Village Board

Village Board of Trustees Village of Cambridge, Wisconsin 53523 September 9, 2025 Village President Breunig was present and presided over the Village Board Meeting. The meeting was called to order at 6:30 pm in the Amundson Community Center located at 200 Spring Street, Cambridge, WI 53523. Present and responding to roll call were the following Voting Member: Jacobson, Blackwood, Hollenbeck, Trendel, Breunig Absent Voting Members: Schulz, Kreklau Also Present (Non-Voting Members) Lucy Peterson, Village Administrator Cody Garcia, Director of Public Works John Williams, Cambridge EMS Mary Cebertowicz 1. Call to Order/Roll Call • Village President Breunig called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. 2. Pledge of Allegiance 3. Proof of Posting • The agenda was posted in the upper and lower levels of the Amundson Community Center, Cambridge Post Office, Badger Bank and Village Website. 4. Public Comment 5. Approval of Consent Agenda a. Plan Commission Minutes - 8/25/2025 b. Economic Development Minutes - 8/26/2025 c. Village Board Minutes - 8/26/2025 d. Personnel Committee Minutes - 8/28/2025 & 9/4/2025 e. Operator license report MOTION: Trustee Hollenbeck (1), Trustee Blackwood (2) moved to approve the consent agenda as presented. Motion CARRIED by Voice Vote. 6. Reports a. Personnel Committee • Trustee Hollenbeck reported that they met last week and had interviews for the utility superintendent position, the Administrator 3-month review, and they did not get to the employee handbook as the closed session item took longer than expected. 7. Approval of Bills: Discussion and Possible Action • Village Administrator/ Treasurer/ Deputy Village Clerk Peterson presented the approval of bills in the amount of $172,499.93. MOTION: Trustee Hollenbeck(1), Trustee Trendel(2) moved to approve the bills in the amount of $172,499.93. Motion CARRIED by the following roll call vote: Aye: Breunig, Jacobson, Hollenbeck, Trendel, Blackwood Nay: (None) Abstain: (None) Absent: Schulz, Kreklau 8. New Business: Discussion and Possible Action Regarding a. Discussion and possible action regarding the DNR Tree Grant • Director of Public Works Garcia reported that he is exploring two grant opportunities through the Wisconsin DNR. The first is the Catastrophe Storm Damage Grant, which may provide funding related to the storm events on the 9th and 10th that prompted a state of emergency declaration. The second is the Urban Forestry Start-Up Grant, which would support tree-related initiatives. Garcia noted that Board approval is required to proceed with the application for the Urban Forestry grant. MOTION: Trustee Hollenbeck(1), Trustee Breunig(2) moved to approve the combined resolution for urban forestry start-up grant and the catastrophe storm damage grant program. Motion CARRIED by the following roll call vote: Aye: Breunig, Jacobson, Hollenbeck, Trendel Nay: (None) Abstain: (None) Absent: Schulz, Kreklau b. Discussion and possible action regarding the Computer Magic quote • Village Administrator Peterson reported that she was able to bring the quote down to $15,815.09. A portion of this bill will be paid by Water & Sewer. MOTION: Trustee Hollenbeck(1), Trustee Blackwood(2) moved to approve the Computer Magic quote with budget money. Motion CARRIED by the following roll call vote: Aye: Blackwood, Jacobson, Hollenbeck, Trendel, Breunig Nay: (None) Abstain: (None) Absent: Schulz, Kreklau c. Discussion and possible action regarding the Resolution Requesting Exemption from Dane County Library Tax MOTION: Trustee Breunig(1), Trustee Blackwood(2) moved to approve the Resolution Requesting Exemption from Dane County Library Tax. Motion CARRIED by the following roll call vote: d. Discussion and possible action regarding Financing and Borrowing options • Village Administrator Peterson reported Ehlers will be attending the next Village Board meeting and presented a preview of the borrowing. MOTION: Trustee Hollenbeck(1), Blackwood(2) moved to direct staff to reach out to two of the local banks to see what rates they offer for a 20-year GO note in the amount specified in the packet and include Bank of Deerfield. Motion CARRIED by Voice Vote. 9. Old Business: Discussion and Possible Action Regarding a. Discussion and possible action regarding the Public Works position • Public Works Director Garcia reported that the department is currently short-staffed and that adding an additional team member would help improve operations. The Director’s role has involved significant fieldwork, limiting capacity for administrative duties. As a designated Tree City USA, the Village requires ongoing and intensive tree  maintenance. With Jay potentially retiring at the end of the year, Director Garcia recommended hiring another Public Works employee who could be trained to serve as the Village Forester, ensuring continued care of our diverse tree canopy. MOTION: Trustee Blackwood(1), Hollenbeck(2) moved to approve another full-time Public Works position. Motion CARRIED by Voice Vote. MOTION: Trustee Hollenbeck(1), Breunig(2) moved to add an hourly pay range of $22- $26 an hour depending on experience. Motion CARRIED by the following roll call vote: Aye: Trendel, Blackwood, Hollenbeck, Jacobson, Breunig Nay: (None) Abstain: (None) Absent: Schulz, Kreklau b. Discussion and possible action regarding the Fireworks Ordinance • Village Administrator Peterson presented a range of ordinance options, noting that many municipalities align their local regulations with those established by the State of Wisconsin. MOTION: Trustee Hollenbeck(1), Trustee Breunig(2) moved to add the fireworks ordinance to reflect that the Village of Cambridge will use the Wisconsin state regulations regarding fireworks. Motion CARRIED by Voice Vote. c. Discussion and possible action regarding the Committee Assignments for the Audit/Finance MOTION: Trustee Breunig(1), Trustee Blackwood(2) moved to replace Paula Hollenbeck on the Audit & Finance Committee with Sarah Schulz. Motion CARRIED by Voice Vote. d. Discussion and possible action regarding the Plow Truck Purchase • Public Works Director Garcia reported that additional maintenance funding will be needed in next year’s budget to support the upkeep of the current plow truck. No Action. 10. Correspondence • Letter from Kenny Johnson, Friends of Cambridge Pickleball. 11. Public Comment 12. Questions, Referrals to Staff or Future Agenda Items 13. Upcoming Meetings September 16, 2025, W/S Committee September 17, 2025, Fire/EMS Commission September 22, 2025, Economic Development September 22, 2025, Plan Commission September 23, 2025, Village Board September 29, 2025, Audit & Finance Committee 14. Convene into Closed Session per 19.85(1)(c) of the Wisconsin Statutes to consider the employment, promotion, compensation or performance evaluation data of Village employees: Utility Superintendent Position and Administrator 3-month review. MOTION: Trustee Blackwood(1), Trustee Hollenbeck(2) moved to convene into Closed Session. Motion CARRIED by the following roll call vote: Aye: Trendel, Blackwood, Hollenbeck, Jacobson, Breunig Nay: (None) Abstain: (None) Absent: Schulz, Kreklau 15. Reconvene into Open Session MOTION: Trustee Trendel(1), Trustee Blackwood(2) moved to reconvene into Open Session. Motion CARRIED by the following roll call vote: Aye: Trendel, Blackwood, Hollenbeck, Jacobson, Breunig Nay: (None) Abstain: (None) Absent: Schulz, Kreklau 16. Possible action on closed session items MOTION: Trustee Trendel(1), Trustee Blackwood(2) moved to approve the three-month review for the village administrator and approval of the salary increase as discussed in closed session. Motion CARRIED by the following roll call vote: Aye: Trendel, Blackwood, Hollenbeck, Jacobson, Breunig Nay: (None) Abstain: (None) Absent: Schulz, Kreklau MOTION: Trustee Trendel(1), Trustee Blackwood(2) moved to approve authorization for staff to extend a job offer to Blake Darnell for the Utility Superintendent position. Motion CARRIED by the following roll call vote: Aye: Trendel, Blackwood, Hollenbeck, Jacobson, Breunig Nay: (None) Abstain: (None) Absent: Schulz, Kreklau 17. Adjournment MOTION: Trustee Breunig(1), Trustee Blackwood(2) moved to adjourn at 8:56 p.m. Motion Carried by Voice Vote. I hereby certify that the foregoing was action of the Village Board on September 9, 2025. Yessi Arce, Village Clerk/ Deputy Treasurer Minutes approved as distributed on September 23, 2025, Village Board of Trustees meeting.