County Board chair wants answers on 911 problems
Scott McDonell wants some answers.
The Dane County Board chairman hopes to get those answers Thursday when two committees talk with 911 center director Joe Norwick about the center's operations. The county's 911 center came under scrutiny following a botched call from murdered UW-Madison student Brittany Zimmermann's cell phone right around the time of her murder on April 2.
The board's Personnel and Finance Commitee and Public Protection and Judiciary Committee will get together in public session at 5:30 p.m. in the City-County Building Thursday.
"We want Joe to talk about the 911 center in general and staffing levels in particular, as well as whether or not we have adequate technology," McDonell said.
What won't be discussed in public would be any personnel matters.
"Anything related to personnel matters on the investigation (into the Zimmermann call) will have to be brought up in closed session," McDonell said.
He added the board is not empowered to take disciplinary action against staff or management in the 911 center.
A 2004 audit of the criminal justice system included a review of the 911 center, with the report stating the center was understaffed.
McDonell said he's having County Board staff review the audit and compare the recommendations to what has occurred in the center.
"A lot was done but we want to make sure our staffing is adequate," he said.
County Executive Kathleen Falk is sending letters of apology to the Zimmermann family and to Brittany's fiance, Jordan Gonnering, because of the way the 911 call was improperly handled.
Falk was planning Tuesday to discuss with Norwick the steps needed to be taken so a similar situation doesn't happen again.
File photo
Dane County Board chairman Scott McDonnell wants to find out what happened at the 911 center on the day of Brittany Zimmermann's murder.
