City Council

COMMISSION ON PUBLIC WORKS/UTILITIES COUNCIL ROOM MAY 11, 2021 6:45 P.M. The Commission on Public Works/Utilities met in regular session, Chair Clough presiding. On roll call: all members present. The minutes of the previous meeting were declared approved. Director of Public Works Friemoth reported on two burials at the Cemetery, lawn mowing, picking up branches, equipment maintenance, road repairs around the City, hauling brush, street sweeping, Water Department-meter changeouts and installed radio readouts, daily testing and maintenance, leak checking the system, exercising water main valves, service line repair and hydrant maintenance, Sewer Department-I and I testing, daily testing and lab work, lift station maintenance and working on the DNR compliance maintenance annual report (CMAR), our meter supplier notified us that new meter orders are now out 22 weeks when ordering, this will affect our meter installation program goals. Council Member Counsell asked about the new meters installed. Director of Public Works Friemoth stated the new installed meters are working well. Motion Clough, second Perrine, to adjourn. All Aye. ___________________________________ Daniel M. Clough, Chair ________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************ COMMON COUNCIL COUNCIL ROOM MAY 11, 2021 7:00 P.M. The Common Council met in regular session, Mayor Murphy presiding. On roll call: all members present. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. The minutes of the previous meetings were declared approved. City Attorney Wachsmuth presented the May 3, 2021 meeting of the Police and Fire Commission regarding: 1) election of Margaret Gelhaus as Commission Chair, 2) discussion on Police Officer’s salaries and the City’s 15-mile residency requirement, 3) referred to the Personnel Committee the Commission’s concerns over salary and residency requirements and strongly support an increased competitive like size department salary and elimination of residency requirements, 4) discussion on equipment needs and training, 5) discussion on having the City Clerk’s office continuing to keep taking the minutes for Commission meetings, 6) a closed session on vacant Police Officer positions, 7) reconvening into open session, 8) hiring Alexander Marth and Erick Backlund as Other Part-time Police Officers and 9) moving Alexander Marth to the vacant Full-time Police Officer position effective June 1, 2021. Mayor Murphy reported on the May 4, 2021 meeting of the Property Committee-City Hall and Police Department regarding: 1) discussion on and approval not to proceed with an elevator or lift at this time, 2) working on a second insulation quote, 3) working on a quote for plumbing items, 4) working on a quote for exterior lighting, 5) working on a second quote for re-working the teller station area, 6) discussion on and approval of electrical quote for automatic switches and election booth lighting, 7) discussion on signage, 8) working on a second quote for flooring, 9) discussion on heating and cooling systems, 10) discussion on and approval to hire Bauernfeind and Audio Architects for the new City Hall project for audio visual, server, router, cabling services, etc., 11) discussion on and approval to go with Charter internet services, 12) discussion on and approval to purchase a second copy machine, 13) discussion on removal of safety deposit boxes and remote drive-up lanes equipment, 14) discussion on and approval to order tables and chairs for the Council and Election Board, 15) working on a second snowblower quote, 16) discussion on and approved advertising a part-time janitorial position for up to 1,200 hours per year, 17) discussion on and approval to purchase a vacuum cleaner, 18) flag poles have been ordered, 19) discussion on keyless entry, a plaque honoring the Listeman Foundation, disposal of old appliances, etc. Council Member Neville reported on the May 6, 2021 meeting of the Personnel Committee regarding a closed session on reviewing applications and interviewing candidates for the Assistant Clerk-Treasurer position-the meeting adjourned in closed session. City Clerk Roehl reported on the May 11, 2021 meeting of the Personnel Committee regarding: 2) a closed session on the Assistant Clerk-Treasurer position and 3) reconvening into open session with the recommendation to hire Diane Duhr for the Other Part-time Assistant Clerk-Treasurer position at $15.00 per hour effective on or after May 17, 2021 with a one year probationary period. City Clerk Roehl reported on the May 11, 2021 meeting of the Finance Committee regarding discussion on and recommendation of a $210,000 budget for the new City Hall move and Police Department project. Council Member Clough reported on the May 11, 2021 meeting of the Commission on Public Works/Utilities regarding current activities. Mayor Murphy declared all reports filed as presented with the City Clerk. Jerilyn St. Amand asked if consideration of broadcasting the City Council meetings on TDS, as well as Charter, could be possible and she wished the Neillsville Police Department a happy National Police Week. City Clerk Roehl stated that the Property Committee-City Hall and Police Department met before the Finance Committee met to set a budget, therefore the individual items are listed on the agenda. City Attorney Wachsmuth stated that they should be handled separately and no action is needed on the elevator or lift, since the Committee is not proceeding. Mayor Murphy asked if there were any questions on the Property Committee-City Hall and Police Department items (6, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 17). Motion Clough, second Perrine, to approve the electrical quote for automatic switches and election booth lighting ($1,900 quote). All Aye. Motion Neville, second Clough, to approve the hiring of Bauernfeind and Audio Architects for the new City Hall project for audio visual, server, router, cabling services, etc. All Aye. Motion Clough, second Perrine, to approve going with Charter internet services. All Aye. Motion Harnisch, second Clough, to approve the purchase of a second copy machine ($6,191). All Aye. Motion Counsell, second Clough, to approve the ordering of tables and chairs for the Council and Election Board (approximately $4,428). All Aye. Motion Clough, second Neville, to approve the purchase of a vacuum cleaner (up to $500). All Aye. Motion Counsell, second Neville, to refer the advertising for an Other Part-time custodian position to the Personnel Committee. All Aye. Mayor Murphy asked if there were any questions on the Personnel Committee item (3). Motion Clough, second Perrine, to accept the recommendation to hire Diane Duhr for the Other Part-time Assistant Clerk-Treasurer position at $15.00 per hour effective on or after May 17, 2021 with a one year probation period. All Aye. Mayor Murphy asked if there were any questions on the Finance Committee item. Motion Neville, second Clough, to accept the recommendation of a $210,000 budget for the new City Hall move and Police Department. All Aye. Mayor Murphy read Council Member Julie Counsell’s resignation as member of the Property Committee-City Hall and Police Department. Motion Neville, second Clough, to accept Council Member Counsell’s resignation as member of the Property Committee-City Hall and Police Department. Council Member Counsell-Abstained. All other members-Aye. Motion carried. Mayor Murphy recommended appointment of Council Member David Harnisch as a member of the Property Committee-City Hall and Police Department. Council Member Harnisch-Abstained. All other members-Aye. Motion carried. Mayor Murphy read Police Officer Brett Chwala’s resignation from the Police Department. Chwala’s last day of work will be May 18, 2021. Motion Counsell, second Clough, to accept Police Officer Brett Chwala’s resignation as presented and thank him for his four years (2017-2021) of service to the City of Neillsville. All Aye. Discussion followed on the Police Officer vacancy. Motion Counsell, second Neville, to refer the Police Officer vacancy to the Personnel Committee. All Aye. Discussion followed on the Police Department remaining in the current downtown location with future expansion into the current City Hall when vacated. Mayor Murphy stated that Chief of Police Mankowski wants to stay downtown. Chief of Police Mankowski stated that he doesn’t want to lose space, wants less clutter and the ability to spread out. The current Council room would provide more room for training and you don’t want another vacant building downtown. Council Member Clough stated keeping the Police Department downtown has always been a part of the discussion. Motion Clough, second Perrine, to keep the Police Department downtown at the current location with future expansion into the old City Hall area. Council Member Counsell-Nay. All other members-Aye. Motion carried. Chief of Police Mankowski reported on a neighborhood officer program, training, prescription drug take back program, promotion of Alex Marth to full-time patrolman, resignation of Patrolman Brett Chwala, equipment purchases, squad cars, working on Open Police Reports from 2019 and April citations, warnings, complaints , business checks and activity hours. City Attorney Wachsmuth stated that she was asked to review retaining of public records and what is requested. Virtually everything is a public record if it involves City of Neillsville business. It includes all types of records including emails, tweets, etc. if you are doing them in official capacity. Everything in that capacity has to be saved whether on a Neillsville account or your personal account. You don’t have to save personal drafts or notes, personal material or published materials. The presumption is it is an open record and must be retained for seven years whether you are in office or not. Council Member Perrine asked about the handouts from the Clerk’s office. City Attorney Wachsmuth stated you have to save the email, not necessarily the attachments. Council Member Counsell stated everyone on a committee must also comply with the open records law. City Attorney Wachsmuth replied-Yes, they are required to comply. Jon Counsell stated the open records law applies to the Clerk, Director of Public Works and any employee whoever it may be. Denise Clough called a point of order-Appearances are over and Jon Counsell should not have spoken. City Attorney Wachsmuth stated it is up to the Council if they let him speak. Council Member Harnisch stated just slide your emails into a file when you get them. City Clerk Roehl presented a thank you from the Neillsville Senior Center for the City’s annual support contribution and a notice from the West Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission who is administering a new Microenterprise Grant Program funded by a Coronavirus Relief Award for small business with less than five employees. Motion Neville, second Clough, that City Bills Nos. 420 to 462 in the amount of $84,173.36 and CDBG Housing Escrow vouchers No. 1 to 3 in the amount of $715.00 be paid. All Aye. Motion Counsell, second Neville, to adjourn. All Aye. ___________________________________ Diane L. Murphy, Mayor ________________________________ Rex R. Roehl, Clerk ************