Council Could Reject Interim Health Leader
Eight aldermen question legality of Nannis appointment to run Health Department.
The blowback from the problems discovered in the city’s Health Department continue.
Following the resignation of Health Commissioner Bevan K. Baker, Mayor Tom Barrett announced the appointment of Paul Nannis. Nannis, who created the now-troubled lead abatement program under Mayor John Norquist while serving as commissioner, left the city in 1998. Barrett has appointed Nannis for a period of no longer than 120 days, and Nannis has said he has no intention of sticking around longer than that.
The appointment hasn’t been met with approval from a number of members of the Common Council. The Public Safety and Health Committee rejected the appointment on a 3-1 vote last week, with aldermen Robert Donovan, Mark Borkowski and Jose G. Perez voting in opposition. Ald. Terry Witkowski voted for Nannis, while Ald. Chantia Lewis abstained.
The appointment will go before the full council next week, but before that can happen Nannis finds himself in hot water. Eight council members signed a letter Monday morning requesting the City Attorney’s opinion on the legality of Nannis working at the Health Department before he is formally appointed.
The controversial appointment isn’t the only iron the council has in the fire. The Public Works Committee held a two-hour hearing into lead water problems last week, before holding a series of pending resolutions while awaiting more details. The Health Department’s primary abatement focus is on lead paint, but the issue of lead laterals and its impact on water quality is also at issue.
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More about the Lead Crisis
- Baldwin Delivers Over $83 Million to Replace Lead Pipes, Expand Access to Safe Drinking Water - U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin - May 2nd, 2024
- Congresswoman Gwen Moore Statement on Milwaukee Designation as Workforce Hub - U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore - Apr 26th, 2024
- Biden Announces Milwaukee As New “Workforce Hub” For Lead Pipe Removal - Jeramey Jannene - Apr 25th, 2024
- Senator Baldwin Delivers Nearly $2 Million to Keep Wausau Families Safe from Lead Contamination - U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin - Apr 12th, 2024
- IRS Rules that Homeowners Won’t Have to Pay Additional Taxes for Subsidized Replacement of Lead Pipes - Milwaukee Water Works - Feb 29th, 2024
- Milwaukee Makes It Far Easier To Replace Your Lead Service Line - Jeramey Jannene - Dec 18th, 2023
- Congresswoman Gwen Moore Praises Biden Administration Effort to Remove Lead Pipes in 10 Years - U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore - Nov 30th, 2023
- Biden-Harris Administration Announces Partnership with 10 Wisconsin Communities to Accelerate Lead Service Line Replacement as Part of Investing in America Agenda - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Nov 2nd, 2023
- Evers, DNR Announce $402 Million Funding to Improve Local Drinking Water - Henry Redman - Oct 24th, 2023
- How EPA’s Proposed Lead Dust Rules Would Impact Wisconsin - Farrah Anderson - Aug 30th, 2023
Read more about Lead Crisis here
Political Contributions Tracker
Displaying political contributions between people mentioned in this story. Learn more.
- December 13, 2018 - José G. Pérez received $50 from Mark Borkowski
- August 18, 2017 - Tom Barrett received $100 from Paul Nannis
- February 23, 2017 - Tom Barrett received $100 from Paul Nannis
- March 30, 2016 - Tom Barrett received $100 from Bevan K. Baker
- January 20, 2016 - José G. Pérez received $50 from Paul Nannis
- January 14, 2016 - Terry Witkowski received $50 from Paul Nannis
- September 21, 2015 - José G. Pérez received $50 from Terry Witkowski
- September 8, 2015 - Robert Donovan received $50 from Mark Borkowski
- September 5, 2015 - Terry Witkowski received $50 from Paul Nannis
- August 29, 2015 - Tom Barrett received $25 from Bevan K. Baker
- November 9, 2014 - José G. Pérez received $35 from Paul Nannis
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