Alder Profett pushes for public input and intergovernmental cooperation on Neville Public Museum changes

Alder Profett introduced a co-sponsored communication asking the city to urge Brown County to maintain the Neville Public Museum’s community role and to involve the public in any major changes. Profett said the document was meant "to draw attention to that museum" and to show solidarity with Neville staff after the museum’s executive director left and the position has not been refilled.

The discussion centered on reports — described by Profett as information she had collected from artists and community members — that talks are underway about closer ties or a merger with the Children's Museum and that such a plan could substantially reduce gallery space dedicated to local history and art. "They are proposing that the [Neville] would only have one gallery upstairs and the back gallery for any art movement," Profett said, characterizing that outcome as troubling for the museum’s mission to represent the community’s history.

Speakers also raised concerns about decisionmaking occurring outside of public view. Profett said she had heard that Brown County officials were "pushing it away from their plate" and that staff have not yet hired a new director. She urged more public dialogue, adding that employees affected by any changes should be part of the conversation.

Members worked together to add a final whereas paragraph to the communication calling for transparent, inclusive community engagement and intergovernmental cooperation. One speaker read the proposed language aloud: "Whereas any long-term strategic changes to the Neville Public Museum should be guided by a transparent and inclusive community engagement process that includes intergovernmental cooperation, reflects the voices and interests of the broader public, and supports continued public trust in the museum's mission and future direction." The group also discussed that the city should be prepared to support the museum through zoning, permitting, capital investment and advocacy.

A motion was made to amend the communication with the added language and a subsequent procedural motion sought approval of the amended communication. Members said the motions carried on the floor; the transcript does not record a detailed roll-call tally for those votes. The communication was identified as co-sponsored by Mayor Genrich and several alder members and is expected to be forwarded to the City Council for its consideration.

During a brief staff report, the information coordinator said the rotating arts program RFP was on last night’s council agenda and that staff are moving forward with logistics, including timing and two additional installation pads discussed in a recent amendment. The meeting adjourned after roughly 18 minutes.