Six Aldermen Return to Racine Common Council After Governance Reforms

RACINE, Wis. (WRJN) — Business is back in session in Racine. Six aldermen have officially ended their boycott of the Common Council after the passage of ordinances that revise how items are added to the council agenda.

The boycott had prevented the council from reaching a quorum during the Oct. 1 meeting. The controversy centered around a 2019 ordinance that transferred agenda-setting and communications authority from the council to the mayor’s and clerk’s offices.

With the newly approved ordinance, all communications will be presented to the council and assigned to a committee. Any items that are approved, rejected, or filed by a committee will be reported at the next council meeting.

The aldermen who participated in the boycott believe this new ordinance will help restore balance within city government. They had anticipated seeing it on the Oct. 1 agenda and decided to boycott when it was not included. The alders did issue a statement about their work. It was sent from Alder Melissa Kaprelian, “These achievements, particularly the communication reform, address longstanding issues stemming from 2019 changes that had diminished council authority and government transparency.”

Mayor Cory Mason was not at the Tuesday’s session. On The Don Rosen Show this week, he said the effort from the boycotting alders brought more drama than needed.

The revised process is set to take effect in 60 days.