Committee places proposed financial-disclosure resolution on file after debate over scope

The Wauwatosa Government Affairs Committee on March 11 voted unanimously to place on file — effectively pausing — a request from Alder Meindel and Alder McClough that would have directed city and legal staff to draft a confidential financial-disclosure report form, job aid and policy.

City Attorney Koester gave an overview of existing local and state ethics rules, noting the city’s Chapter 2.05 ordinance and parallel state statute Wis. Stat. §19.59. Koester told the committee there is currently no local requirement for advance financial-reporting of the type proposed and summarized the three main prohibitions in local law: prohibitions on accepting things of value expected to influence official action, prohibitions on using public office for private financial gain, and prohibitions on disclosure or use of confidential government information for personal benefit. "There is no current advance reporting requirement of the type of financial interest that would be disclosed under our current laws," Koester said.

City Administrator Melissa Wise advised staff concerns about employee recruitment and administrative burden if the city adopted a form patterned on a federal disclosure included in the packet. "If we are asking individuals to share this information... we may need to consider staffing for that request," Wise said, noting HR and the attorney’s office would need additional resources to administer such disclosures and that applicability may depend on specific job duties.

A member of the public, Mary McBride, urged caution and called the federal form included in the packet "overkill," saying it would not disclose common holdings such as primary residences or diversified retirement accounts and expressing concern about staff retention. Several alderpersons echoed concerns that the federal form would be invasive and suggested a shorter form along the lines of Kenosha’s disclosure or limiting reporting to certain positions. Alder Moldenhauer described the federal-form approach as "absurd" and moved to place the request on file; Alder Wilkins seconded the motion. Alder Phillips and others asked whether gaps in current ethics laws could be remedied through narrower revisions rather than a full new disclosure regime.

The chair called the motion and the committee voted unanimously to place the request on file. Committee members directed staff to continue existing ethics training and indicated a willingness to consider narrower, targeted approaches later rather than adopting the extensive federal-style disclosure referenced in the packet.