Number
201111
Version
SUBSTITUTE 1
Reference
170634
Sponsor
ALD. BAUMAN AND BORKOWSKI
Title
Substitute resolution directing the Department of Administration - Intergovernmental Relations Division to seek introduction and passage of State legislation relating to how fire and police chiefs may be removed from office in cities of the 1st class.
Analysis
This resolution directs the Department of Administration - Intergovernmental Affairs Division to seek introduction and passage of State legislation to amend s. 62.50, Wis. Stats., to grant the common council of a 1st class city the authority to remove the chief of police or the fire chief from office by a two-thirds majority vote of its members.
Body
Whereas, On November 7, 2017, the Common Council adopted Resolution File Number 170634, directing the Department of Administration - Intergovernmental Affairs Division to seek introduction and passage of State legislation relating to how fire and police chiefs may be removed from office in cities of the 1st class; and
Whereas, The Common Council desires to reaffirm its stance seeking introduction and passage of such State legislation to provide that the common council of a 1st class city may remove the chief of police or the fire chief from office by a two-thirds majority vote of its members; and
Whereas, Since its establishment in 1885, the Fire and Police Commission has been responsible for appointing the police and fire chiefs of the City of Milwaukee; and
Whereas, On March 26, 2019, the Common Council adopted Resolution File Number 181665 directing the Department of Administration - Intergovernmental Relations Division to remove Common Council-sponsored recommendations from the annual State Legislative Package after each four-year election cycle; and
Whereas, Common Council members who wish certain items to remain in the State Legislative Package shall inform the Director of Intergovernmental Relations of those items at each four-year review; and
Whereas, This arrangement, which is mandated under State law (s. 62.50, Wis. Stats.), is relatively unique among American cities of Milwaukee’s size; and
Whereas, While this appointment procedure once served a valuable purpose in shielding the chiefs of fire and police from political influence, it is nonetheless necessary to update this arrangement to ensure that the chief of police and the fire chief are fiscally-conscious, operationally-efficient and responsive to the needs of the community served; and
Whereas, The Common Council is an appropriate body in which to vest the authority to remove from office a chief of police or fire chief who no longer has the faith and support of the community and its elected officials; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that the Department of Administration - Intergovernmental Affairs Division is directed to seek introduction and passage of State legislation to amend s. 62.50, Wis. Stats., to grant the common council of a 1st class city the authority to remove the chief of police or the fire chief from office by a two-thirds majority vote of its members; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Department of Administration-Intergovernmental Relations Division is directed to lobby the State Legislature to enact such legislation; and, be it
Further Resolved, That Resolution File Number 200668 is amended by inserting the following item in the document attached to the file and identified as “AMENDED 2021-2022 State Legislative Detailed Proposals and Key Issues”:
|
Local Control and Flexibility |
Common Council |
Amend Wis. Stat. §62.50 to grant the common council of a 1st class city the authority to remove the chief of police or the fire chief from office by a two-thirds vote of its members. |
; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the City Clerk shall forward a copy of this resolution to each member of Milwaukee’s delegation to the State Legislature.
Requestor
Drafter
LRB 176439-2
Christopher H. Hillard
11/30/2020