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Committee agrees to draft changes to vacancy-notification rules and to explore applicant-disclosure options
Summary
Supervisors debated adding municipal clerks to vacancy-notification lists and whether chairs must provide applicant lists for appointments; the committee approved drafting a resolution to add municipal clerks and directed staff to craft a balanced approach on applicant information consistent with state law.
Supervisor Counter introduced two related items: (1) amending county board rules to add municipal clerks to the notification list when a county supervisory vacancy arises, and (2) requiring the county board chair to provide the board with a list of applicants and information submitted for appointments.
On the first item, the committee agreed to move the amendment forward and corporation counsel said the change would be drafted as a resolution and returned at the next meeting. The committee voted to bring the amendment forward.
On the second item — requiring the chair to provide applicant information — supervisors voiced competing concerns. Supervisor Shirley said the board needs application materials to make an informed confirmation vote, asking for at least the list of who applied and a pathway to request more information. Supervisor Long warned against publicizing interview-stage information and said some interview content could be inappropriate to discuss in public. Corporation counsel pointed to state statutes governing appointments and public-record disclosure and cautioned that some information may need redaction. The counsel cited legal limits on release and noted the statute 19.367 concerning release of finalist identities; counsel also referenced Wisconsin statutes governing appointment authority (as cited in the meeting record).
Rather than adopt a rule immediately, the committee settled on a middle ground: staff will draft language that (a) adds municipal clerks to the notice list; (b) clarifies the application-disclosure process consistent with state law (including redaction rules and limits if more than five applicants); and (c) explores a process for supervisors to review candidate information (for example, distribution by email or one-on-one conversations with the chair before the meeting). Corporation counsel agreed to prepare a draft for review at the next meeting.
No binding change to appointment authority was made; further legal drafting and a formal vote are expected at the subsequent meeting.
