Monday, May 21, 2012
Brian White, who served as 6th District alderman since April 2011, died of heart failure on Sunday.
Waukesha Alderman Brian White, who died Sunday from heart failure, is being remembered as someone who did whatever he could to make the city a great place to live. “He knew what he believed in and what he liked, and he fought for what he believed in,” said his brother, Alan White. “All communities go through changes and there were changes he didn’t believe in that passed or got through, but he did his part to keep the things he believed in in the community.” Brian White, who was 55, died at Waukesha Memorial Hospital. Alan White said his brother was very active throughout the community and in other activities, such as the Tripoli Rocketry Association, ham radio and volunteering at the National Weather Service station in Sullivan. The …
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
The salary range for the next city administrator — which was set between $110,000 and $140,000 — becomes topic of debate as aldermen have varying views on the lower end of the salary spectrum.
Waukesha’s next city administrator is unlikely to be selected until June 19, but that person will answer to the mayor with the caveat that the Common Council’s legislation is the final authority. “It is the original job description, but it has some additions to it,” said Joan Francoeur, who is the chairman of the Human Resources Committee. The Waukesha Common Council Tuesday approved the city administrator job description that returns the reporting structure of that post to the mayor. It was a highly controversial issue when the council removed Scrima’s supervisory role in the summer 2010 after conflicts between him and then-city administrator Lori Luther prompted the change. The move infuriated Scrima’s supporters, who would frequently …
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Jeff Scrima, Waukesha's mayor, acknowledges past highlights while looking forward to future goals and projects.
Editor's Note: The following column was provided to Patch and written by Jeff Scrima, mayor of Waukesha. Things are getting brighter. During the last two years we have made significant progress. Our goal is for Waukesha to become the No. 1 rated Best Small City in America by 2018. This is a big dream for a small city. We can do it by focusing on our sense of community. On our neighborhoods. On our homes. On our families. On our values of empathy and responsibility. And for those things to come to light, we would be wise to focus on the good and look out for others so that others will look after us. Things are getting brighter in Waukesha. Together our light will shine. Please join us!
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Waukesha Human Resources Committee recommends having city administrator report back to the mayor's position.
Waukesha Mayor Jeff Scrima could have his administrative power over the city administrator position restored if the Common Council follows the unanimous recommendation made Tuesday night by the council's Human Resources Committee. Scrima’s supervision role over the city administrator was removed in the summer 2010 after conflicts between him and then-city administrator Lori Luther led aldermen to unanimously make the change in reporting structure. The move infuriated Scrima’s supporters, who would frequently use the public comment section of council meetings to criticize the city administrator and the council over the change. The Human Resources Committee defined the job description during its meeting Tuesday night as the city begins a …
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Waukesha's Human Resources Committee will take up controversial topic as search begins for next city administrator.
The City of Waukesha’s Human Resources Committee will be taking the first looks at what the next city administrator’s role should look like as the Common Council prepares to hire the next top executive. The city administrator position has been a controversial one since Mayor Jeff Scrima took office. His clashes with then-City Administrator Lori Luther were sometimes public and ultimately lead to the Common Council removing Scrima’s supervisory role over her. The council’s decision made it clear that Luther was to report to the Common Council, which is the body that makes city decisions. Scrima is a part of the Common Council but can only vote in a tie. Scrima’s supporters in the months that followed came to Common Council meeting, …
43.014398
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City of Waukesha
201 Delafield St, Waukesha, WI
/articles/city-administrator-reporting-structure-up-for-discussion
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Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Oak Creek's appointed mayor signs letter that Waukesha council president feels followed Milwaukee's lead.
The mayors of the three Lake Michigan communities that have been identified as possible water suppliers to Waukesha sent Waukesha Mayor Jeff Scrima and Common Council President Paul Ybarra, questioning them about the city’s conservation measures, rate increase requests and water service area. “Due to the precedent setting nature of Waukesha’s diversion application under the Great Lakes Compact, we feel a great responsibility to ensure that our decisions and our actions are protective of Lake Michigan and its tributary streams,” the letter states. “It is important that the City of Waukesha understand that our three communities agree that the issues identified in this letter are important to all who will participate in any future discussions…
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Waukesha Water Utility
115 Delafield St, Waukesha, WI
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/locations/6540298
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Firm to be paid up to $20,500 to seek new executive for city.
Updated, 12:20 p.m. Wednesday: The aldermen who voted against using the Colin Baenziger & Associates search firm were Joan Francoeur, Kathleen Cummings and Roger Patton, according to Clerk/Treasurer Tom Neill. Original: Despite concerns from some aldermen about using a Florida-based head-hunting firm with little experience in Wisconsin to seek the next city administrator, the Common Council Tuesday voted to hire Colin Baenziger & Associates at a cost to not exceed $20,500. Alderman Paul Ybarra, who voted to approve the contract, said he was concerned about the firm’s lack of experience in Waukesha and Wisconsin. However, he said he was respecting the Human Resources Committee’s recommendations to hire the firm. “I think you are going to be…
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Common Council approves appointments to new taskforce.
As downtown bickering over street closures continues, especially for Freeman Friday Night Live’s summer music events, the Waukesha Common Council agreed to form a downtown taskforce that will address concerns related to events that occur in the central business district. After a lengthy discussion and mixed public comment, the following people were appointed to the taskforce: Payne and Alderwoman Kathleen Cummings voted against creating the group. Payne said he wanted people who “aren’t front page news” on the taskforce. Cummings, though, blasted Mayor Jeff Scrima because she made a referral to discuss the street closures and it took 35 days for anything to move forward, she said. The taskforce will be unable to complete the necessary work…
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City of Waukesha
201 Delafield St, Waukesha, WI
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Tuesday, January 31, 2012
While the project needs to go before government boards for approval, 10 10-feet-tall fiberglass Les Paul model guitars arrive in city.
Ten 10-feet-tall fiberglass Les Paul model guitars arrived in Waukesha Tuesday morning as the city is planned to be the next Gibson GuitarTown. The guitar were delivered to the Spring Artisan Village, 521 Wisconsin Ave. Local artists will soon be selected to decorate the guitars that will be placed throughout the city. “What can I say? It is amazing,” said Lynn Gaffey, owner of Almont Gallery and a member of the steering committee that is planning the project. The artist selection begins Tuesday, Gaffey said, and 25 artists have submitted applications to work on the guitars. In addition to the 10-feet-tall guitars, 15 smaller guitars will be placed throughout the city. Gibson is donating three of the large guitars and all of the 15 guitars…
43.00971
-88.23761
The Springs Artisan Village
521 Wisconsin Ave, Waukesha, WI
/articles/waukesha-s-journey-to-be-a-gibson-guitartown-moves-forward
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/locations/6284240
Friday, January 27, 2012
Information technology employee alleges that the mayor nearly hit him in City Hall parking lot. The mayor response was that the employee seemed to be “in a daze.”
Update: This article has been updated to include the mayor's response at 4:18 p.m. Friday and Knox's response at 7 p.m. Friday. A city employee alleged Friday morning that Waukesha Mayor Jeff Scrima nearly hit him with his vehicle as he was walking in the City Hall parking lot, according to a Waukesha Police Department call log filed this morning at 8:51 a.m. Scrima did not speak with Derek Knox, the employee in the information technology department, after the incident occurred, the call log states. The incident occurred Thursday afternoon. Deputy Police Chief Dennis Angle spoke with the mayor about the incident who told Angle “the pedestrian appeared to be in a daze and unaware of his surroundings as Scrima pulled into the lot. Scrima …
43.014398
-88.235514
City of Waukesha
201 Delafield St, Waukesha, WI
/articles/employee-contacts-police-over-mayor-s-driving
1063004
/locations/6266699
Candace Decker
7:25 pm on Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Brian served as alderman of our district and lived across the street. He was very kind and helpful, my husband and I are very saddened by his passing. His family, and Brian are in our thoughts and prayers. more ›