Grace Kirchner, Leader Correspondent
After two suspensions and months of controversy, Clintonville City Administrator Lisa Kotter has resigned.
The resignation took effect Wednesday, just eight days after her 17-year anniversary as the city administrator.
After weeks of negotiations, the city agreed to pay Kotter through next May 15, and Kotter 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.”
“I will always be appreciative of the elected officials, staff, business leaders, and community members who have been supportive of me and my position,” Kotter wrote in her letter of resignation. “It has been a difficult decision as Clintonville has been my family’s home for 17 years. However, at this time it is clear that it is best for me, my family and the community to part ways and each move in a new direction.”
Mayor Judith Magee responded with the following statement: “I will always be appreciative of the positive impact Kotter had on Clintonville city government for the past 17 years. I am incredibly disappointed to see her leave but fully understand her reason for the resignation.”
Kotter was initially suspended by the council on May 13. Attorney Warren Kraft was hired to investigate the undisclosed allegations raised by Common Council members following the suspension and later presented his findings to the council in closed session.
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 on June 2, and Kotter returned to work.
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.
The council last week met in closed session for two hours with labor attorney Robert Burns. After the session, Magee announced that the council was making progress and an anticipated resolution was expected in the near future.
Although the council never discussed its concerns about Kotter in open session, Fox 11 reported the allegations involved misuse of city funds for family vacations while on work trips. Kotter said she did nothing wrong.