectively nullify some other committee's decision by removing all funding for it.  That's common at the state and federal level.  The reverse is to fund a program that was rejected by the "correct" committee, which is the heart of the federal earmark spending actions.  That doesn't really work at the city level since the budget is relatively simple and transparent.  Besides, the entire Council, including the originating committee members, have to approve such a decision.  Continuing issues for finance include funding services while keeping taxes in check, despite declining federal and state aid, little new construction (new tax base) increasing employee insurance costs, etc.

A central activity is reviewing the past budgets and setting the next one:

• May - Set broad budget parameters.  e.g. property tax rate can go up 2%
• Summer months - Mayor and department heads discuss what to spend for the next year, balancing new services against the limits set
• September - Mayor submits the Executive Budget to the aldermen
• October - A series of marathon meetings reviewing the Executive Budget and amending as desired
• November - Public hearing on budget.  I've seen as many as two (2) residents at this meeting. 
• December - Final adjustments to the budget based on state aid, etc.  Tax bills get mailed out and paid.

The Human Resources and Public Safety (HRPS) committee (I'm the only alderman to have opposed that unfortunate name) sets policy for city employees, including salaries, benefits, harassment lawsuit claims, behavior standards, etc.

The Legislative and Licensing (L&L) committee grants liquor and bartender licenses and, more significantly, originates most city ordinances.

The Board of Public Works (BPW) manages the streets, stormwater and city buildings.  Continuing issues include building the fire stations and continuing the Calhoun Road expansion.  Yard waste disposal (leaf burning) will be discussed here.  This committee is unusual in that the Mayor is a full member but can appoint an alderman to serve in his place.  In practice, the alternate almost always serves.  In addition, if one of the other aldermen is absent there is an aldermanic alternate to serve in his place.  In other communities it is common to have citizen members or to have a staff member (usually the City Engineer or Director of Public Works) to be a voting member.

The Water & Sewer Board (two separate committees until 2006) sets policy for the water utility and sewer utility.  Continuing issues include building out the water system, finding a safe and plentiful water supply (Lake Michigan water?) and dealing with the endless lawsuits from the Town of Brookfield over sewers.  This committee deals with a lot of public hearings for installing water mains.  I recall very clearly when, in the course of one minute, a resident called the committee members *** and Communists.  It's not a ho-hum committee when people's basements fill up with sewage!  Up until 2006, the mayor was a committee member and appointed an alderman as his alternate.

The Forestation committee sets policy for planting trees in city parks, roadsides, building yards, etc.  Many cities merge this function with the Board of Public Works.  However, since the BPW is always tempted to keep the roadside right of way clear of all plantings, there is always a conflict of goals.  Having a separate committee was the compromise to plant a reasonable number of trees along roadsides.

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