Commissioner Donna Brown-Martin writes on a copy of the agenda of the Social Development Commission’s board meeting in September. She is one of three commissioners who have resigned in the past week. (Photo by Joe Timmerman / Wisconsin Watch)
By Meredith Melland
This story was originally published by Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service, where you can find other stories reporting on fifteen city neighborhoods in Milwaukee. Visit milwaukeenns.org.
The Social Development Commission has lost three more commissioners in the past week, leaving the agency with just four remaining commissioners.
The latest board members to resign include: Marjorie Rucker, the appointed commissioner for the African American Chamber of Commerce of Wisconsin; Donna Brown-Martin, appointed by Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley’s office; and Patricia Nájera, who represented Milwaukee Area Technical College; according to William Sulton, SDC’s attorney.
“I think all the board members feel very overwhelmed,” Sulton said.
Their resignations come on the heels of former board chair Barbara Toles’ departure after attending a virtual board meeting on Oct. 23.
Since the anti-poverty agency suspended operations and laid off employees six months ago, the SDC’s board has been meeting regularly to figure out a path forward.
Reappointments remain uncertain
Brown-Martin’s term on the SDC board officially ended on Oct. 1, but she continued to attend meetings until she left the board on Oct. 31.
“There was some discussion about whether the County Exec’s office could simply reappoint her because she had historical knowledge (rather) than having someone else come in,” Sulton said.
After reviewing the SDC’s bylaws, county officials decided they could not reappoint Brown-Martin, Sulton said.
Milwaukee County will defer replacing Brown-Martin’s seat on the board until it receives clearer information about the agency’s path forward, according to an email Brown-Martin sent to Sulton and SDC interim CEO Vincent Bobot.
However, Brown-Martin will continue to volunteer with SDC, according to Sulton.
“I think we are fortunate to have former board members and community members who are stepping up,” Sulton said.
Resignations leave more vacancies
Rucker resigned Monday and did not give a reason, Sulton said.
Nájera submitted a resignation letter on Friday. In her letter, she said she was grateful for the opportunity to work with an organization that had a long history of positively impacting Milwaukee residents.
“Essentially, she does not feel like the commission is actively operating,” Sulton said.
NNS tried to contact Rucker, Brown-Martin, Nájera and Bobot for comment, but did not receive responses as of Wednesday night.
The board now consists of Bobot, who is also an elected commissioner; Jorge Franco, of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Wisconsin; Jackie Carter, of Port Milwaukee; and Matthew Boswell, who was appointed by Milwaukee Public Schools.
Carter is the newest commissioner and was appointed to the board by Mayor Cavalier Johnson in June.
Boswell’s term is set to expire on Nov. 18, Sulton said.
Here’s more on the SDC
Smaller board puts SDC at risk of losing sizable funding, visit https://milwaukeenns.org/2024/10/29/smaller-board-puts-sdc-at-risk-of-losing-sizable-funding/
What you need to know about SDC’s progress amid frozen bank accounts, visit https://milwaukeenns.org/2024/10/07/what-you-need-to-know-about-sdcs-progress-amid-frozen-bank-accounts/
SDC sends out second round of paychecks to former employees, visit https://milwaukeenns.org/2024/10/02/sdc-sends-out-second-round-of-paychecks-to-former-employees/
SDC puts main office and warehouse up for sale, visit https://milwaukeenns.org/2024/09/25/sdc-puts-main-office-and-warehouse-up-for-sale/
How the Social Development Commission failed its Milwaukee residents, visit https://milwaukeenns.org/2024/09/25/how-the-social-development-commission-failed-its-milwaukee-residents/
Why did the Social Development Commission fail? Here are takeaways from our investigation, visit https://milwaukeenns.org/2024/09/26/why-did-the-social-development-commission-fail-here-are-takeaways-from-our-investigation/
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.