Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Ethics Code Revisions topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Wausau Ethics Board will continue work on municipal ethics-code revisions, schedules Dec. 16 meeting
Summary
The Wausau Ethics Board debated whether to finalize proposed changes to Chapter 2.03 now or wait for incoming members and voted unanimously to reconvene Dec. 16 to consider Attorney Jacobson's draft and additional edits, including changes to the disputed "paragraph J."
The Wausau Ethics Board voted unanimously at its Nov. 11 meeting to reconvene at 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 16 to continue work on proposed revisions to Chapter 2.03 of the Wausau Municipal Code, which governs ethics for public officials and employees.
The board discussed two options: finalize the draft recommendations already prepared by Attorney Jacobson and forward them to the Common Council, or delay final action until recently appointed members — including Thomas "Tommy" Garver — and additional appointees could review and vote. Chair Kelvin said the board had ‘‘got two options’’ and urged members to weigh whether to send the current draft on or to wait for new members' input.
Why it matters: the board's review followed earlier complaints that exposed weaknesses in the code, notably an ambiguous provision referred to in the meeting as "Standard J." Chair Kelvin said the way Standard J was written in 2022 made enforcement difficult and prompted a broader review; portions of earlier recommendations were adopted by the Common Council in January 2024. The board also adopted a recusal rule in February 2025 that the Common Council later approved, a development members said resolved part of the procedural gap.
Members argued over institutional memory versus inclusion. One member said completing the draft now would give a clearer, ready-to-apply code to a future board; another said that allowing new members to see the draft before it is finalized respects their role. An attendee announced, "I do plan on resigning at the end of this year," a disclosure members said shaped timing considerations.
The board agreed on process items to reduce the chance of a walking quorum: proposed edits should be submitted to Cody (staff/clerk) for distribution rather than emailed to multiple board members. Kelvin committed to circulating his suggested edits — particularly revisions to paragraph J — so the packet for the December meeting would allow new and continuing members to review language ahead of the vote.
Motion and outcome: Chair Kelvin moved to set the next meeting for 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 16 and Doug seconded; the motion passed unanimously by hand/voice vote. The board then moved and seconded adjournment and left the meeting.
Next steps: Board members said Kelvin will circulate proposed changes for paragraph J and other items to Cody and Anne for inclusion in the Dec. 16 agenda packet. The board expects to resume deliberations then and potentially forward a resolution with its recommendations to the Common Council.
