Judge Rules Marinette Common Council Violated Open Meetings Law
Yesterday, Oconto County Circuit Court Judge Jay N. Conley ruled that the Marinette Common Council violated the Open Meetings Law when holding a closed session on October 7, 2020. During that meeting, the council received and discussed a report from engineers hired by the City to analyze the Town of Peshtigo’s options for obtaining clean drinking water to replace wells contaminated with PFAS chemicals. Because “there were no negotiations or bargaining position to protect” during that meeting, “the meeting could have been held in open session” according to the Judge’s ruling.
The City had argued that because it might be asked to provide water to the Town at some point in the future, it was entitled to hold a closed session to hear and discuss a report from the Ruekert Mielke engineering firm. The Judge rejected that argument and declared “that the Open Meetings law was violated for the October 7, 2020 meeting.”
“A disturbing pattern of secrecy and manipulation was exposed during this litigation,” commented Marinette Alderman Doug Oitzinger, who attended the closed session and brought the case. “City officials hid from the public – and members of the Council – that Ruekert Mielke had written a report concluding that Marinette providing municipal water to replace wells contaminated by PFAS was the “most feasible and most economical alternative.”
The Judge also ruled that an October 6, 2020 closed session to discuss a proposed deal with Tyco Fire Products to pay for equipment to make disposal of the city’s wastewater treatment plants’ byproducts cheaper was lawful. “Despite the split outcome,” continued Oitzinger, “this litigation brought many facts and documents to light that were previously kept secret by the administration, and I consider this a success.”
For a copy of the decision, complaint, or briefs, contact Attorney Kamenick
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.
More about the PFAS Problem
- The State of Politics: Voters Worried About PFAS in Water - Steven Walters - Apr 22nd, 2024
- EPA Slaps Two PFAS Chemicals With Superfund Law Designation - Danielle Kaeding - Apr 19th, 2024
- DNR Responds To EPA’s Designation Of PFOA And PFOS As Hazardous Substances - Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources - Apr 19th, 2024
- Evers Won’t Rule Out Court Challenge to Force Release of PFAS Funds - Danielle Kaeding - Apr 16th, 2024
- Gov. Evers Vetoes PFAS Bill, Calls Special Meeting of Budget Committee - Baylor Spears - Apr 10th, 2024
- DNR, DHS Respond To EPA’s Announcement Of Maximum Contaminant Levels For PFAS In Drinking Water - Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources - Apr 10th, 2024
- GOP Leaders Urge Gov. Evers to Sign Divisive PFAS Bill - Baylor Spears - Apr 2nd, 2024
- UW-Madison to Open PFAS Center - Robert D'Andrea - Apr 1st, 2024
- Gov. Evers Slams Republicans for Continued Delays Releasing Critical Funds to Fight PFAS Statewide, Stabilize Healthcare Industry in Western Wisconsin - Gov. Tony Evers - Mar 11th, 2024
- Wisconsin DNR Update On WMC And Leather Rich, Inc V. DNR - Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources - Mar 8th, 2024
Read more about PFAS Problem here
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