Resolution Aims to Take Down Milwaukee Health Department’s Restrictive Communication Policy
This resolution will prohibit any policy which aims to stifle whistle-blowers.
Alderman Tony Zielinski is introducing a resolution to prohibit departments from enacting policies restricting employees from communicating with elected city officials. This resolution will prohibit any policy which aims to stifle whistle-blowers.
Yesterday, during a special meeting of the Steering & Rules Committee, employees from the Milwaukee Health Department briefed Common Council members on lead laterals and risks to city drinking water, as well as other sources of lead contaminants that are impacting vulnerable populations such as women in reproductive years and children. During the meeting, Alderman Zielinski was appalled to learn from MHD employees that there is a written policy restricting workers from speaking directly to elected officials.
Alderman Zielinski says his resolution will slash down that policy, “The policy is a disgrace, and it likely restricted workers from coming forward sooner. Had city employees been able to come forward sooner, greater steps toward prevention could have been taken and perhaps fewer children would have been negatively impacted. My resolution will prohibit all departments from being able to enact a troubling policy like this.”
Many colleagues have expressed interest in joining as co-sponsors of the resolution, including Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs, Alderman Jim Bohl, President Ashanti Hamilton, Alderman Russell W. Stamper, II, Alderman Mark Borkowski, and Alderman Cavalier Johnson, with other members expected to join in. This issue will be further examined during the full Common Council meeting at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, February 6 in the third floor Common Council Chamber at City Hall, 200 E. Wells St. Alderman Zielinski is calling on Mayor Tom Barrett to sign the resolution immediately after the Common Council passes it.
If adopted, the Health Department would be required to rescind its communication policy and replace it with one that allows employees the opportunity to be able to speak with elected city officials.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.
More about the Lead Crisis
- 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
- City Regulators Can Require Fixing of Lead Hazards — If They Can Find Landlords - Farrah Anderson - Aug 29th, 2023
Read more about Lead Crisis here
Mentioned in This Press Release
Recent Press Releases by Ald. Tony Zielinski
No money for police, lead hazard issues or infrastructure, but let’s pump up the streetcar we can’t afford
Nov 1st, 2019 by Ald. Tony ZielinskiStatement of Alderman Tony Zielinski November 1, 2019
Thank you…on that same topic of the lead in water….seems to me the city should “bite the bullet” and clean up the old lead pipes…and solicit federal/county/state monies to help.
We hand out $$$ to clean up the Pension/audit problems…why not clean this up…
PS I’m not a politician, so in all honesty, I don’t know how to maneuver all the pieces on this topic. I just wonder at all the $$ is being spent to research/investigate, etc the situation.