John Allen, far left, led the first meeting of the Madison Governance Committee 2025. The group will study Madison’s municipal leadership, specifically a mayor or city manager form of governance. (Record Photo/Gregg Parker)

MADISON – At its first meeting, the City Administration Task Force renamed itself to better define its role in studying Madison’s municipal leadership.

Led by chairman John Allen, the 10-member group agreed on its official name, “Madison Governance Committee 2025.”

John Allen said this “fact-finding group” must define benchmarks for a mayor or city manager form of governance. “I, as a resident, want to know the best form of government. Is it the status quo? Or is it something different?”

“It’s not for me to pass judgement on the current system. When we look at Madison in 2030 (and later), what’s going to position us for future success?” Allen said.

Advocating a “fact-based, business-based approach,” Allen said, “We want to take out innuendo and rumor and leave that at the door.”

Sally Warden pointed out that possible positions for a project manager and communications director were separate issues outside the scope of their study. Ray White said the scope should focus on “administrative” concerns, not “operations.”

“If the conversation began because council members are doing operational work, then that’s the problem,” Cynthia McCollum said. “There’s obviously a problem or we wouldn’t be sitting here.”

“Council members are not getting the information needed to do its job efficiently. That’s the crux of the issue,” Al Sullivan said.

The governance committee has “no elected officials, no support from city, no funding from city – all expenses are on our own personal dime,” Allen said. The committee does wants legal support from the city and asked liaison and councilman D.J. Klein to consult City Council.

The committee also heard brief overviews from historian John Rankin, Madison Utilities General Manager Emory DeBord and Assistant Superintendent Robby Parker.

The governance committee will meet on Wednesdays from 4 to 6 p.m. at Madison City Schools’ Central Office, 211 Celtic Drive. Dates are Sept. 9, 16, 23 and 30. On Sept. 4, the group will visit City of Auburn Municipal Complex.

A town hall meeting will be held. Currently, the task force plans to complete its study by early October.