Committee unanimously votes to enter closed session to consider Chapter 980 placements

At 1:58 p.m. on Aug. 15, 2024, the Douglas County Chapter 980 Ad Hoc Committee voted to adjourn its open session and convene in closed session to consult with legal counsel and consider confidential financial, medical and social histories and statutory factors related to specific Chapter 980 supervised-release cases.

Meghan Carey, identified in the roll call as the Local Probation Officer (Corrections Field Supervisor Unit 514 or designee), moved the motion; Zach DeVoe, Douglas County Land Services Director, seconded. The motion cited Wis. Stat. §19.85(1)(g) (to confer with legal counsel on litigation strategy) and Wis. Stat. §19.85(1)(f) (to consider personal histories that would likely have substantial adverse effect on reputation if discussed publicly); the record also cites Wis. Stat. §980.08(4)(dm) as the statutory provision guiding development of potential placements. A roll call vote was taken on the motion with the committee members recorded as present on the roll call all voting yes; open session adjourned at 1:58 p.m. The committee reconvened in open session at 2:24 p.m.

Why it matters: Chapter 980 placement decisions involve confidential statutory factors and legal counsel; the committee used the statutory closed-session exceptions on the record and conducted the deliberations outside the public portion of the meeting. The transcript does not disclose the content of closed-session deliberations or any placement outcomes.

What the record shows: the motion carried by roll call with all committee members present voting yes. The meeting minutes reflect the statutory bases cited for confidentiality and the start and end times of the closed session.