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Employers in the city of Milwaukee could be required to provide employees with paid sick leave benefits, according to a plan being pushed by Milwaukee 9to5.
Members of the group and its allies circulated petitions for direct legislation to have the Common Council consider a new ordinance. Under the proposal, employers would provide a minimum of one hour paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked, up to 72 hours of sick leave a year. Small businesses would only have to provide 40 hours of sick leave annually.
The plan has been quietly working its way through city hall, but our guess is that the chamber of commerce will set its guns on killing the idea. The city clerk's office sent 9to5 a letter saying the proposal needs some minor reworking.
Cops in Court: Another legacy of the Art Jones' era as police chief is set to be settled next week as the city considers whether to compensate a police officer $112,000 after he sued the city saying Jones demoted him for his speaking out about Jones and Deputy Chief Monica Ray.
Officer Alfonso Morales said he was demoted after he reported to the district attorney's office that Jones and Ray, who is still with the force, were seen having dinner at a restaurant with Ray's brother and did not arrest him, even though there were outstanding warrants for his arrest.
Morales and a vice control division detective were assigned to investigate a complaint that Deputy Chief Ray's brother was involved in fortifying a house to use for drug dealing. In April 1998, Morales and another officer, David Kolatski, were able to arrest Vincent Ray on open warrants.
Morales said the chief busted him down to patrol duties and violated his freedom of speech rights. Kolatski and Morales then both filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Jones and Ray.
The matter was tried in November 2005 before a jury, which returned a verdict in favor of both Morales and Kolatski, awarding each $20,000 in compensatory and $65,000 in punitive damages. They were also awarded attorney fees of $115,531.43, for a total judgment of $285,531.43.
On appeal, a higher court concluded that Kolatski had no right to assert a first amendment claim because his speech was entirely a part of his employment duties. It concluded that Morales' statements to the prosecutors were likewise unprotected, but that his deposition testimony could constitute protected speech.
The appellate court said there should bee a retrial, but City Attorney Grant Langley is recommending that the city just settle the matter with Morales since it could risk a jury coming back with an even higher award.
Vince Bobot Watch: Vince Bobot, an assistant Milwaukee city attorney and erstwhile candidate for mayor and sheriff, might be considering another run for public office. Bobot had won an election as Milwaukee Municipal judge but gave up the post to run for mayor in 2004. Bobot is keeping his name out there, however, but not under the banner of the city attorney's office. A small business-card size ad in the recent program for the upcoming South Shore Frolics has Bobot's name and office number simply listed as "Vincent J. Bobot, attorney at law."
Speaking of former city attorneys: David Halbrooks couldn't persuade the people he used to work for to side with his client, the nightclub called Sugar. At a recent Common Council meeting, Halbrooks, now a lobbyist, tried to rekindle the old times with aldermen. He also reminded them that he was the lawyer behind getting a judge to toss out the city ordinance that mandated taverns shut their doors at 10 p.m.
A judge ruled that the ordinance was unenforceable, but Halbrooks took the time to tell aldermen that police were still issuing tickets for open doors. What that has to do with Sugar was neither here nor there and aldermen overwhelmingly reaffirmed an earlier Licenses Committee recommendation that Sugar's license be suspended for 10 days.
Sugar, 126 E. Mineral St., tucked in a largely industrial area in Walker's Point, couldn't avoid controversy after its patrons would spill out on nearby streets after dancing. One police officer described a scene of a crowded gas station filled with partially clothed girls. The officer said he was concerned for the safety of the girls who weren't wearing coats on winter nights and would sometimes have nothing on but bikinis for a so-called "Foam" night.
Woody is Gone: It will be the end of an era for Milwaukee's Fire and Police Commission as Robert "Woody" Welch will be leaving upon the approval of the appointment of Carolina Stark, 2922 W. State St. Welch was known for his acerbic and pointed style of commissioning and his oft-heated spats with former Police Chief Art Jones.
Stark is an attorney with the state's Department of Workforce Development and her nomination gets heard this week in front of the Public Works Committee.
An avid outdoors person he regularly takes extended paddling trips in the wilderness, preferring the hinterlands of northern Canada and Alaska. After a bet with a bunch of sailors, he paddled across Lake Michigan in a canoe.
He lives in Bay View.
