Board to vote on Hawks Quindel retainer

Listen to this article

The Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors is expected to vote Wednesday on whether to override a veto and continue to retain Milwaukee-based Hawks Quindel SC to evaluate the legality of a state law.

The board voted 13-5 in June to hire Hawks Quindel to explore questions some supervisors have about whether Act 14 targets Milwaukee County in violation of the state constitution. Hawks Quindel is also expected to guide the board on how to conform with the new regulations Act 14 imposes.

Act 14, which Gov. Scott Walker signed in May, scheduled a 2014 referendum to determine whether Milwaukee County supervisors’ pay should be cut roughly in half and changed the roles and powers of the board and county executive.

County Executive Chris Abele vetoed the Hawks Quindel resolution and others from the board’s June meeting. Abele vetoed the resolution, according to a memo sent to supervisors, because he believes the Office of Corporation Counsel could advise the board about Act 14 and because Hawks Quindel represents multiple plaintiffs in lawsuits against the county, which creates a conflict of interest.

The board will hold a special meeting at 1 p.m. Wednesday in the Milwaukee Area Technical College Board Room, Room M210, to consider those vetoes.

A copy of Abele’s veto message for the Hawks Quindel resolution was not immediately provided Tuesday afternoon.