The "walkout/protest" to Ald. Thuy Pham-Remmele shows lack of good judgment and tolerance to issues that may have been important (and quite likely were) to Alder Pham-Remmele. It could be that some of the items Thuy added directly affected some of the alders who walked out and they did not want the item on the agenda. I sincerely hope that the residents of Madison take the time to look into council procedures and the rights of an alder that were thought to have been so disruptive. Some topics that may have been troubling and the GAG is always a good place to start: http://www.cityofmadison.com/election/candidateResources/campaignFinance/2009/2010.cfm
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In a rare if not unprecedented move, several City Council members left a meeting early in apparent protest of a colleague, breaking a quorum and ending the meeting with business still on the agenda.
The walkout occurred just before 10 p.m. Tuesday, while Ald. Thuy Pham-Remmele was asking questions on one of a series of items she had placed on an agenda for council discussion.
Pham-Remmele often places multiple items on the agenda for discussion. Otherwise, the items would be approved with others on a single vote.
Three of 20 council members had excused absences from the meeting, and when four others left, attendance fell below the 14 required for a quorum.
"I was trying to make a point," Ald. Joe Clausius, 17th District, said Wednesday. "Thuy's behavior has become unacceptable ... It has been going on for years. It's been escalating."
Pham-Remmele could not be reached by phone or e-mail Wednesday.
Ald. Mike Verveer, 4th District, who stayed, said it's a member's prerogative to put items on the agenda and ask questions, frustrating or not. He called Tuesday's walkout "bizarre and unfortunate."
Unprofessional? Unprepared?
Pham-Remmele, Clausius said, repeatedly puts items on the agenda for discussion when questions could be answered if she contacted city staff or attended committee meetings.
"I think everybody just got fed up," Clausius said.
The council had no critical business left on the agenda, he said. But others said some potentially time-sensitive business remained.
Alds. Tim Bruer, Steve King and Paul Skidmore also left. Bruer, first to leave, said he had another engagement and his departure wasn't related to Pham-Remmele. King said he left in protest. Skidmore could not be reached.
Verveer said the alders "owe Thuy and the council an apology for what they did. I think it was unprofessional."
King, 7th District, said he respects Verveer's commitment to his job, and would apologize if needed, but said Pham-Remmele doesn't prepare and tests the patience of colleagues.
"If we as a council don't police ourselves, and make members accountable, who else is going to do it?" he said.
Bruer, 14th District, elected in 1984, said he's never seen members intentionally leave to break quorum. He said he was excused to leave early for a meeting about a development in South Madison and stayed as long as he did to participate in important items related to Overture Center and Wingra Park.
City Council President Mark Clear, presiding over the meeting for Mayor Dave Cieslewicz, who is in Sweden, said Pham-Remmele seems engaged in theatrics and "has lost the respect of all of her colleagues."
Clear said he's not sure how to resolve the matter.
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http://gab.wi.gov/campaign-finance/registration-local
http://gab.wi.gov/forms/campaign-finance
Remember to make your voices heard with your votes!!
In a rare if not unprecedented move, several City Council members left a meeting early in apparent protest of a colleague, breaking a quorum and ending the meeting with business still on the agenda.
The walkout occurred just before 10 p.m. Tuesday, while Ald. Thuy Pham-Remmele was asking questions on one of a series of items she had placed on an agenda for council discussion.
Pham-Remmele often places multiple items on the agenda for discussion. Otherwise, the items would be approved with others on a single vote.
Three of 20 council members had excused absences from the meeting, and when four others left, attendance fell below the 14 required for a quorum.
"I was trying to make a point," Ald. Joe Clausius, 17th District, said Wednesday. "Thuy's behavior has become unacceptable ... It has been going on for years. It's been escalating."
Pham-Remmele could not be reached by phone or e-mail Wednesday.
Ald. Mike Verveer, 4th District, who stayed, said it's a member's prerogative to put items on the agenda and ask questions, frustrating or not. He called Tuesday's walkout "bizarre and unfortunate."
Unprofessional? Unprepared?
Pham-Remmele, Clausius said, repeatedly puts items on the agenda for discussion when questions could be answered if she contacted city staff or attended committee meetings.
"I think everybody just got fed up," Clausius said.
The council had no critical business left on the agenda, he said. But others said some potentially time-sensitive business remained.
Alds. Tim Bruer, Steve King and Paul Skidmore also left. Bruer, first to leave, said he had another engagement and his departure wasn't related to Pham-Remmele. King said he left in protest. Skidmore could not be reached.
Verveer said the alders "owe Thuy and the council an apology for what they did. I think it was unprofessional."
King, 7th District, said he respects Verveer's commitment to his job, and would apologize if needed, but said Pham-Remmele doesn't prepare and tests the patience of colleagues.
"If we as a council don't police ourselves, and make members accountable, who else is going to do it?" he said.
Bruer, 14th District, elected in 1984, said he's never seen members intentionally leave to break quorum. He said he was excused to leave early for a meeting about a development in South Madison and stayed as long as he did to participate in important items related to Overture Center and Wingra Park.
City Council President Mark Clear, presiding over the meeting for Mayor Dave Cieslewicz, who is in Sweden, said Pham-Remmele seems engaged in theatrics and "has lost the respect of all of her colleagues."
Clear said he's not sure how to resolve the matter.
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