Brodhead council debates creating city administrator; consultant urges separate employment contract

The Brodhead Common Council reviewed Ordinance 005-2025, which would amend Chapter 12 of the Brodhead Municipal Code to create the position of City Administrator.

Mayor Simpson opened discussion after the roll call and explained the item’s origin, saying that PAA had worked on the form under the city’s contract. Alderperson Gritzmaker asked where the draft came from; Simpson responded that it was developed through that contracted work.

Kevin Brunner, who introduced himself to the council during the discussion, recommended the city use a separate employment agreement for whoever is hired to the administrator post. Brunner said a distinct contract would protect the incoming individual and also protect the mayor, council and the city by setting clear expectations at the start of employment.

Council members debated term length and evaluation processes. Alderperson Gritzmaker noted a one-year term could make recruitment difficult; others said annual reviews can amount to a de facto yearly vote but might be framed as performance evaluations. Alderperson Burkhalter recommended that annual reviews include a recommendation on continued employment; Baxter described the administrator role as including human-resources responsibilities and said the administrator’s work should speak for itself while the mayor and council set oversight expectations.

Brunner suggested using clear written expectations and an anonymous or 360-degree review process to encourage honest feedback during evaluations. Mayor Simpson said the council would review the ordinance further and could send it to the city attorney for additional drafting or changes.

No formal vote on Ordinance 005-2025 was recorded during the open session; the council continued other business and moved later into closed session for personnel matters.

The ordinance remains under council review; the council did not adopt the measure at this meeting.