Committee advances censure resolution against Ald. Sharon Tyus

The Personnel & Administration Committee voted 5-0 on Oct. 1 to advance a committee substitute for Resolution 125, a measure intended to compel Ald. Sharon Tyus of the 12th Ward to apologize for remarks made at a community meeting or to enter a formal reprimand into the record.

"As president of the board, I felt it was important to swiftly and formally condemn the alderwoman of the 12th for her remarks," President Green said when introducing the resolution and the committee substitute. Green also said the committee would review what conduct merits action beyond a verbal censure and noted legal uncertainty about what penalties are available for remarks made outside a board meeting.

Committee members moved and seconded the motion to put the committee substitute before the committee for discussion; the clerk called the roll and recorded five 'aye' votes. Later in the meeting a motion to pass the committee substitute out of committee as a due-pass recommendation also carried 5-0.

Members framed the measure as an accountability step rather than a punitive change to committee assignments, noting some consequences (such as stripping committee assignments) may not apply when the conduct occurred outside official meetings. The committee's action means Resolution 125 will go to the full Board of Aldermen for further consideration.