Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Personnel topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board approves ordinance and charter change moving clerk and treasurer under village administrator
Summary
The village board adopted a charter ordinance and companion municipal ordinance to change the clerk and treasurer from board-appointed roles to employees reporting to the village administrator; trustees said the move is common practice intended to improve operational stability and efficiency.
The Village of Salem Lakes board approved a charter ordinance and an ordinance amending municipal code to make the village clerk and treasurer employees who report to the village administrator rather than direct appointees of the board.
Staff explained the change during discussion, describing it as an operational restructuring: the clerk and treasurer will be supervised by the administrator to provide continuity and more efficient personnel management. The attorney and staff explained the change does not eliminate the functions of clerk and treasurer but alters reporting and appointing authority; as one trustee noted, the approach is commonly used across Wisconsin.
Trustees asked whether terms of office or appointment frequency were affected and were told that the positions would no longer have board-set terms and would be administrator employees. A trustee offered historical context that the village previously elected or appointed those positions and that appointment can provide more stability.
A motion to approve the charter ordinance (repeal/replace sections changing term of office for clerk and treasurer) and the implementing municipal ordinance clarifying the administrator's duties was moved, seconded and passed by roll-call vote. The board and staff said they expect operational efficiencies and directed staff to address any statutory reporting steps required by state law.
