The Madison Common Council voted Tuesday to add a new citizen voting member, as well as an additional alder, to the city's Alcohol License Review Committee.
The change in the committee's composition comes as a compromise to the original proposal introduced by Ald. Bryon Eagon, District 8 to add a permanent student voting member to the ALRC.
Mayor Dave Cieslewicz said he was not in favor of designating a specific student seat because it would then make it necessary for other groups to have a voting seat on the committee, including representatives from the Tavern League and the UW administration.
He said on Monday, however, that he was in favor of appointing a student to the citizen voting position.
Barb Mercer, a representative from the Madison and Dane County Tavern League, said students should not have any type of representation.
""We have no problem with the fact that a new alderman be added to the ALRC, but we have a strong opinion that a student should not be allowed to speak on our behalf,"" she said.
""I know you're asking me to compromise, but I can't understand what that compromise is other than you changing the culture and control of the ALRC,"" she added.
Ald. Thuy Pham-Remmele, District 20, said she was concerned about students making decisions that will affect the city for years to come when many are residents for only a short time.
Still, others felt altering the composition of the committee would be beneficial.
""Expanding involvement by two members will strengthen the composition of the committee,"" Council President Tim Bruer said. ""And I hope that at the end of the day we end up with two additional members and spend less time about who and what they're representing.""
Ald. Bridget Maniaci, District 2, who represents a large population of students, said she felt this was a good committee for students to get involved in.
""I think it's great for the city to realize the student involvement,"" Ald. Shiva Bidar-Sielaff, District 5 said. ""I think this has been a great conversation … it's brought to the surface a lot of things we haven't talked about.""
