What is an Alderman?

Paid for by Lisa Mellone and Steve Mellone, Treasurer

 

What does an Alderperson do?

 

First, we receive and review weekly packet each Saturday which includes upcoming meeting agendas, minutes, proposals, ordinance reviews, financial updates, task force reports, and much more.  Often times these packets take hours to comb through.

 

In addition to attending Common Council meetings on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month Aldermen are appointed to 3-4 of the various committee’s as follows:

· Board of Public Works

· Legislative and Licensing

· Finance Committee

· Plan Commission

· Park & Recreation

· Human Resources and Public Safety Committee

· Library Board

· Police and Fire Commission

· Forestation

· Greenway Corridor

· IT Subcommittee

· Board of Appeals

· Board of Review

· Neighborhood Task Force committee’s

 (see city website for complete list)

 

Your Aldermen are responsible for establishing and maintaining our City ordinances, approving development, Public Works projects, Park and Recreation activities, approving the annual budget (part of your property tax bill), and much more.

 

In addition, here are some examples of everyday issues in which Aldermen commonly get involved. Each contact usually requires 3-4 follow-up phone calls with city staff and residents:

 

· Unkempt yard complaints

· Stop sign requests

· Snow plowing complaints

· Noise complaints

· Leaf Burning complaints

· Complaints about wording or ambiguity of an ordinance

· City policy issues

· Storm Drain issues

· Speeding complaints

· Code complaints (both too restrictive and not restrictive enough)

· Power outage complaints

· Complaints about neighbors in general

· Park and public land complaints

· Dead Deer Carcass complaints

· Dead trees on private property complaints

 

To serve the public, most Aldermen perform the following duties in relation to the above issues and responsibilities:

Meet with city officials, gather information, research topics for possible solutions or alternatives, meet with neighbors, gather ideas from other municipalities, write letters, make phone calls, and email correspondence.

 

 

District 7 has the highest percentage of contacts with city officials or departments among all seven districts, averaging 3 emails and/or phone calls per day. 

The City of Brookfield has 14 Alderman that make up the Common Council.  There are 2 aldermen for each of 7 districts.  Each term is 4 years.  The Mayor presides over the Council and has a 4 year term. 

 

Each Alderman or Council Member sits on various committees which is where most of the work gets done.