A handful of Social Development Commission board members called an emergency board meeting on Wednesday to vote on removing Jorge Franco as interim CEO and chair of the board. But after a disagreement over emergency meeting requirements, they decided not to take action.
Commissioner Walter Lanier emailed a meeting notice and agenda on Wednesday morning that stated he and Commissioners Dessie Levy, Pam Fendt, Michael Harris and Jackie Q. Carter called an emergency meeting.
The agenda focused on a motion to remove Franco and elect a temporary or new chair. Other items included the Oct. 29 letter from Wisconsin Department of Children and Families that once again requested that SDC voluntarily de-designate itself as a community action agency.
The board met in person last week, but items Lanier requested be placed on the agenda, including the vote on Franco, were not included.
“We’re going back and forth politically and from a leadership perspective instead of really putting the needs of people on the table and addressing what the people want,” Levy said.
Emergency meeting confusion
Franco and Commissioner Peter Fetzer attended the virtual meeting in addition to Levy, Lanier, Fendt and Carter.
Franco said the board meeting was not legitimate because Harris wrote in an email after the agenda was sent that he did not call for the meeting.
“He clarified that in writing,” Franco said. “This meeting is out of order.”
Lanier said Harris had previously verbally agreed to the emergency meeting.
Harris was not at the meeting.
According to Wisconsin Open Meetings Law, a public board is considered to be meeting when one-half or more of members are present and discussing the responsibilities of the board.
Emergency meetings may be called by at least five board members, according to SDC’s bylaws, “for the sole purpose of addressing urgent issues.”
Fetzer said his opinion was that emergency meetings should only be held when items are urgent and cannot be discussed at regular board meetings, which would not apply here.
“I do believe these are important items,” Fetzer said.
Eventually, after repeated calls to adjourn the meeting, Franco said he had to join another meeting and left the call. Board members continued discussions after Franco left.
Board members criticize Franco
During the meeting, several board members questioned Franco’s leadership and his ability to gain support from community members and stakeholders.
“The issue is that we are not able to voice anything if it appears that we are in opposition to Commissioner Franco,” Carter said.
Fendt said the board is not moving forward under current leadership and has the responsibility of supervising the CEO.
“It’s not fun to air dirty laundry in public like this, but at some point we have to get real about what’s going on,” she said.
Earlier in the meeting, Franco said SDC’s priority is restoring funding for anti-poverty services and said he has brought funders to the table.
“If Mr. Lanier brings $15 million to the table, I’ll consider leaving,” Franco said.
Lanier said that if the board voted to remove Franco as the board chair and interim CEO, he would still remain on the board.
“It doesn’t stop him from trying to negotiate dollars, raise big dollars – it might even free him up to do it more effectively,” Lanier said.
Lanier said he would happily step into the role of chair if asked, though he’s not campaigning for it.
“I like to chair meetings,” he said. “I like to set the table well for my colleagues.”
Next steps for SDC board
Fetzer requested the board have a strategic planning meeting to discuss funding, the agency’s next steps and leadership before the next board meeting. He said he wanted to stay open-minded about who should lead the agency.
“I just want to know where we’re going to run to, right?” Fetzer said. “If it’s not Jorge, who is it? And would the funding sources like that or not like it?”
SDC had a meeting scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 6, but the commissioners said it would be pushed back.
Meredith Melland is the neighborhoods reporter for the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service and a corps member of Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues and communities. Report for America plays no role in editorial decisions in the NNS newsroom.
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