Council votes to recess into closed session to evaluate city administrator and discuss potential real-estate transactions

The Delavan City Council voted July 15 to recess into closed session under Wisconsin Statutes 19.85(1)(c) and (d) to consider the performance evaluation of the city administrator and to deliberate or negotiate regarding possible sale or purchase of real estate.

On the record, the mayor read the statutory bases: 19.85(1)(c) for consideration of employment, promotion, compensation or performance evaluation data of a public employee (the city administrator) and 19.85(1)(d) for deliberating or negotiating the purchasing or selling of public properties where competitive or bargaining reasons require a closed session. Specific properties listed for discussion included a possible sale of real estate on Linden Lane, possible purchase of a Howard County tax foreclosed parcel at 51 East Waller, and a possible purchase of land on Marsh Road for industrial park expansion.

Why it matters: Closed-session deliberations address personnel performance review and potential property transactions that may have budget and development implications. The council cited the specific statutory authority permitting closed sessions for these topics.

Details: The council moved to recess to closed session and approved the motion; the transcript records the motion to recess and subsequent affirmative votes. No deliberations from the closed session appear in the public record in the transcript. The meeting then paused to reconvene later per the mayor’s statements.

What wasn’t decided publicly: The transcript does not record outcomes of the closed session or any decisions made in the closed session. Any actions resulting from closed-session deliberations would need to be disclosed in the public record if and when the council votes to take public action.