Glendale officials put off decision on County Board referendums until January

Glendale - The Common Council will wait until January to make a decision on the inclusion of advisory referendum questions on the April ballot.

The Intergovernmental Cooperation Council has proposed advisory questions for the ballot. One proposes the reduction of the County Board from 18 to 9 supervisors while the other asks if the positions should be part-time vs. their current full-time status.

The ICC and the County Board have taken opposing sides on the county's redistricting plan and its reduction of paramedic subsidies for county fire departments.

Mayor Jerry Tepper told the Council he thought it should wait and see if other communities are voting to place the questions on the ballot. Thus far, Shorewood, Whitefish Bay and River Hills have, but other communities, including Brown Deer, have either tabled the request or voted against placing it on the ballot. Tepper said it appears the city of Milwaukee will not act on the request, keeping the largest numbers of voters in the county from expressing their preference.

In addition, the County Board itself will consider a recommendation from its Personnel Committee to place the referendum on the ballot, Glendale City Administrator Richard Maslowski said.

Resident Don Hoeller, who was the treasurer for Citizens for Responsible Government during the 2002 County Board recalls, said the council should give Glendale residents the opportunity to be heard regardless of what others do. Hoeller said he thinks voters would require the reduction in the County Board, given the chance to vote on the questions.

"Be a leader, don't wait for the rest of them," he said.

But the council will wait to vote until Jan. 23 when the questions will once again be on its agenda for discussion and a possible vote.

"We should receive all the information available before placing it on the ballot," said Alderman Elliot Moeser.