Committee recommends expanding Economic Development Commission from seven to nine members

The Germantown General Government Finance Committee voted to forward a positive recommendation to the village board for an ordinance to increase Economic Development Commission (EDC) membership from seven to nine.

Supporters, including the committee's attorney, said the EDC often performs hands-on work that makes two-person discussions more likely to be viewed as performing committee business outside a public meeting. The attorney cited state case law — including the Showers decision — and recommended structuring membership so the minimum number required to conduct meetings would rise to five under a nine-member body, reducing the relative blocking power of small subgroups. As the attorney summarized, “Showers basically says ... a walking quorum is where you've got different groups of people ... forming a coalition to take some action.”

Trustee Jan Miller asked that the EDC itself receive an explanation of walking/negative quorums before changes take effect; attorney staff offered to present training for all boards and commissions on March 12 and to record the session for later viewing. The ordinance, which only changes the number of seats and does not alter the commission’s authorities, was moved and seconded in committee and forwarded with a recorded recommendation of 3 to 1 in favor.

The committee discussed practical considerations — including whether the village could reliably fill nine seats and how turnover (two seats are up in April) could affect quorum math — and directed staff to provide additional background to the EDC and to the village board. The committee noted the change is a recommendation to the village board rather than an immediate regulation change.

Next step: the village board will consider the ordinance and any further amendments or background materials the committee provides.