Chair says committee will vote May 27 to subpoena police to present budget

The committee chair announced the panel will vote on Monday to subpoena the police department to appear before the budget committee to present and justify the department's requested budget and answer questions from commissioners. The chair said the action is planned for May 27 and is motivated by frustration that the police department "has not come in front of this committee, to present their budget, to be transparent."

The chair said there are "several lawsuits" between the city and the police and that the committee asked Sonia Gray to appear but the department did not attend. "One of the authorities that we have in the charter is to subpoena the police department to come in front of the budget committee to present their budget," the chair said, emphasizing the goal of letting the public hear the department's justification.

The chair framed public safety as broader than policing, saying public safety "is more than policing" and includes building, streets and the health department. The announcement asked the public to attend the scheduled committee session so residents can hear the department's presentation directly.

No formal vote on the subpoena was recorded at this meeting. The chair asked whether there was any written testimony; the clerk reported there was none. The meeting concluded shortly after routine announcements and a voice vote to adjourn.

Votes at a glance
The meeting ended on a voice vote to adjourn after a motion to excuse two aldermen (names referenced by the chair). The chair declared "seeing no no's, motion carries." No roll-call tally for the planned subpoena vote was taken at this session.

Next steps
The committee intends to hold the vote on whether to issue a subpoena for the police department on the date announced by the chair; the planned vote had not been conducted during this meeting.