Leader Staff
Clintonville Mayor Judith Magee this week agreed to resign, effective Jan. 1, to settle a legal dispute with a former political rival.
Tricia Rose, a local newspaper publisher who ran a write-in campaign against Magee in 2014, filed a complaint in December against Magee citing misconduct in office and other charges.
In the settlement announced Monday at a special meeting of the Common Council, the city agreed to pay legal costs related to Rose’s complaint, Rose explained why she filed the complaint and agreed to withdraw it, and Magee denied all of Rose’s allegations.
Rose said in the joint press release that she filed the complaint “for all the taxpayers in the city of Clintonville” and urged residents to be more active in city government. Magee, saying she admits no wrongdoing, indicated she was resigning so the city can move forward.
Magee and Rose agreed in the settlement to make no further statements about the complaint or agreement. Magee also agreed not to run in the April 2016 mayoral election.
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.
Rose filed her initial complaint Dec. 5 and an amended complaint on Dec. 30.
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.
Attorney Jim Kalny was retained by the city to handle the complaint against Magee, and the public hearing was scheduled for June 15. However, the hearing was postponed and then never rescheduled.
Magee’s issues with the council began long before Rose’s complaint, however. The divide became clear when the council voted to suspend then-City Administrator Lisa Kotter in May 2014. The council voted 6-4 two weeks later to extend Kotter’s suspension and refer allegations of misconduct to the city’s labor attorney. Magee vetoed that vote, and Kotter returned to work.
Just over a week later, the council, with a 6-4 vote, failed to override Magee’s veto, falling one vote short of the required supermajority. Council members then passed, again 6-4, a no-confidence vote against Magee.
Several of Rose’s complaints dealt with the Kotter departure.
Kotter resigned in September 2014, just eight days after her 17-year anniversary as the city administrator. The city agreed to pay Kotter’s salary, which was $80,200 annually, through May 15, 2015, and Kotter agreed not to file any complaints against the city. She denied any wrongdoing.
Magee took a medical leave of absence from her mayoral duties Oct. 1. In a statement released to the media, she said she was honored to be elected by city voters to the position but needed time away from the turmoil that had enveloped the city since the 2014 election.
She returned to work Nov. 26.
The Kotter controversy helped spark the successful recall effort — the first in city history — against Greg Rose, District 4 alderman and husband of Tricia Rose. Bressette defeated Rose, 108-93, in the vote.
Three council members involved in the 2014 turmoil opted not to seek re-election in April. A fourth was defeated.
The council last month named District 4 Alderperson Lois Bressette as acting mayor after Magee stopped attending city meetings and holding regular office hours.
In June, reports indicated Magee had been out of town for health reasons.