MONROE - Two aldermen and Mayor Bill Ross are at odds about a possible open meeting law violation following a Finance and Taxation Committee meeting Wednesday, Oct. 26.
Monroe Mayor Bill Ross responded Wednesday, Nov. 2 to accusations he had sidestepped a request to inform the city attorney about a possible open meeting violation.
Alderman Thurston Hanson took the mayor to task with a prepared statement Tuesday, Nov. 1 at a Common Council meeting, saying the possible open meeting law violation happened Oct. 26 following a Finance and Taxation Committee meeting. At issue is whether a decision was made outside the confines of the meeting, concerning the method of payment to Green County Development Corporation for 2012.
"My understanding is that Mayor Ross witnessed this violation, at minimum, and in the last few days, was also alerted of this violation by at least one alderman," Hanson said. "Mayor Ross was asked to bring this to the city attorney's attention, and Mayor Ross has chosen instead to ignore this.
"I would like to know why you did not refer this matter to the city attorney," Hanson continued, addressing the mayor. "I would also like to know if the citizens can expect to see more open meeting law violations in the future under your watch."
Hanson added a further request of the mayor to refer the matter to the Ethics Board for review, and that the mayor "recuse himself from his role as chairman of that committee."
According to the minutes of the committee meeting Oct. 26, which have not yet been reviewed or approved by the committee, Hanson was not present. Those present were aldermen Chuck Koch, Reid Stangel, Chris Beer and Tyler, Schultz; Ross; Phil Rath, city administrator; comp-troller/treasurer Cathy Maurer; and "other alderpersons, department heads, and citizens," according to the minutes.
Ross responded to Hanson's concerns in an e-mailed statement addressed to "All Alders," dated Thursday, Nov. 3 but released mid-afternoon Wednesday by both the mayor and city clerk's office.
"I have observed during my tenure as mayor, that after committee meetings and council meetings, Alders having conversations about city business before leaving City Hall. This has been a common practice, and I have never viewed it as reaching the level of an open meeting violation," Ross said.
"I understand that Alder (Michael) Boyce was concerned about this after the Finance and Taxation meeting, and he left me a voice mail. I called him back and got his voice mail. As far I know, he was the only Alder that was concerned about it, until Mr. Hanson read his concerns Tuesday night at council. Also, I don't think this matter warrants an Ethic Review."
Boyce sent out his own statement Thursday, released by the city clerk office, clarifying his involvement in reporting of the possible violation, which he said was made known to him Oct. 27 during a phone call conversation with another alderman, who he did not name.
Boyce said the alder told him that a discussion, which included the alder, three other alders, the mayor and city staff, culminated in an agreement to a "future course of action on a specific budget issue."
Boyce said he contacted the city clerk to report the activity as a likely violation of the Wisconsin open meeting laws, and asked that city attorney Rex Ewald be notified and give his comments on the possible violation at the next full council meeting.
But that request was squashed, according to Boyce in his statement. Boyce said he learned through city clerk Carol Stamm and Ewald that Ross directed Ewald to take no action on Boyce's request.
He further explained that his voice message, to which the mayor referred in his statement Wednesday, was not in reference to the subject of an open meeting violation.
Rath also clarified an earlier statement to The Monroe Times in which he said some discussion on the payment did take place after the meeting between committee members, at least one other alderman and the city's treasurer and Rath, but no decision was made.
Rath said the issue about how to payout GCDC's funding was raised and discussed within the meeting, no decision was made and the budget was passed without the committee directing GCDC payment method. Some discussion on the issue continued after the meeting also, he added.
The unapproved minutes of the meeting reflect that "Alderperson Lefevre said she is not in favor of money in the budget for GCDC or else it should be merit based. She wants the amount for GCDC lowered to $10,000 and to give the chamber more money. Lefevre also made other comments in regards to this. Much discussion took place. It was discussed to give each organization $20,000 and leave the rest in the budget as undesignated, then look at mid-year results and decide if more should be given to one or both organizations. More discussion took place. Alderperson Boyce suggested sending the budget to Council with the full funding requests that were previously agreed to and then a Council member could motion to amend the budget at the Council meeting.
"Alderperson Beer motioned to pass the budget to Council as it sits now. Alderperson Koch seconded the motion. More discussion took place. Motion carried, but with Alderperson Schultz voting no."
The minutes show that, after Ron Spielman made comments, the committee adjourned with no additional comments by the members.
Monroe Mayor Bill Ross responded Wednesday, Nov. 2 to accusations he had sidestepped a request to inform the city attorney about a possible open meeting violation.
Alderman Thurston Hanson took the mayor to task with a prepared statement Tuesday, Nov. 1 at a Common Council meeting, saying the possible open meeting law violation happened Oct. 26 following a Finance and Taxation Committee meeting. At issue is whether a decision was made outside the confines of the meeting, concerning the method of payment to Green County Development Corporation for 2012.
"My understanding is that Mayor Ross witnessed this violation, at minimum, and in the last few days, was also alerted of this violation by at least one alderman," Hanson said. "Mayor Ross was asked to bring this to the city attorney's attention, and Mayor Ross has chosen instead to ignore this.
"I would like to know why you did not refer this matter to the city attorney," Hanson continued, addressing the mayor. "I would also like to know if the citizens can expect to see more open meeting law violations in the future under your watch."
Hanson added a further request of the mayor to refer the matter to the Ethics Board for review, and that the mayor "recuse himself from his role as chairman of that committee."
According to the minutes of the committee meeting Oct. 26, which have not yet been reviewed or approved by the committee, Hanson was not present. Those present were aldermen Chuck Koch, Reid Stangel, Chris Beer and Tyler, Schultz; Ross; Phil Rath, city administrator; comp-troller/treasurer Cathy Maurer; and "other alderpersons, department heads, and citizens," according to the minutes.
Ross responded to Hanson's concerns in an e-mailed statement addressed to "All Alders," dated Thursday, Nov. 3 but released mid-afternoon Wednesday by both the mayor and city clerk's office.
"I have observed during my tenure as mayor, that after committee meetings and council meetings, Alders having conversations about city business before leaving City Hall. This has been a common practice, and I have never viewed it as reaching the level of an open meeting violation," Ross said.
"I understand that Alder (Michael) Boyce was concerned about this after the Finance and Taxation meeting, and he left me a voice mail. I called him back and got his voice mail. As far I know, he was the only Alder that was concerned about it, until Mr. Hanson read his concerns Tuesday night at council. Also, I don't think this matter warrants an Ethic Review."
Boyce sent out his own statement Thursday, released by the city clerk office, clarifying his involvement in reporting of the possible violation, which he said was made known to him Oct. 27 during a phone call conversation with another alderman, who he did not name.
Boyce said the alder told him that a discussion, which included the alder, three other alders, the mayor and city staff, culminated in an agreement to a "future course of action on a specific budget issue."
Boyce said he contacted the city clerk to report the activity as a likely violation of the Wisconsin open meeting laws, and asked that city attorney Rex Ewald be notified and give his comments on the possible violation at the next full council meeting.
But that request was squashed, according to Boyce in his statement. Boyce said he learned through city clerk Carol Stamm and Ewald that Ross directed Ewald to take no action on Boyce's request.
He further explained that his voice message, to which the mayor referred in his statement Wednesday, was not in reference to the subject of an open meeting violation.
Rath also clarified an earlier statement to The Monroe Times in which he said some discussion on the payment did take place after the meeting between committee members, at least one other alderman and the city's treasurer and Rath, but no decision was made.
Rath said the issue about how to payout GCDC's funding was raised and discussed within the meeting, no decision was made and the budget was passed without the committee directing GCDC payment method. Some discussion on the issue continued after the meeting also, he added.
The unapproved minutes of the meeting reflect that "Alderperson Lefevre said she is not in favor of money in the budget for GCDC or else it should be merit based. She wants the amount for GCDC lowered to $10,000 and to give the chamber more money. Lefevre also made other comments in regards to this. Much discussion took place. It was discussed to give each organization $20,000 and leave the rest in the budget as undesignated, then look at mid-year results and decide if more should be given to one or both organizations. More discussion took place. Alderperson Boyce suggested sending the budget to Council with the full funding requests that were previously agreed to and then a Council member could motion to amend the budget at the Council meeting.
"Alderperson Beer motioned to pass the budget to Council as it sits now. Alderperson Koch seconded the motion. More discussion took place. Motion carried, but with Alderperson Schultz voting no."
The minutes show that, after Ron Spielman made comments, the committee adjourned with no additional comments by the members.