Muskego Council moves to closed session to discuss employee medical information and health insurance options

The Muskego City Common Council convened into closed session June 24 after the Committee of the Whole portion of the meeting to discuss sensitive personnel and health insurance matters.

The council announced it would meet in closed session under Wisconsin Statute 19.85(1)(f), (g) and (e) to consider “financial, medical, social, or personal histories or disciplinary data of specific persons,” to confer with legal counsel on litigation strategy, and to deliberate or negotiate the purchasing of public properties or investing of public funds when competitive or bargaining reasons require confidentiality.

The notice said the closed session would include discussion of “medical, social, or personal histories of an employee and or dependent” and “discussion of health insurance contract,” and that no action would be taken in the public meeting on those matters that evening.

A motion to convene in closed session was moved and seconded; the council then took a roll-call vote. Alderman Wolf voted yes; Alderman Hamill yes; Alderman Decker yes; Alderman Bryce yes; Alderman Dolge yes; and Alderman Madden yes. The meeting record notes six in favor; the mayoral and committee chairs confirmed the council entered closed session.

Council leadership told viewers that the closed session was necessary so councilors could consider sensitive staff health information without creating a risk of violating federal privacy protections and that future public sessions would cover any final decisions arising from these closed discussions.

The council reconvened only to adjourn, according to the public record.