Waukesha water commission votes to enter closed sessions on construction lawsuit and general manager review

The Washoe Water Utility Commission for the City of Waukesha voted May 21 to go into two closed sessions under Wisconsin Statute 19.85: one to consult with legal counsel about the continuing lawsuit brought by S J Lewis Construction against the city and a second to consider employment and performance matters related to the utility’s general manager.

Chair opened the meeting and read the statutory announcements and the language authorizing reconvening for possible post‑closed‑session action. "A motion will be made to convene a closed session pursuant to Wisconsin statute 19.85(1)(g) to confer with legal counsel regarding the status and strategy with respect to the continuing lawsuit," the chair stated when reading the first notice. Commissioners then moved and voted to convene the sessions.

Why it matters: closed sessions under Wis. Stat. 19.85 are permitted for attorney‑client strategy and personnel deliberations; they remove discussions from the public record and may lead to subsequent public action when the board reconvenes. The commission recorded a roll‑call vote to enter closed session and noted two members were absent for those votes.

The meeting minutes and public record do not disclose the substance of closed‑session deliberations. The chair read reconvening language under Wisconsin statute 19.85(2) so that, if required, action on matters discussed in closed session could be taken in open session after the closed meeting. Commissioners approved that procedural step on the record.

Next steps: the commission did not disclose details of the closed sessions in the public meeting; any formal actions resulting from those sessions would appear in a future open meeting agenda and related minutes.