Marshfield Common Council Takes Surprising Move Against Domestic Abuse Organization
Wednesday, March 28th, 2018 -- 9:02 AM
(WDLB) -Not only did Marshfield aldermen last night reject the idea of giving money to the city's domestic abuse organization, but the Common Council emphasized it with a specific motion to deny funding--a type of vote which is almost never taken.With one member absent, the Council voted 7-to-2 last night in favor of a motion to deny funding for the Personal Development Center--which was seeking assistance in covering the costs associated with the acquisition of the former home of Marshfield's now-defunct transitional homeless shelter. Naysayers, like Alderman Tom Buttke, had the same argument last night as in the past; if the Council gives money to one non-profit, it better be prepared to say "yes" to them all. P-D-C was asking the city Council to cover the 80-thousand dollar purchase price for the shelter property, plus 20-thousand dollars a year for operational expenses. Executive Director Renee Schulz, who first approached the Council regarding the funding two weeks ago, argued that the Personal Development Center is not just another non-profit organization seeking funding.
She said providing emergency shelter for victims of domestic abuse is a public safety issue the city should be financially involved in. P-D-C recently announced it was acquiring the former transitional homeless shelter once operated by the St. Vincent DePaul Outreach Center. That non-profit organization was denied city funding a few years ago. But another non-profit, the Marshfield Area Pet Shelter, has been granted city assistance in recent years. And in the wake of helping that organization, Alderman Ed Wagner was under the assumption the Council would do the same in this situation. Wagner joined Alderman Chris Jockheck in voting against the funding denial.
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