Madison Metropolitan Sewer District

The subcommittee reviewed the proposed Executive Director 2026 goals, confirming that District staff should continue reporting organizational project updates separately from the Executive Director performance review process. Edits were made to the goals document, and the subcommittee directed that a Commission Agenda Report (CAR) be drafted for the March 12th Commission meeting, which will contain the interim 2026 goals and an update on the performance review process. A future meeting was scheduled to review further topics related to the performance review process.

The Commission meeting agenda includes the review and approval of several items under the Consent Calendar, such as Cash Statements, Sanitary Sewer Extension Plans for Hill Valley Phase 3 (City of Madison) and Redtail Ridge - Phase III (City of Middleton), and the review/award of contracts for 2026 Metrogro Hauling and the 2026 Digester Cleaning Project. The agenda also covers the acceptance of completed work for the Southeast Interceptor Rehabilitation on USH 51 (Phase 1) and Pumping Station 17 Force Main Relief Phase 2. Topics for discussion include authorizing the addition of a Pumping Station 2 Force Main Condition Assessment to the 2026 Capital Projects Budget, reviewing the Executive Director's 2026 Q1-Q2 Performance Goals, and receiving updates on the Reliability Centered Maintenance Program. The session includes a potential Closed Session to confer with legal counsel regarding EEOC claims and ongoing litigation involving the City of Verona v. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

The subcommittee meeting included a project update and discussion with MGT regarding the Executive Director's performance review process. MGT reported on interviewing Commissioners and Executive Director reports, reviewing the proposed strategic plan, and surveying comparable organizations. The subcommittee recommended a 360-degree performance review on a calendar-year basis with informal quarterly check-ins. Action items included MGT presenting a draft evaluation tool in March, drafting a memo to the full Commission regarding evaluation design and Executive Director priorities, and providing interim 2026 goals for tracking purposes.

Key discussions during the meeting included the approval of the Consent Calendar, which involved the minutes from the January 29, 2026 meeting, the Capital Fund cash statement review, and the approval of sanitary sewer extension plans for Terravessa 5th Addition, Highfield Reserve - Phase 6 (both in Fitchburg), and 4205 Portage Road (in Madison), alongside the approval of a transaction amount for Ultraviolet Lamps Purchase. A study session focused on the District strategic plan's third performance area, Public Trust, and its associated Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Reports included updates from the Executive Director Performance Review Subcommittee on the new evaluation tool, and from Legal Counsel on recent legal efforts. The Commission entered a closed session to discuss the Executive Director Performance Review before returning to open session.

The meeting commenced with a review of virtual attendance and quorum confirmation. A public appearance was made by a representative from Lakeside International Trucks, who protested the intended award of a bid for semi-tractors, asserting that only one manufacturer met the specifications and requesting that the bid award be tabled for reexamination. The Commission ultimately proceeded with the consent agenda, which included approvals for meeting minutes, operating fund matters, an expedited boundary agreement, sewer extension plans, fleet vehicle purchases, and semi-tractor and pump station screen contracts. The study session focused on the district strategic plan's performance area concerning regulatory compliance, discussing two key performance indicators (KPIs): third-party compliance validation (using the Naqua Peak Performance Award as an example) and treatment performance based on monthly operations reports. Discussions also covered which regulatory compliance aspects, such as cybersecurity and air permits, fall under this category versus other strategic plan areas.