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West Milwaukee board warned it could lose Board of Health vote after West Allis–Greenfield merger
Summary
At the Sept. 3 Village Board meeting Chairperson Jane Edgar said the West Allis–Greenfield health-department merger, finalized in April, may remove West Milwaukee’s voting seat on the Board of Health unless the village becomes a member of the South Suburban Health Department rather than remaining a contracting jurisdiction.
Chairperson Jane Edgar, who chairs the Health, Housing, Social Services and Recreation Committee, told the Village Board on Sept. 3 that the merger between the West Allis and Greenfield health departments was finalized in April and has created uncertainty about West Milwaukee’s representation on the regional Board of Health.
"It was later revealed that with the merger, West Milwaukee may lose voting status on the Board of Health," Edgar said, and reported that the City of West Allis told the village that, to retain its vote, West Milwaukee would need to become a member rather than remain a contracting jurisdiction with the South Suburban Health Department.
Edgar said she, President John Stalewski and Administrator Kayla Egan met with West Allis officials but found the city "unclear on associated costs and other pertinent information associated with becoming a member." She told the board she communicated those complaints to the Board of Health and that she was "pleased with the level of support she received from the other members." West Allis agreed to provide Administrator Egan with a written proposal outlining costs and membership requirements.
Trustee John Ragonese said he was concerned about how the village had been treated in the process. Trustee Todd Hill asked whether other options exist; Administrator Egan replied that other options have been explored in the past but that a partnership with West Allis and Greenfield had previously been found "the most logical and cost-effective for the Village." No formal action was taken at the meeting; West Allis is to supply a proposal for the board to review.
The matter affects how West Milwaukee participates in regional public-health decisions, but the board did not vote on membership at this meeting. The board will review the proposal from West Allis once it is provided and may place the issue on a future agenda for formal consideration.
