MONROE - City Administrator Mark Vahlsing said he believes he can continue to be effective in his job despite allegations he made sexual advances to a city employee and forced her to quit because she complained about them.
There are no indications from Vahlsing or Mayor Ron Marsh that his roles have changed as administrator or as the city's human resources manager. And Vahlsing will continue to be City Hall's spokesperson on all matters, including the complaint against him.
"To tie all information to him and separate other information would not be right," Marsh said.
Marsh wouldn't comment on whether he thought Vahlsing would remain effective in his job, as the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development considers a discrimination complaint filed against him May 1 by former Confidential Administrative Assistant Janelle Bittner.
Marsh also would not comment on whether there would be any changes in the city administrator's responsibilities.
Under Marsh's direction, Vahlsing on April 30 sent an e-mail to all city department heads which states "all calls or other contact from media requesting any information" are to be directed to Vahlsing. The directive specifically excluded the Police and Fire departments.
Marsh said the directive merely reinforced the city's media policy enacted in 2001 but not followed in recent years. He said the decision was not related to media inquiries about the subject of an April 23 special closed meeting of the Monroe City Council. Marsh said he decided to demand adherence to the policy "a few weeks" prior to April 30. He said it was not an order to employees to not talk to the media.
The actual policy, of which the city has not provided any updates or amendments, allows city employees to answer media questions about routine, daily operations. But it requires all inquiries about "substantial non-routine" matters to go through the Director of General Government, a position that no longer exists. Vahlsing said he has assumed those responsibilities as the city administrator.
Vahlsing has indicated he only needs to be spokesperson on "substantial" matters, but Marsh reiterated Friday his belief that Vahlsing is to be the media contact on all media inquiries.
There are no indications from Vahlsing or Mayor Ron Marsh that his roles have changed as administrator or as the city's human resources manager. And Vahlsing will continue to be City Hall's spokesperson on all matters, including the complaint against him.
"To tie all information to him and separate other information would not be right," Marsh said.
Marsh wouldn't comment on whether he thought Vahlsing would remain effective in his job, as the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development considers a discrimination complaint filed against him May 1 by former Confidential Administrative Assistant Janelle Bittner.
Marsh also would not comment on whether there would be any changes in the city administrator's responsibilities.
Under Marsh's direction, Vahlsing on April 30 sent an e-mail to all city department heads which states "all calls or other contact from media requesting any information" are to be directed to Vahlsing. The directive specifically excluded the Police and Fire departments.
Marsh said the directive merely reinforced the city's media policy enacted in 2001 but not followed in recent years. He said the decision was not related to media inquiries about the subject of an April 23 special closed meeting of the Monroe City Council. Marsh said he decided to demand adherence to the policy "a few weeks" prior to April 30. He said it was not an order to employees to not talk to the media.
The actual policy, of which the city has not provided any updates or amendments, allows city employees to answer media questions about routine, daily operations. But it requires all inquiries about "substantial non-routine" matters to go through the Director of General Government, a position that no longer exists. Vahlsing said he has assumed those responsibilities as the city administrator.
Vahlsing has indicated he only needs to be spokesperson on "substantial" matters, but Marsh reiterated Friday his belief that Vahlsing is to be the media contact on all media inquiries.