Committees vote to enter closed session to negotiate purchase and development agreement for planned 50‑unit affordable housing project

The Wausau Finance Committee, joined by the Economic Development Committee, voted March 11 to move into closed session under Wisconsin Statute chapter 19.85(1)(e) to deliberate a purchase and development agreement connected to a proposed 50‑unit affordable multifamily housing project at properties listed in the motion.

The motion specified the discussion concerned negotiating the purchase of public property, the investing of public funds, or other specified public business where competitive or bargaining reasons require a closed session, and it identified a purchase and development agreement for a 50‑unit affordable multifamily project at the block of addresses listed as 7080, 4806, 8106, 814, and 816 Grand Avenue in the motion text. Alder Henke moved to go into closed session; Alder McElhinney seconded. The committee conducted a roll call vote: Alder Tierney — aye; Alder Henke — aye; Alder McElhinney — aye; Alder Gisselman — aye; and the chair voting aye. The motion passed and the bodies adjourned into closed session; the committee said it would reconvene in open session only if there were actions to take.

Why it matters: Entering closed session under the cited statute permits the committees to negotiate terms that might affect bargaining posture or competitive processes for development. The meeting record shows the committees invoked the statutory exception allowing closed deliberation for bargaining and investment decisions.

Details: The motion named a purchase and development agreement with a party identified in the packet as "700" and specified five Grand Avenue addresses tied to a proposed 50‑unit affordable housing development. The committees moved to closed session by roll call; no substantive agreement text or final decision was disclosed in open session.