Wausau approves HUD lead‑hazard MOU with HOLA and New Beginnings amid debate over RFP timing and compliance
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Summary
After heated public comment and several failed attempts to table or refer it back to committee, the council approved resolution 24‑0704 to enter an MOU with HOLA and New Beginnings for HUD lead‑hazard capacity‑building work; the resolution passed 9–2.
The Wausau Common Council voted 9–2 on Feb. 24 to approve resolution 24‑0704, a finance‑committee recommendation to enter an MOU with Healthy Opportunities for Latin Americans (HOLA) and New Beginnings Inc. to support outreach and capacity building for a HUD lead‑hazard grant.
Public commenter Tony Gonzales urged the council to table the award to "Ola" (referred to in the packet) and raised multiple concerns: a short RFP window that included major holidays, alleged worker misclassification and potential labor violations, and a risk that the city could violate HUD NOFO verification requirements if beneficiaries lack standard documentation. "Tabling this vote until the results of the investigation are public is the only responsible action," Gonzales said.
Councilors debated procedural remedies. Ald. Killian moved to table the resolution pending review; other members proposed reissuing the RFP or referring the matter back to finance committee. Staff identified by the council as the health‑department/community‑development liaison said the health department and community‑development staff did direct outreach to known local nonprofits and that the RFP received two timely proposals. The staff representative also said that the MOU is meant to support outreach and identification of properties with lead hazards, and that any direct HUD funding to residents would still require standard eligibility verification. "These funds will not and cannot go to undocumented people," the staff speaker said, adding that any beneficiaries would have to meet HUD eligibility requirements.
A motion to refer the item back to committee failed 3–8. After debate, the council approved the MOU 9–2. HOLA Board President Mariana Savela later addressed the council during public comment and invited council members to review the organization's records and fiduciary arrangements.
The resolution authorizes entering an MOU to support lead‑hazard outreach and capacity building; the underlying HUD NOFO and the detailed MOU terms were not read into the record during the public meeting and were not recited verbatim in council discussion.
