Village of Jackson Police and Fire Commission enters closed session on personnel; new officer begins training

The Village of Jackson Police and Fire Commission voted 5-0 at 6:02 p.m. to enter a closed session under Wisconsin Stat. § 19.85(1)(c) to consider employment, promotion, compensation or performance-evaluation data for public employees. During the open portion of the meeting staff reported that a newly hired officer has begun training and that a part-time employee was up for probation.

Commissioners took the roll-call vote after a motion to move into closed session. Commission members Elke, Myers, Letts, Washburn and Wendland each voted “yes,” and the presiding officer announced the motion carried.

In the staff update preceding the closed-session motion, a staff member told the commission, “She’s in her week of training and doing very well.” The staff member identified the new officer as Paige Lenhart, whom the commission had interviewed at its prior meeting. Another staff speaker said a part-time employee who has been with the department about a year was being considered for probation tonight, saying the staff report showed “a part timer that’s been with us for a year, looking to take her up probation tonight.”

Minutes from the prior meeting were also approved by voice vote earlier in the session. The transcript records the commission moving immediately to the closed-session motion and taking the roll-call vote; no personnel actions or outcomes are reported in the public record captured by the transcript.

The closed-session authorization cited Wisconsin Stat. § 19.85(1)(c), the state law that permits governmental bodies to deliberate personnel matters in private. The commission did not announce further public actions on personnel before adjourning into closed session.