Grace Kirchner, Leader Correspondent
The city of Clintonville spent more than $100,000 on the Common Council’s investigation and subsequent agreement with former City Administrator Lisa Kotter.
Alderperson Lois Bressette disclosed the information at a recent council meeting “in the interest in transparency.”
Bressette said the city spent $14,851 on outside legal help, $7,450 on the investigation, $58,611 to Kotter as part of the agreement, $18,729 in benefits for Kotter and a vacation payout of $9,475, for a total of $109,116.
Bressette also asked that the cost of hiring interim City Administrator Chuck Kell and the cost for the search for Kotter’s replacement be available for the next council meeting.
Kotter resigned in September after two suspensions and months of controversy. Her resignation took effect just eight days after her 17-year anniversary as the city administrator. The city agreed to pay her through May 15, 2015, and she agreed not to file any complaints against the city.
Her departure, according to a joint news release issued by Kotter and the city, was not based on any misconduct but rather on “philosophical and stylistic differences.”
Alderperson Mary Beth Kuester said the council was told if it challenged the agreement, expenses would have continued to climb.
Council President Jeannie Schley said expenses would not have accumulated if Mayor Judith Magee had supported the council’s investigation.
Kotter was initially suspended May 13 by the Common Council after members raised undisclosed allegations against her.
The council voted 6-4 on May 27 to extend Kotter’s suspension and refer allegations of misconduct to the city’s labor attorney. Magee vetoed that vote June 2, and Kotter returned to work.
“That threw a monkey wrench in the whole thing,” Schley said.
On June 10, the council, with a 6-4 vote, failed to override Magee’s veto, falling one vote short of the required supermajority. Many city residents spoke in support of Kotter and Magee at the June meeting, which had to be moved from City Hall to the Community Center because of the overflow crowd.
The council then voted 7-3 in July to indefinitely place Kotter on administrative leave while continuing its investigation.
When she resigned, Kotter was making $80,200 annually. She subsequently accepted a similar position in Geneseo, Illinois, that pays $90,000.
Although the council never discussed its concerns about Kotter in open session, area media reported the allegations involved misuse of city funds for family vacations while on work trips. Kotter said she did nothing wrong.
Magee also has clashed with council members. She took a medical leave of absence from Oct. 1 to Nov. 26 citing stresses of the job and working with the Common Council.
The controversy, at least in part, prompted resident William VanDaalwyk to launch a successful recall effort against District 4 Alderman Greg Rose. It was the first recall in city history.
In December, council members accused Magee of illegally authorizing checks and approving stop signs not OK’d by the council.
Trica Rose, publisher of the Clintonville Chronicle and wife of Greg Rose, has since filed a complaint accusing Magee of misconduct in office, abuse of power, theft of property, willfully destroying public property, releasing confidential information and concealing a crime.
Tricia Rose ran unsuccessfully against Magee in the April 2014 mayoral election.
The council voted unanimously, with one member absent, Feb. 10 to hire the firm of David and Kuelthau to choose a special investigator to handle the probe of Magee.
Rose’s filing is termed a Chapter 17 complaint, referring to the Wisconsin state statute that deals with removing elected officials from office. The procedure, which can be initiated by a resident taxpayer, includes written verified charges and a speedy public hearing at which the accused official can present a defense.
The Common Council could remove Magee from office if the proposal is supported by three-fourths of the members.