Marshfield Common Council Can't Reach Agreement on Former Transitional Homeless Shelter
Thursday, April 12th, 2018 -- 7:36 AM
(WDLB) - For the second time in as many weeks, Marshfield aldermen have said "no" to funding for the city's domestic abuse organization.P-D-C recently announced it was acquiring the former transitional homeless shelter once operated by the St. Vincent DePaul Outreach Center. P-D-C closed on the shelter property last Thursday. A community fundraising campaign has already begun to assist the agency with getting the new location ready with modifications for increased security. She said a federal grant of 175-thousand dollars will cover those renovations. But she said her organization will need another 150-thousand dollars a year in operational expenses--mainly for around-the-clock staff members. And in an ironic twist of fate, Mayor Chris Meyer--in his last meeting as Marshfield Mayor--cast, not one--but TWO--votes to break ties, just to get the funding request to the Council floor for a vote. He broke a tie vote that rescinded the Council's original denial of the funding two weeks ago, and he voted in favor of the Council considering the dollar-for-dollar match proposal from Alderman Wagner.
Ultimately, Aldermen voted 7-to-3 against the P-D-C funding--essentially the same vote as last month--with the addition of Mike Feirer in the "yes" column. He was not at last month's meeting. A tie-breaking vote by the Mayor almost never happens in Marshfield--which has a weak Mayor/strong Council form of government, meaning the Mayor only votes to break ties, the Council ultimately votes on every decision made, and the City Administrator runs the day-to-day operations from City Hall.
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