Verona Common Council elects Mara Helmke as council president, confirms appointments and official newspaper

At its organizational meeting Tuesday, April 15, the Verona Common Council elected Alder Mara Helmke as council president, selected Alder Lachlan Swanson as the council's representative to the Planning Commission, approved appointments to committees and citizen seats on the Planning Commission, designated the mayor to comment on dockets before the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, and named the Verona Press as the city's official newspaper for legal publications.

The meeting began with the swearing-in of four elected officials and a roll call showing seven alderpersons present. The council then handled routine organizational business typical of an annual opening session.

Alder Mara Helmke was elected council president by a voice vote after a nomination from the floor. The motion to elect Helmke was moved by Alder Lachlan Swanson and seconded by Alder Tucker Long; the motion passed with all members voting in favor.

The council then nominated and confirmed Alder Lachlan Swanson as the council's representative to the Planning Commission. The mayor noted that the position requires a supermajority of six votes; the council approved Swanson by voice vote after a motion moved by Alder Harrison and seconded by another aldermember.

The council approved appointments and reappointments to boards and commissions that were included in the meeting packet. The packet listed a reappointment for Commissioner Keller Woods and a nomination of William Taylor (identified as a member of the Zoning Board of Appeals) for a citizen slot on the Planning Commission; the mayor said city staff could confirm whether those specific Planning Commission appointments require council approval. The council also approved member assignments to standing committees, with the motion moved by Alder Lytle and seconded from the floor.

The mayor was nominated and approved to serve as the city's designated representative to comment on dockets before the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin. Finally, consistent with state statutes that require annual designation of an official paper for legal notices, the council voted to designate the Verona Press as the city's official newspaper for legal publications; the motion was moved by Alder Mara Helmke and seconded by Alder Lachlan Swanson.

All recorded organizational motions were approved by voice vote with no recorded opposition. The council adjourned the meeting at roughly 6:08 p.m.

Votes at a glance: - Elect Mara Helmke as council president: motion moved by Alder Lachlan Swanson; seconded by Alder Tucker Long; outcome: approved (unanimous voice vote). - Select Alder Lachlan Swanson as council representative to the Planning Commission: motion moved by Alder Harrison; seconded from the floor; outcome: approved (unanimous voice vote). Supermajority required: 6 votes (as stated at the meeting). - Approve council member committee, commission, and board appointments (packet): motion moved by Alder Lytle; seconded from the floor; outcome: approved (unanimous voice vote). Packet referenced reappointment of Keller Woods and nomination of William Taylor to the Planning Commission. - Designate the mayor as the city's commenter on Public Service Commission of Wisconsin dockets: motion moved from the floor; outcome: approved (unanimous voice vote). - Designate the Verona Press as the official newspaper for legal publications: motion moved by Alder Mara Helmke; seconded by Alder Lachlan Swanson; outcome: approved (unanimous voice vote).

Meeting note: during the Planning Commission appointment discussion the mayor said Planning Commission citizen appointments "just happen" and that city staff could confirm whether those appointments require council approval; that clarification was not finalized on the record at the meeting.