The Common Council is meeting 04/16/2024 at 6PM after the 5PM swearing in ceremony for Mayor Woodford, Attorney Behrens, and the recently elected alderpersons for even numbered districts.
The informal organizational meeting is an opportunity for the Council members to informally go over the rules, responsibilities, and expectations of alderpersons as well as to discuss proposed changes to the Council’s rules for the upcoming term. There are several proposed changes to Rule 3 which regulates the form of the invocation given at the beginning of each meeting.
Up until last year, the alderpersons had been given wide latitude to give an invocation of their choosing. This took the form of recited poems, prayers, and general personal musings that sometimes lasted for several minutes. Last year, the Council decided to restrict the invocation to a set speech stating, “We gather together to listen and share, learn and educate, and to be granted wisdom and grace as we move Appleton forward in the best interest of our community.”
This year, alderpersons Denise Fenton (District 6), Sheri Hartzheim (District 12), and Alex Schultz (District 9) have made separate proposals to change what is allowable during the invocation.
Alderperson Hartzheim has proposed changing the election of the President and Vice President of the Council from being done with a secret vote to being done with an open vote.
Alderperson Fenton has proposed removing Rule 35 which requires the Pledge Of Allegiance to be recited ahead of committee meetings.
Alderperson Hartzheim has proposed the creation of a new rule governing dress code which would require alderpersons to dress in “business casual or better” and avoid “overly casual dress such as t-shirts.”
The Council will also be discussing Resolution 2-R-24 which was introduced by Alderperson Chad Doran (District 15) earlier this year and, if passed, would merge the Utilities Committee with the Municipal Services committee.
City staff is requesting that the name of the Community and Economic Development Department be changed to the Community Development Department and that jurisdiction of the Inspections division be moved from the Municipal Services Committee to the Community Development Committee (or the Community and Economic Development Committee if the name is not changed.)
Finally, the Parks, Recreation & Facilities Management Department is also asking for a name change. Staff is requesting that it now be called the Parks and Recreation Department.
View full meeting details here: https://cityofappleton.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1182535&GUID=0CDAE4BC-B668-451D-98B2-02A7EB98CAC2
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