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Franklin meeting sparks dispute over whether notice allowed public comment tonight
Summary
At an organizational meeting on Feb. 16, an attendee and some members argued the published notice invited public comment tonight; the city attorney said the publication was a combined notice and pointed to Wisconsin open‑meeting guidance. No suspension of order of business was moved and the board proceeded without public comment.
A procedural dispute over whether tonight’s published notice allowed citizen comment briefly disrupted the City of Franklin Joint Review Board meeting Feb. 16.
An attendee, identifying himself as a former mayor, said the published notice appeared to give a reasonable opportunity for public comment at tonight's meeting and asked the board to suspend the regular order of business to allow speakers. Several board members and the chair disagreed, saying the public hearing for the project plan is scheduled for Feb. 19 and that a motion and second would be required to suspend the agenda.
City Attorney Jesse Weselowski responded that the notice in the packet is a combined (dual) notice that included both tonight’s organizational meeting and the Feb. 19 public hearing. He also referenced guidance under Wisconsin open meetings law and cited Wisconsin Statute section 19.84 in explaining the permissible content of meeting notices.
No member made a motion to suspend the order of business; the chair proceeded with the agenda. The board reiterated that the plan commission hearing on Feb. 19 at 6 p.m. is the appropriate forum for public comment on the TID 10 project plan.
