Marketing VP McCarthy Recommended for Aldermanic Seat

Jeff McCarthy, vice president and account director with Meyer & Wallis, has been recommended for the 3rd District aldermanic seat formerly held by the late Jim Garvens.

A vice president of a local advertising agency has been recommended for appointment to the 3rd District aldermanic seat vacated after the death of longtime Ald. Jim Garvens. Jeff McCarthy, vice president and account director at Meyer & Wallis, received the unanimous backing of the city's Legislative and Licensing Committee, which interviewed McCarthy and three other applicants last week. The Common Council will vote on the recommendation Tuesday night. The other applicants were former Ald. Jack Shaw, Gary Olsen and Albert Van Lith. McCarthy said he was "honored and humbled" to be recommended. "Having grown up in Brookfield and now choosing to raise my own children here, I am excited to give back to the community I call home," he said in an…

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City Seeking Candidates for Aldermanic Seat

Interested residents in the city's 3rd aldermanic district can apply by March 7 to serve on the Common Council.

Anyone interested in appointment to the Brookfield Common Council seat vacated by the death of Ald. Jim Garvens is invited to apply by March 7. Interested candidates should submit a letter of interest and resume by 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 7 to the City Clerk's office, 2000 N. Calhoun Rd. They must live in the 3rd aldermanic district, shown in this map. The council's Legislative & Licensing Committee will interview applicants March 14 and make a recommendation for possible action by the Common Council March 20. The appointee would serve through April 2013 and would have to run for re-election at that time to serve the final year of Garven's four-year term. Aldermen serve four-year terms with an annual salary of about $10,000. Questions may …

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Lisa Sink

8:40 am on Thursday, February 23, 2012

Thanks so much, Kelly.   more ›

Week Ahead: Superintendent Contract, New Rules on Sidewalk Sales, Vintage Valentines

The week ahead also includes an open house and tour of the Creative Preschool Center and Ladies Night at Soerens Ford.

Brookfield Patch offers a glimpse into news and events in the week ahead. For more events, be sure to check Patch's events listings and feel free to add your own. Negotiating contract for a new Elmbrook Superintendent: The Elmbrook School Board will meet in closed session at 6 p.m. Monday at 13780 Hope St. to discuss the terms of a contract offer to Mark Hansen of Pewaukee Schools to replace Superintendent Matt Gibson. Agenda Finding new alderman for District 3: The city's Legislative & Licensing Committee at 7:15 p.m. Tuesday will discuss how to fill the aldermanic seat vacated after the death of Ald. Jim Garvens. Past practice has been to seek applications from district residents, interview and recommend an appointment. Outdoor, sidewalk…

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Mayor's Memo

Mayor: Garvens was the "Designated Grownup" and Wealth of Knowledge

Mayor Steve Ponto offered these remarks at the memorial service Wednesday for longtime alderman Jim Garvens.

I became an Alderman in April of 1998. At that time, Jim Garvens had already been an Alderman for 7 years. At the time of his passing, Jim had served the City of Brookfield as an Alderman for almost 21 years, substantially longer than anyone on the current Common Council. Jim was initially appointed as an Alderman for the 5th District in 1991. Former Mayor Kate Bloomberg — who I understand is also a member of this Church — was instrumental in recruiting Jim to serve as an Alderman. In 1992, the Aldermanic District boundaries shifted — as a result of re-districting following the 1990 census — putting Jim in the 3rd Aldermanic District and he was elected and then re-elected Alderman in that District ever sense — usually without opposition. …

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Ald. Garvens Visitation Included Police Honor Guard, City Flag

A long line of mourners paid their respects to the veteran alderman at a visitation Monday evening.

A memorial service for the late Brookfield Ald. Jim Garvens was held Tuesday morning at Brookfield Congregational United Church of Christ, 16350 Gebhardt Rd. Garvens, 75, died Feb. 8 from complications following knee surgery. Garvens' biggest loves in retirement — his family, the Elmbrook Rotary Club and the City of Brookfield — were on display at his visitation Monday evening at Becker Ritter Funeral Home in Brookfield. Garvens was the longest-serving current alderman, first appointed in 1991. City and state flags stood next to his casket, as did rotating members of the city Police Department's Honor Guard. A bouquet of flowers from the Brookfield Common Council was prominently displayed. A steady line of mourners filled the funeral home…

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Memorials Set for Brookfield Ald. James Garvens

Visitation will be Monday evening at Becker Ritter Funeral Home, with memorial services Tuesday morning at Brookfield Congregational United Church of Christ.

Memorial information has been set for James A. Garvens, 75, a longtime Brookfield alderman who died Wednesday after complications from knee surgery. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at Becker Ritter Funeral Home, 14075 W. North Ave. Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Brookfield Congregational United Church of Christ, 16350 Gebhardt Rd. Garvens is survived by Lorna, his wife of 54 years; his children Jim, Jon, Jay, Grant and Sandy; his daughters-in law Angie, Marlo and Angela; and his grandchildren Ben, Jake, Logan, Alex, Ian, Asher, Ella, Nadia and Anna. Brookfield Patch's obituary on Garvens The public can add their condolences or photos of Garvens in comments here on Brookfield Patch, on this guest book …

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Brookfield's Longest-Serving Alderman, James Garvens, Dies

Garvens, 75, passed away this morning after complications following knee surgery on Monday.

City Hall officials were surprised and saddened to learn that longtime Brookfield Ald. Jim Garvens died Wednesday morning after complications following knee surgery on Monday. "It really makes you mindful of how fragile in some ways life is," Mayor Steve Ponto said. "And how important it is to make the most of each day. I think Jim did that. He was really fully engaged to the end." Garvens, 75, has been a city alderman since 1991 and most recently served District 3. He was a retired corporate executive who ran several businesses, including a division within Johnson Controls. But his retirement was focused heavily on spending time with family, as well as with the Elmbrook Rotary Club, City Attorney Karen Flaherty said. He loved visiting a …

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Scott Berg

6:35 pm on Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Jim was a kind man and a good friend. He worked very hard for all Brookfield residents and displayed insight and leadership everyone at city hall treasured. I will miss him greatly. - Scott A. Berg Alderman, 5th District   more ›