Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Oversight Board topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council sends proposed PCOB appointment-process changes back to Police Civilian Oversight Board for review
Summary
After discussion and a floor amendment, the council voted 15–4 to re-refer proposed changes to the Police Civilian Oversight Board appointment process back to the board for consideration and for a report to return to council.
The Madison Common Council voted to re-refer an ordinance that would alter the Police Civilian Oversight Board (PCOB) appointment process back to the PCOB for further review.
Alder Figueroa Cole proposed an amendment to the circulating ordinance language that would revert recent proposed changes and instead make just two administrative adjustments: (1) make the Office of the Independent Monitor (OIM) responsible for seeking and collecting applications from the organizations the ordinance lists, and (2) remove an instruction that gave priority to organizations with budgets under $1,000,000. The amendment’s sponsor said the changes would align the ordinance with current practice (the OIM is already the board’s executive secretary and has been running outreach) and avoid an unnecessary budget-based priority clause.
Council members discussed the item’s history: the ordinance has been through prior PCOB consideration and had been placed on file previously. Some members — including those who serve on PCOB — said quorum and engagement have improved after recent appointments and trainings, and they urged a short referral to give the board time to review the revised proposal. Others urged adoption now to align the municipal code with current practice.
Alder Evers moved that the item be re-referred to the PCOB for its next meeting in August, with the intent to return to the first council meeting in September; the motion to re-refer passed by roll-call vote, 15 ayes and 4 noes. Staff on the line confirmed that PCOB quorum has been achieved since recent appointments and training, and that re-referral would allow the board to consider the changes and respond.
The re-referral means the ordinance will return to the PCOB for formal consideration and any recommendation; council members asked staff to ensure that board materials and the most recent draft are shared with committee members and alder offices before the subsequent meetings.
