Grace Kirchner, Leader Correspondent
The Clintonville Common Council will hold a special meeting Monday that will include discussion of a complaint filed against Mayor Judith Magee.
The meeting will be held at 5 p.m. at City Hall, 50 10th St. The council will adjourn into closed session to confer with legal counsel regarding the complaint filed last year by city resident Tricia Rose accusing Magee of misconduct in office, abuse of power, theft of property, willfully destroying public property, releasing confidential information and concealing a crime.
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 charges and a speedy public hearing at which the accused official can present a defense.
Following the hearing, the Common Council could remove Magee from office if the proposal is supported by three-fourths (eight) of the members.
The public hearing was scheduled for June 15 but then postponed. It has not been rescheduled. Magee has been out of town for health reasons.
Rose is a local newspaper publisher who ran a write-in campaign against Magee in the 2014 mayoral election.
Rose filed her initial complaint Dec. 5. In an amended complaint filed Dec. 30, Rose accused Magee of lying on several occasions, alleged that Magee helped get her kicked out of the Clintonville Rotary Club, said Magee’s city cellphone was wiped clean and charged that Magee released confidential information.
On Dec. 9, city attorney April Dunlavy told the council that Magee had illegally authorized a $203,000 check, which the council voided, for improvements in a TIF district. Council President Jeannie Schley also said Magee approved stop signs, not OK’d by the council, costing nearly $10,000.
Magee has been unavailable for comment.