Committee of the Whole (BR)

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - Minutes Village of Hales Corners, WI March 3, 2025 5635 S. New Berlin Road The meeting was called to order at 6:45 p.m. by Todd Brinkmeier. 1.0 Roll Call – Present: Chair T. Brinkmeier. Trustees: M. Bennett, J. Chesney, M. Eternicka, K. Meleski, I. Thomson and Pres. D. Besson. Staff: Police Chief E. Cera and Village Administrator S. Kulik. Audience (2). 2.0 PUBLIC COMMENT – Mary Limon, 7007 W. Coldspring Rd, Apt, Greenfield, WI 53220 addressed the Committee regarding a request for a traffic study or lighted intersection at 116th and Edgerton. Matter referred to Public Works Commission. 3.0 AGENDA ITEMS 3.1 Minutes February 3, 2025 – no changes, placed on file. 3.2 Police Department Update – Police Chief E. Cera addressed the Committee. He commented on the 50th Anniversary of the Police Department will be March 7, 2025. He reported on equipment challenges and staffing challenges. He reported his retirement date is January 2, 2026 and that the Fire & Police Commission (FPC) is working on his replacement. He reported on a successor agreement with the Village of Greendale for dispatching services and reported on upcoming radio capital purchases due to obsolescence of existing equipment. M. Eternicka asked for a preliminary estimate to replace the radios. E. Cera estimated $250,000. D. Besson inquired about staff that have left and if the Chief could expand on why the various employees have left. E. Cera commented that it was due to lower call volume compared to more metro areas, few or no specialty units within the department and some who just wanted a larger department. T. Brinkmeier asked how many staff made the department fully staffed. E. Cera reported 18 positions and they currently have 16 but anticipate a full staff by March of 2026 provided there are no other vacancies. T. Brinkmeier inquired if there was anything that could be done to secure lateral and new recruits. E. Cera commented that the Village is already doing them and it is really just a demographic of wanting to work in a smaller community and family centric community policing as part of an employee’s job satisfaction. 3.3 Hales Happiness Bid update – S. Kulik reported on the bid results and the timeline for the issuance of debt and special assessment preliminary numbers within the next 60 days. She reported that the two resolutions in the packet were not requested to move on to the Board at this time, but will be presented on April 28, 2025 along with the Note award, Bid Award and the Special Assessment preliminary resolution. 3.4 Milwaukee County Deer Management discussion – D. Besson reported on the letter in the packet and that he had discussions with the Village Attorney about the ability for Milwaukee County to control their grounds, but that permissions to discharge any firearm resides with the Village. He suggested that failure to notify the Village and the residents as outlined in the plan would be grounds for removing the Village Board’s permissions under the program. K. Meleski inquired if they had considered relocation versus culling. D. Besson commented that this was tried in River Hills and was more expensive and less effective. M. Eternicka stated that the tree stand location was a concern. D. Besson commented that from the stand in the triangle area they are shooting towards a hill / berm area. T. Brinkmeier commented that they are actually working from three locations, the blind in the triangle, the garden house and some other area he could not exactly recall. M. Eternicka commented that it is the proximity to homes and it seems like there should be a bigger gap. He further expressed concerns about monitoring the area as Milwaukee County Parks indicated they were short staffed and how can we be sure they will be monitoring the 1 Committee of the Whole- March 3, 2025  areas marked. He commented that it seems inadequate to the risk involved with firing weapons in a residential and community walkway area. J. Chesney inquired if the County Parks would come in and address the Board. D. Besson indicated that they would and he will contact them to attend a future board meeting. I. Thomson inquired about the River Hills process and D. Besson reported that it was expensive to live trap but that they are still doing that there. M. Bennett asked that better maps and visuals be presented by the County when they are discussing their program with the Board. 4.0 ADJOURNMENT – Motion (Eternicka, Meleski) to adjourn at 8:00 p.m.; motion passes unanimously. Submitted, __________________________ Sandra M. Kulik, Administrator 2 Committee of the Whole- March 3, 2025