Jessamy F. Torres

The board meeting included the election of board officers for the upcoming term. Several resolutions were granted final approval, including the authorization of line-item budget transfers, an amendment to the Healthy Dane Collaborative Memorandum of Understanding for the Community Health Data Platform project, and the authorization for the Environmental Health Program to accept funds from the State of Wisconsin Department of Health Services for regional radon information centers.

The board discussed litigation strategy regarding a decision from the Wisconsin Elections Commission, eventually voting to appeal to Circuit Court. Additionally, the board acted on an order from the Wisconsin Elections Commission by remanding election results for several judicial and county races to the Madison Municipal Board of Canvass for necessary corrections. The session also included the certification of the county canvass for various municipal, judicial, and county supervisor positions.

The committee held an election for its Chair and Vice Chair officers. Key business included the approval of a fund transfer request for the Register of Deeds office and the review of several referrals including ordinance amendments related to per diem payments and county board rules. Various contracts and resolutions were recommended for approval, including the construction of the Arctic Fox exhibit at Henry Vilas Zoo, software support services, behavioral health and re-entry services, the acceptance of opioid and stimulant unmet needs funds, and multiple infrastructure projects such as a bridge replacement, parking lot improvements, and landfill cell construction. Additionally, the committee discussed and recommended for denial a contract regarding jail resident telephone and video visitation services, and authorized property protection and easements related to conservation areas.

The subcommittee received reports from several work groups regarding behavioral health objectives. Discussions included the review of Chapter 51, 54, and 55 statutes, medication continuity during and after incarceration in the county jail, service inventory and system mapping, peer support integration, county-wide service handoff to support services, and an update regarding the Triage Center.

The committee held an election for the positions of Chair and Vice Chair. Legislative actions included recommending the approval of the reclassification for Child Support Investigator and Lead Child Support Investigator roles, and the decision to indefinitely postpone a resolution concerning grant funding for the Sheriff's Office Hazardous Devices Unit. The committee also engaged in a discussion regarding future priorities, proposing regular department head presentations and identifying specific focus areas such as emergency department programs, criminal deferment programs, community court status, and jail medical services.