Applications for Alderman May Be Sought

Ever thought about serving as an alderman or alderwoman?

If the city follows past practice, the Common Council soon will ask residents in southeastern Brookfield to apply for an open aldermanic seat. Aldermen serve four-year terms with an annual salary of about $10,000.

from her 7th district aldermanic seat last week so she could apply for the city clerk position being vacated by Kris Schmidt, who is retiring.

Should Mellone not be selected as city clerk, she potentially could apply to be appointed back to her elected post, City Attorney Karen Flaherty said.

She said she will ask the council's Legislative and Licensing Committee Aug. 16 to decide how it wants to handle Mellone's open seat.

By that time, the , with the mayor recommending a new clerk for council confirmation possibly on Sept. 6.

Typically the city has sought resumes and letters of interest from residents, who are then interviewed by the committee, which forwards a recommendation to the council.

The council appoints a person, who would serve until next spring's municipal elections. The appointee would have to run for re-election to serve Mellone's final two years through 2014.

The city has seven aldermanic districts and two representatives for each district. Elections are staggered so every two years one of each district's aldermen are up for election.

The last time an alderman stepped down — 4th District Ald. Steve Ponto when he was elected mayor in 2010 — the council sought applicants and appointed Buck Jurken.

A map of the city's 7th aldermanic district that Mellone served shows it covers the area between Blue Mound Road and Greenfield Avenue, from 124th Street west to Moorland Road, plus the area between I-94 and Greenfield Avenue from Moorland Road west to Calhoun Road.