Alderman David Maack reiterated his disagreement with the city having to pay The Journal Times to publish its legal notices throughout the year.
The JT was the lone bidder on the contract to publish the notices, which include minutes and agendas for city meetings. Maack argues that the city already publishes its minutes online.
But state law requires that the legal notices be published on a printed paper with enough circulation to reach the community, said Tom Friedel, chairman of the committee. Smaller papers, like the Insider News or the Labor Paper, are not eligible to bid on the contract.
The state has petitioned to change the law, but the effort has yet to pass the state Legislature.
Friedel jokingly asked Maack if he would like to introduce the motion to grant the contract to the JT. Maack declined, and then voted against the proposal.
"Alderman Maack would rather have us break the law," said Friedel, who also noted during the meeting that websites like Racine Post are not eligible to be the official site of record for the official announcements.
Wisconsin Attorney General JB Van Hollen ruled that counties with populations under 250,000 people (Racine County has about 196,000 people) do not have to declare an official newspaper and can print official proceedings on their website.
Counties do, however, have to print legal notices in a newspaper, Van Hollen ruled.
We're checking on how much the city spent on legal notices in the JT last year. As a starting point, Clark County (population: 33,000; located in central Wisconsin) paid $11,000 last year publishing legal notices.
Showing posts with label David Maack. Show all posts
Showing posts with label David Maack. Show all posts
May 14, 2008
Alderman objects to paying JT to publish legal notices
Apr 24, 2008
City Council to discuss video surveillance May 6
We're a little behind on city meetings here ...
Congratulations to Alderman David Maack for being voted City Council president for the coming year. He was elected on a unanimous vote by the council at its April 15 meeting. The council typically sticks with seniority when it comes to selecting a new council president each year.
Below are the committee assignments for the next year. Alderman Tom Friedel retains control of the Finance and Personnel Committee, a powerful position because of its ties to the budget. Aldermen Greg Helding and Q.A. Shakoor II chair the public works and public safety committees, respectively. Here's the list:
FINANCE AND PERSONNEL COMMITTEELooking Ahead
Alderman Thomas Friedel, Chairman
Alderman James Spangenberg, Vice-Chairman
Alderman David Maack
Alderman Robert Anderson
Alderman Michael Shields
PUBLIC WORKS AND SERVICES COMMITTEE
Alderman Greg Helding, Chairman
Alderman Ronald Hart, Vice-Chairman
Alderman Sandy Weidner
Alderman Jeff Coe
Alderman Raymod DeHahn
PUBLIC SAFETY AND LICENSING COMMITTEE
Alderman Q.A. Shakoor II, Chairman
Alderman Aron Wisneski, Vice-Chairman
Alderman James Kaplan
Alderman Robert Mozol
Alderman Terry McCarthy
ALDERMAN AT-LARGE FOR EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Alderman Sandy Weidner
The council will discuss video surveillance during its Committee of the Whole meeting on May 6. True to his word, Alderman Greg Helding is bringing the topic up for discussion.
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