Milwaukee County arts advisory council seeks reappointments after multiple expired terms; acting chair remains in post

Madam chairwoman, the council’s acting chair and vice chair, told members at the start of the meeting that the previous chair had left and that she was serving temporarily in the chair role but that a formal election cannot occur without a quorum.

Council members discussed that the advisory body is authorized for nine members and currently has one vacancy and eight seated members. Staff member Kelsey said the council’s terms are three years and that most current members are serving in expired terms. Members said those expirations stem from a lack of reconfirmation activity by the County Board and described the current state as a routine administrative issue rather than a policy dispute.

With arrival of member Antoine the council reached a quorum and agreed on a process for confirming who wishes to remain on the body. The committee asked Parks Department staff to email all current members asking whether they want to be reappointed; the group agreed on a target response deadline of close of business November 21. Members also discussed whether the County Board chairwoman’s office should send a parallel communication; staff agreed to coordinate with that office if members prefer.

Several members said meeting times and format affect participation and that a mixture of virtual and in-person meetings or meetings at midday could improve accessibility. Members asked staff to note that some appointments historically were staggered (two- and three-year terms) to avoid simultaneous expirations, and discussed offering some members two-year terms during reappointment to reestablish staggered cycles.

Staff said that appointments and reappointments typically go directly to the County Board but that the board chair has discretion to refer appointments to committee. The acting chair announced she would continue in the temporary role while the membership status is clarified.

The council did not take formal action on appointments during the meeting; members agreed to collect confirmations and return to the question about chair assignment once the membership list is finalized.