MONROE - Ill feelings about last week's Green County Humane Society board election and letters sent to members prior to the vote came out Wednesday at the organization's monthly meeting.
Board member Yvonne Schutte read a letter from Katrina Schutte, who voted May 7 at the annual meeting, that said she didn't think the election was fair. She also said Green County Humane Society board member Sherri Fiduccia was "targeting" the Schuttes at the election. The letter didn't give specifics to the charge.
Katrina Schutte, Yvonne's niece, said she voted before the balloting officially began at 6 p.m., and gave her ballot to Fiduccia, but then retrieved her ballot and put it in the ballot box herself. Fiduccia said she took Schutte's ballot because Schutte said she couldn't stay for the meeting, and she cast her ballot before 6 p.m. Fiduccia said other people gave their ballots to her before 6 p.m. because they couldn't stay for the meeting, either.
"I'm very disappointed an organization that receives taxpayer money should run an election like this," Katrina Schutte said in the letter.
Yvonne Schutte then asked a member of the audience to stand up and tell what he saw at the election. Board President Paul Barrett wouldn't allow the man to speak.
Barrett told the 20 people in attendance that public comments were limited to the end of the meeting, and he warned the audience that anyone who interrupted the meeting would be asked to leave.
"This is a business meeting," Barrett said. "This isn't a public debate."
During the public comments portion of the meeting, Ryan Schutte said he was upset with how the vote was conducted.
Angie Meyer, a GCHS member who helped with the election, apologized for any problems.
"I take responsibility for this," she said. "We wanted to do everything the right way. No one wanted to mess this up. Everyone wanted it (the election) to be clean and perfect."
Meyer told the board there were 338 ballots used and 330 counted. One ballot was disqualified because the person voted for five candidates instead of four, and seven ballots weren't cast.
Incumbents Paul Barrett, Mary Jane Grenzow, Heidi Treuthardt and Chris Soukup were re-elected over four challengers.
Board member Tracy Pederson said the problem of ballots should, and could, have been avoided had the board not allowed people to vote early. She said it didn't matter if the board wanted to help people who said they couldn't stay for the meeting. The election was scheduled from 6 to 7:15 p.m., and that should have been the only time voting was allowed, Pederson said.
Pederson said the arguments about the election haven't helped the humane society.
"Are we here to complain or build a shelter?" she asked. "This doesn't do us any good. This is insane."
The board also discussed, but took no action on, letters and e-mails sent by former board members prior to the election. The letters expressed concerns about the four incumbents and their decision in regard to animals and the shelter.
Board Vice President Mary Jane Grenzow said the letters and e-mails were "unacceptable."
"I think it was a violation of the trust members give to us," Grenzow said.
The board didn't foresee the mailing list being used for letters critical of board candidates, she added.
Pederson said the membership list is public record. However, she said she received complaints about the letters and e-mails.
"There are members who want to help animals, not get involved with the politics," she said, before adding, "and they aren't happy."
The board did make a change in its nominating committee as a result of the annual meeting. Board members up for election no longer can serve on the nominating committee, which interviews candidates and determines who will be on the ballot. Candidates not approved by the committee still can get on the ballot by collecting 20 signatures from other humane society members.
Ryan Schutte, Yvonne's husband, questioned the need for a nominating committee, and said some candidates had to "jump through hoops" to get on the ballot.
Board member Mick McClain said a nominating committee is required in the GCHS by-laws.
Next year, board members Tina Gilbert, Sue Curran, Schutte and Barb Gerber are up for election. Grenzow, Pederson and Fiduccia were elected to the nominating committee.
Board member Yvonne Schutte read a letter from Katrina Schutte, who voted May 7 at the annual meeting, that said she didn't think the election was fair. She also said Green County Humane Society board member Sherri Fiduccia was "targeting" the Schuttes at the election. The letter didn't give specifics to the charge.
Katrina Schutte, Yvonne's niece, said she voted before the balloting officially began at 6 p.m., and gave her ballot to Fiduccia, but then retrieved her ballot and put it in the ballot box herself. Fiduccia said she took Schutte's ballot because Schutte said she couldn't stay for the meeting, and she cast her ballot before 6 p.m. Fiduccia said other people gave their ballots to her before 6 p.m. because they couldn't stay for the meeting, either.
"I'm very disappointed an organization that receives taxpayer money should run an election like this," Katrina Schutte said in the letter.
Yvonne Schutte then asked a member of the audience to stand up and tell what he saw at the election. Board President Paul Barrett wouldn't allow the man to speak.
Barrett told the 20 people in attendance that public comments were limited to the end of the meeting, and he warned the audience that anyone who interrupted the meeting would be asked to leave.
"This is a business meeting," Barrett said. "This isn't a public debate."
During the public comments portion of the meeting, Ryan Schutte said he was upset with how the vote was conducted.
Angie Meyer, a GCHS member who helped with the election, apologized for any problems.
"I take responsibility for this," she said. "We wanted to do everything the right way. No one wanted to mess this up. Everyone wanted it (the election) to be clean and perfect."
Meyer told the board there were 338 ballots used and 330 counted. One ballot was disqualified because the person voted for five candidates instead of four, and seven ballots weren't cast.
Incumbents Paul Barrett, Mary Jane Grenzow, Heidi Treuthardt and Chris Soukup were re-elected over four challengers.
Board member Tracy Pederson said the problem of ballots should, and could, have been avoided had the board not allowed people to vote early. She said it didn't matter if the board wanted to help people who said they couldn't stay for the meeting. The election was scheduled from 6 to 7:15 p.m., and that should have been the only time voting was allowed, Pederson said.
Pederson said the arguments about the election haven't helped the humane society.
"Are we here to complain or build a shelter?" she asked. "This doesn't do us any good. This is insane."
The board also discussed, but took no action on, letters and e-mails sent by former board members prior to the election. The letters expressed concerns about the four incumbents and their decision in regard to animals and the shelter.
Board Vice President Mary Jane Grenzow said the letters and e-mails were "unacceptable."
"I think it was a violation of the trust members give to us," Grenzow said.
The board didn't foresee the mailing list being used for letters critical of board candidates, she added.
Pederson said the membership list is public record. However, she said she received complaints about the letters and e-mails.
"There are members who want to help animals, not get involved with the politics," she said, before adding, "and they aren't happy."
The board did make a change in its nominating committee as a result of the annual meeting. Board members up for election no longer can serve on the nominating committee, which interviews candidates and determines who will be on the ballot. Candidates not approved by the committee still can get on the ballot by collecting 20 signatures from other humane society members.
Ryan Schutte, Yvonne's husband, questioned the need for a nominating committee, and said some candidates had to "jump through hoops" to get on the ballot.
Board member Mick McClain said a nominating committee is required in the GCHS by-laws.
Next year, board members Tina Gilbert, Sue Curran, Schutte and Barb Gerber are up for election. Grenzow, Pederson and Fiduccia were elected to the nominating committee.