Kewaskum village board denies complaint against Administrator Adam Gitter after 5-2 vote

The Kewaskum village board voted 5-2 on April 13 to deny a complaint filed by Chief Thomas F. Bishop against Village Administrator Adam Gitter, ruling the allegations of fraud and failure to comply with an open-records request lacked merit.

In explaining the motion, the board said the employee handbook is not intended as a vehicle for one employee to lodge complaints against another and stressed that such concerns should move through the chain of command and established administrative channels. "The allegation that Adam Gitter acted fraudulently is without factual or legal basis and is hereby denied," the board stated.

The board also denied a claim that Gitter failed to timely comply with an open records request, noting the request — submitted on April 13, 2026 — was routed to village legal counsel and that both village attorneys acknowledged receipt and assumed responsibility for response. The board said Gitter followed up in writing with village counsel multiple times and that production of records was "actively occurring," with any delay managed by counsel in the context of active litigation.

Not all trustees supported the decision. "I am going to vote no on the matter due to the fact that I am not happy with the way the whole situation was handled from the start," a trustee said during discussion, while also expressing personal respect for Administrator Gitter.

Following the vote, a trustee urged that the seven trustees, Chief Bishop and Administrator Gitter meet in a closed session area to discuss what happened and plan how to move forward. Several trustees agreed to consider a private meeting to resolve internal concerns.

The board recorded the motion by roll call; votes were recorded as five in favor and two opposed, and the motion to deny the complaint passed. The meeting adjourned afterward.