Committee approves revisions to audit advisory charter and board advisory committee policy

The Committee on Legislation, Rules and Policies approved revisions on Oct. 8 to the Audit Advisory Committee charter and to Board Governance Policy 2.1, Board Advisory Committees, to align membership rules and reporting lines for advisory committees.

Matt Chase of the Office of Accountability and Efficiency presented redline changes clarifying the advisory role of the Audit Advisory Committee and reaffirming its reporting to the Accountability, Finance and Personnel Committee (AFMP). The committee voted to approve the revised charter on the recommendation of the Office of Accountability and Efficiency.

Chase said the redline language also opened membership beyond the previous phrasing limited to Milwaukee residents, allowing residents of Milwaukee County to be included if approved in a board-approved charter. "We thought that we could arrive in a better place and have no conflict between charter and committee language here," Chase said.

Director Herndon moved approval of the charter revisions; the motion passed on a 4-0 roll call. Later, the committee considered revisions to Board Governance Policy 2.1, with Chase explaining that the policy language was updated to permit expanded membership if approved by the board via the committee charter. Director O'Halloran moved approval of the recommended revisions to Policy 2.1; the committee approved the motion 4-0.

Paul Gibe, the chief auditor, and staff were present to answer questions. No public commenters registered for these items during the meeting. The approvals formalize the coordination between the Audit Advisory Committee and AFMP and remove language that could force a charter/committee conflict over residence requirements, instead allowing the board to set charter membership specifics.