The Madison Common Council rejected a change to the Madison General Ordinances Tuesday that would allow the Equal Opportunities Commission, Affirmative Action Commission and Commission on People with Disabilities to sponsor ordinances and resolutions.
The adoption of this proposal would have given these three commissions the right to intervene on a civil rights issue, such as affirmative action, if no city alder sponsored it.
A speaker in support of the proposal claimed a stand needed to be taken to strengthen affirmative action as much as possible by providing options to avoid civil rights ignorance by future city alders.
Rosemary Lee, a speaker opposing the change, said the change in the ordinance would create a slippery slope. She said the legislative process has worked well for many years and still does.
""If a city committee can't get at least one alder to sponsor what you want to do, then it probably is not a very good idea … it is by no means a civil rights issue,"" she said.
City alders in support of the change recognized that there are other voices in the community that need to be heard. Ald. Satya Rhodes-Conway, District 12, who was in support of the proposition, said she would be open to sharing power when it comes to introducing proposals.
""I don't see this as an urgent issue because we have a pretty reasonable council. But these issues are important enough … The unlikelihood of it happening is not enough to say it isn't a good idea,"" Ald. Brian Solomon, District 10, said.
Opposing Ald. Mark Clear, District 19, said, ""Giving people who aren't voted [into office] the same power as those that are is a disrespect to district committees.""
The proposal was rejected by a margin of two votes.
Also passed in the meeting were controversial assessments for the installation of a roundabouts at the intersections of County Road M, Pleasant View Road and Valley View Road.
Supporters claimed this large piece of farmland property will most likely be developed in a few decades, and the installation of this roundabout is only a small part of a larger project intended to improve Madison.
Opposing alders insisted county funds should be used as well as city funds to reconstruct the county road.
The proposal was adopted with support from all but three alders.
