Grace Kirchner, Leader Correspondent
After the Common Council rejected her appointment to the Badger Power Marketing Authority, Mayor Judith Magee this week asked for city residents to volunteer to serve on any of a number of city boards.
On Oct. 13, the council rejected Jason Hornung as Magee’s appointee to the authority to replace longtime member Robert Gay, who resigned. Mayoral appointments must be approved by the council.
The council deadlocked, 4-4, on Hornung’s appointment, with Julie Stumbris, Lois Bressette, Brad Rokus and Steve Kettenhoven in support, and Darrell Teal, Gloria Dunlavy, Jim Krause and Mary Beth Kuester voting no. Alderperson Jeannie Schley abstained, and Amy Steenbock was excused from the meeting.
“I abstained because this is not the first time that the mayor has made appointments and then came to the council for approval,” Schley said. “I don’t even know this person.”
Badger Power officials apparently were told of Hornung’s appointment before council members. When contacted by Badger Power, City Administrator Chuck Kell advised them that the appointment would need council approval. He also provided background information on Hornung to the council at the Oct. 13 meeting.
“The council needs to approve the appointments, but now we find out the appointment has already been done without our approval, and now we are being asked to give approval after the fact,” Schley said.
To ensure council members have adequate information, Kell suggested that all future nominees for city appointments be asked to fill out a form that provides background information similar to a resume.
At the meeting, Kuester, a member of the city utility board, said she would be interested in serving on the authority, citing her experience in the utility and finance fields. She also said it would be good for an elected official to represent the residential rate payers.
Kuester’s comments caught Bressette, who served as acting mayor while Magee dealt with health issues, by surprise. Bressette said Kuester never expressed in interest in the position to her.
The cities of Clintonville and Shawano formed Badger Power in 1984 to purchase power wholesale to keep rates low for both communities.
In addition to the Badger Power Marketing Authority, Magee said residents are needed to serve on the city’s board of review, transit commission, redevelopment authority, facilities committee, and board of zoning and housing appeals.
Magee, who last month agreed to resign as mayor, effective Jan. 1, told the council she would seek more people to fill the vacancies on the panels.
Residents who are interested in serving should submit an application to the clerk-treasurer by Friday. Applications are available at City Hall or online at www.clintonvillewi.org. For information, call Kell at 7150823-7600.