A Madison alder introduced a resolution Nov. 20 to the city council, asking for the budget process to be studied and for recommendations on possible changes to the process.
Ald. Brenda Konkel, District 2, who propsed the resolution, wants to limit council meetings to eight hours. She introduced the resolution on the heels of a grueling 22-hour budget process the week before. She noted that some alders find it difficult to go to work the morning after an all-night council meeting.
Konkel also said another reason for the resolution is that decision making is not as sharp on key issues during the early morning hours when alders are tired and stressed.
Still, Mayor Dave Cieslewicz said despite the lengthy budget process, changes could be made elsewhere to avoid this resolution.
First, put more emphasis on the Board of Estimates budget process so that major budget issues can be addressed at the committee level and not be debated yet again on the council floor,"" he said in a statement.
Cieslewicz also noted that past budget processes have not taken as long and have been just as controversial. He said cutting time off the deliberations comes down to the alders.
""Alders need to practice some restraint,"" he said. ""One alder alone sponsored 44 amendments and demanded lengthy roll call votes on virtually every one.""
The alder Cieslewicz referenced was Konkel, who had a say in nearly every aspect of the $224 million city budget.
In other city budget news, the mayor officially signed the budget Wednesday before the Thanksgiving holiday.
