COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - MINUTES - 9/19/2002
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE – CITY OF MUSKEGO Approved
MINUTES OF MEETING HELD SEPTEMBER 19, 2002
Mayor Slocomb called the meeting to order at 7:08 PM. Also present were Ald. Sanders, Salentine,
LeDoux, Madden, Demaske, and Patterson, Finance Director Dawn Gunderson, and Municipal Judge
Berigan. Ald. Petfalski arrived at 7:20 PM
All in attendance recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
Mayor Slocomb noted the meeting was noticed in accordance with the Open Meeting Law.
Minutes of the August 22, September 5, and September 12, 2002 Committee of the Whole meetings were
not available for approval.
Unfinished Business
Finance Director reviewed with the committee the detail being presented
1. Review 2003 Capital Budget
a. Mayor - New Maintenance Van – The Mayor asked that this item be deferred until the next
meeting. Al.d Salentine moved to defer. Seconded by Ald. Sanders carried by all.
b. Muskego Volunteer Fire Company – The Muskego Fire Company was unable to attend due
to a banquet, but would be available for the next meeting.
2. Continue discussion of 2003 Operating Budget (including Muskego Volunteer Fire Company and
Municipal Judge) – Municipal Judge Berigan was present to discuss the request to implement a Teen
or Peer Court in the City of Muskego. The Judge explained that there are 30 to 35 teen courts in the
State of Wisconsin – including New Berlin and Menomonee Falls, and they have been around for
approximately 10 to 15 years. The concept of developing a teen court came forward from the Teen
Advisory Committee. Assistant School Superintendent Ramers, Ald. Petfalski and Captain Daley
from the Police Department have been working with the Judge and the Teen Advisory Committee to
bring forward this plan. Actual numbers show that these peer or teen courts reduce juvenile crime.
Counties show a 10-15% in repeat offenders. This rate is normally 40-50%. It is a completely
voluntary program and goes beyond the particular offenders. There is total involvement with kids
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from 7 grade to senior in high school. It is mandatory for offenders to also sit on the jury and there
is also mandatory community service. Menomonee Falls affords a good model in developing this
program. It calls for a Peer Court Coordinator that would work approximately 15 to 19 hours per
week at approximately $10 per hour. The juvenile has to be a first offender in a non-traffic violation.
Drug & alcohol charges will not be handled by this court but will continue to be handled by the Judge.
As a voluntary program, kids have to volunteer in this and can opt to go through the normal process.
The court does not determine guilt or innocence. The individual must admit liability in order to
participate. The Teen Court determines sentencing. They will appear in court, there will be an adult
volunteer judge, a minimum of 6 kids and up to 12 kids on the jury. There will be a defense attorney
and a prosecuting attorney – age will be limited to the older/high school kids. A sentence hearing will
take place, which will require mandatory community service along with mandatory service on a jury.
They may be required to write an essay or research the cost of replacing something or fixing it. Once
an offender completes court, the ticket is suspended without prejudice and cannot be brought back.
Next year, because of losing the high school seniors in the spring of next year, it is hoped that the
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message will get out by word-of-mouth and they can begin having court on October 1. The
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Coordinator will begin around August 1. The ideal candidate would be a retired teacher or police
officer. There may be grants available to get things started and this should be investigated. Also, the
University of Wisconsin-Madison can help to set this up, and training is available by other teen court
coordinators.
The Finance Director distributed revised reports and presented the additional changes that were made to
the budget by working with the Mayor and Department Heads. The computer replacement was reduced
from a 3 year replacement to a 4 year replacement program reducing the budget by $22,484, the second
floater was removed for a savings of $37,894, contingency was reduced by $75,000, $2,000 was
removed from the library budget for a storage shed, expenditure restraints State Aid was increased by
$42,730, there is an additional $9,410 in Urban Forestry funds, a $20,000 increase in revenue for court
Committee of the Whole Page 2
Minutes of Meeting Held 9/19/02
fines, $8,985 reduction in planning department expenses, $2,525 reduction in the Building & Engineering
budget and $4,038 of miscellaneous deductions, net an increase of $637 in the Little Muskego Lakes
Contributions for a total reduction in the tax levy of $271,113. Question was raised about the ongoing
discussions for the athletic fields. The Mayor advised that this will be up for further discussion on the
Tuesday Council meeting.
New Business - None
Communications and Miscellaneous Business as Authorized by Law - None
Adjournment
Ald. Salentine moved to adjourn at 8:50 PM. Ald. Sanders seconded; motion carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Dawn R. Gunderson, CPFO
Finance Director