MILWAUKEE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
L-R: Chairwoman Marina Dimitrijevic, District 4; Supervisor Deanna Alexander, District 18;Supervisor Mark Borkowski, District 11; Supervisor David Bowen, District 10; Supervisor Gerry Broderick, District 3;ROW 2 - Supervisor David Cullen, District 15; Supervisor Jason Haas, District 4; Supervisor Nikiya Harris, District 2; Supervisor Willie Johnson, District 13; Supervisor Patricia Jursik, District 8;ROW 3 - Supervisor Theodore Lipscomb, District 1; Supervisor Michael Mayo, District 7; Supervisor Peggy Romo West, District 12; Supervisor Joe Sanfelippo, District 17; Supervisor James Schmitt, District 6; ROW 4 - Supervisor Russell Stamper II, District 5; Supervisor Steve Taylor, District 9; Supervisor John Weishan, Jr., District 16
MILWAUKEE (MPA) - "In our Smart Growth Signature Plan (2005-2010), our research revealed disappointing Code of Conduct by elected-appointed-hired-volunteered and donor-for-hire representatives requesting, designating, using and monitoring federal funds on behalf of the half-million People of Milwaukee. We see how Milwaukee has become the ATM (Automatic Teller Machine) to everyone but those it belongs to. We see that our officials' behavior enables Enduring Concentration Poverty and have trapped over a half-million Milwaukeeans, said Mary Glass, Chair/CEO, Milwaukee Professionals Association.
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Looking at the timeline of the removal of Director Freida Webb and call for investigation of alleged acts as well as the review of Milwaukee County Community Business Development Partners Department; the announcement by Chairwoman Dimitrijevic was made prior to pending reports being given.
Vetting - Trust
That being said,we know that the People's business must go on while the system of justice move slowly for clarity.
The concern regarding Mr. Solar is his resume attachment with We Energies, Milwaukee Metropolitan Association of Commerce and the University of Wisconsin.
All three of the contacts have been identified in our research as organizations attached to the Milwaukee 7 and engaged in acts of Discrimination. All three (3) are in the Call for Investigation by the United States Department of Justice per report of Mary Glass. We also know how the well-connected lobbying component of the three organizations have responded as local and regional proxy decision makers for the People (without knowledge, participation and permission); and, they are able to use clout and power of persuasion. Chairwoman Dimitrijevic has a seat on this self-appointed council.
Additionally, Chairwoman Dimitrijevic raised the question of "Integrity/Trust" of her office recently when she refused to meet with Mary Glass to discuss "Ideas of Innovation" to change the Enduring Concentration of Poverty in the city of Milwaukee - especially since she is having "Chats" and had voiced wanting to "work together".
Therefore, calls were made by Mary Glass to poll the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors with 3 transparency/accountability questions:
- Did they know about the appointment prior to the announcement?
- Did they make a recommendation for an Interim Director?
- Did they attend a special meeting, caucus or committee meeting to select the Interim Director?
But, the majority did not know in advance of the press release and eleven said they did not make a recommendation and were not involved in the selection.
This is a key position for pathways and pipeines to build economic engines and jumpstart our African American and other People of Color businesses at the neighborhood level. These are the businesses "by design" are left out of tooling and meaningful financial packaging.
So, the individual selected should have skin-in-the-game as is reported of Mr. Soler; but, we must know that his allegiances and alliances are in the right place and are not "conflicted". Therein lies a process of "vetting" for transparency, predictability and accountability.
Whereas, we are aware that Chairwoman Dimitrijevic has the authority "to appoint" this position, it was our understanding that she was selected by her peers to lead - both she and her peers are responsible for the appointment for this position. So, why weren't they included in at least recommending a candidate as well as vetting the candidate selected?
It sends the wrong message to the public about how this county board is being ran and what can be expected for transparency, customer care, public policy making, accountability and best practices.
Governance
For the permanent position, it is strongly recommended that the process includes ALL of the Board of Supervisors from the beginning to selecting the candidate. We simply must have TRUST in our county government and for our county government to be hands-on with integrity.
It is critical that we strengethen our hidden talent of African American, other People of Color for business development at the neighborhood level. Too often the setasides go unused or dominated by Caucasian women business owners, often backed by Caucasian men.
We must provide tools for creating and maintaining a supply chain. The people we put in position must provide transparency and predictability in growing our economic engines with opportunities that are real and with partnership growth.
We are interested in creating supply chains, distribution networks and retail partnerships that are competitive, local, regional and global in nature.
Our strategic awareness calls for the importance of a balanced relationship with the neighborhood level businesses to build economic engines from the bottom up infrastructure - training, technology, finance and marketing opportunities will go a long way.
We seek pathways for pipelines that will link vetted businesses at the neighborhood level with education and technology attainment as the ramp for change, innovation, competitiveness and success.
We, at Milwaukee Professionals Association look forward to working with Interim Director Soler, the permanent director and the full board to create an infrastructure for our Milwaukee businesses to thrive. We are a public architect protagonist for re-defining, re-branding and UN-trapping hidden talent at the neighborhood level in Urban Milwaukee.
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Press Release
Milwaukee County Board Chairwoman Marina Dimitrijevic
For Immediate Release August 3, 2012
Contact: Harold Mester, Public Information Manager
414/278-4051 or harold.mester@milwcnty.com
Velia Alvarez, Public Information Assistant
414/278-4230 or velia.alvarez@milwcnty.com
UPDATE ON OFFICE OF COMMUNITY BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS
Milwaukee, WI – Milwaukee County BoardChairwoman sent the following communication to the County Board, County Executive, Comptroller, and Department Heads this morning:
“The Office of Community Business Development Partners (CBDP) is responsible for administering the County’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program. Contract compliance is a specific responsibility of the CBDP. The CBDP reports to the County Boardof Supervisors, and this Board has always been very supportive of CBDP’smission.
“Recently, I suspended without pay the Director of CBDP pending the results of a reported investigation into allegations of misconduct in public office. Since that time, I have taken a few precautionary measures, including:
• Freezing travel of CBDP staff
• Placinga temporary hold on contract approval by CBDP staff pending an independent review; and
• Assigning the processing of CBDP payroll to the County Board Office Coordinator
“It is imperative that the CBDP be equipped properly, so it can continue to function and ensure DBE participation in Milwaukee County procurement, public works and professional services contracts.
We appreciate the efforts of staff to ensure continuity of services to clients.
“Therefore, I am taking the step of appointing Mr. Nelson Soler as the Interim Director of CBDP. This appointment is for a temporary time period, pending the conclusion of the investigation. In order to avoid an appearance of a conflict of interest,Mr. Soler already has terminated his contract with Milwaukee County. If there are pending invoices, they will be reviewed by the Milwaukee County Auditor.
“Mr. Soler is the founder of the Multicultural Entrepreneurship Institute, where he helps minority-owned businesses become certified. His resume includes a wealth of experience from We Energies, UW-Milwaukee, and the Milwaukee School of Engineering. His fresh perspective, and the professional contacts he has developed, will helpful fill the mission of the CBDP office to create opportunities for small and minority-owned businesses.
“UMOS named Mr. Soler the Hispanic Man of the Year in 2011, and he currently participates in a number of boards, including MMAC's Business Council (Co-Chair), the Hmong Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce, the Latino Entrepreneurial Network of Southeast Wisconsin, the Ethnically Diverse Coalition of Chambers of Wisconsin, and Milwaukee's Green Team.
“I ask that you welcome Mr. Soler and work cooperatively with him as he transitions into his new responsibilities with Milwaukee County.”
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Harold Mester
Public Information Manager
Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors
harold.mester@milwcnty.com
414-278-4051
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