Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission moves into closed session for fire chief performance review

The Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission voted July 24 to convene a closed session to consider a performance review of Fire Chief Aaron Lipsky, citing Wisconsin Statute 19.85(1)(c).

Commissioners present at the executive meeting included Virgos, Evans, Fung, Vrainy, Snyder, Spence Spencer and Commissioner Horowitz; Commissioner World Patterson was excused. FPC Executive Director Leon Todd and Deputy Director Jay Pusek were also present.

A motion to move into closed session was made and seconded; three commissioners responded "I" when the chair called for a voice vote. No opposition or abstentions were voiced and the chair declared the motion carried. The board then entered closed session. The meeting record notes the board planned to reconvene in open session during its regular meeting to address the items discussed in closed session.

The record provided to the commission cites "section 19.85 sub 1 sub c" as the basis for closing the meeting; that statutory provision is the exception commonly used to discuss employee performance and personnel matters in closed session. The transcript does not record further discussion, the content of the performance review, or any final personnel action taken during the closed session.

No additional motions, votes, or outcomes on personnel action were recorded in the provided transcript excerpt. The meeting excerpt ends with the board entering closed session and noting a later reconvening in open session during the regular meeting.