Downtown Drama: Should Entire BID Board Be Removed?
The Waukesha Common Council will hear a recommendation from two council members who say the entire Waukesha Business Improvement District's Board of Directors should be removed.
Two Waukesha Business Improvement District board members survived a vote of no-confidence. The BID's director and another employee have resigned their positions. Two board members have also stepped down.
The problems in the BID will take a prominent role during Tuesday’s 7:30 p.m. Common Council meeting. The council will hear a referral from Alderwoman Kathleen Cummings and Alderman Eric Payne that calls for the removal of the entire 13-member board.
After Executive Director Meghan Sprager’s resignation shocked the downtown community as she brought forward strong accusations against two downtown leaders, some downtown business owners begged the council to help fix the problems.
Board President Norm Bruce and board member Lynn Gaffey survived votes of no-confidence after a nine-page document from Sprager outlined what she felt were hostile working conditions.
After the majority of the BID board supported Gaffey and Bruce, board members Christine VanderBloemen and Jeff Barta stepped down from their positions.
Also resigning was BID employee John Ward, who served as interim executive director between fall 2010 and spring 2011.
Properties in the downtown area are taxed a special assessment to fund BID services, such as marketing, special events and business recruitment and retention. Sprager reported to a board of directors made up primarily of local business leaders.
Johnny Paycheck
4:16 pm on Monday, September 17, 2012
These surveys almost make me feel like my opinion matters, which it does not since I don't pay any tax on the BID or derive any benefits from it.
In any case I have seen the list of BID directors and could hardly call that rabble the leaders of local business unless leadership is defined solely by membership on the board.