June 6, 2023 – Minutes(PDF, 325KB)

* * MINUTES * * * * OUTAGAMIE COUNTY BOARD SPECIAL MEETING * * Office of the County Clerk, June 6, 2023. The Board met pursuant to adjournment, and was called to order by Chairperson Nooyen at 7:00 p.m. in the County Board Room, located at 320 South Walnut Street, Appleton, Wisconsin. On May 30, 2023, the Outagamie County Clerk received a written notice from a majority of the Supervisors, to hold a Special Meeting on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, at 7:00 p.m., pursuant to Sec. 2-20(d) of the County Board Rules and Sec. 59.11(2), Wis. Stats., to consider censure of Supervisor Hermes for comments made at the May 9, 2023, Outagamie County Board meeting. ROLL CALL: 30 present, 6 absent. Members present: Thompson, Miller, Patience, Gabrielson, Konetzke, Lawrence, Krueger, Ferguson, McCabe, Wegand, Hermes, MacDonald, Schroeder, Croatt, Cooke, Santonato, Cuff, Klemp, Thiede, Nooyen, Weinberg, Culbertson, Monfils, Winterfeldt, Nejedlo, Clegg, VanderHeiden, Rettler, Koury, and Lautenschlager. Members Absent: Smith, Hammen, Lamers, Spears, Hagen, Thyssen. The Board Chairperson requested the Board's con firmation to excuse Supervisor s Smith, Hammen, Lamers, Spears, and Hagen. No objections; so ordered. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Chairperson Nooyen. MINUTES OF THE MAY 23, 2023 COUNTY BOARD MEETING Supervisor Konetzke moved, seconded by Supervisor Patience, to app rove the minutes of the May 23, 2023, County Board meeting. ROLL CALL: 26 yes, 4 abstain (Wegand, Klemp, Monfils, VanderHeide n), 6 absent. MINUTES OF THE MAY 23, 2023, BOARD MEETING ARE APPROVED. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS – None. ESTABLISH ORDER OF THE DAY – Chairperson Nooyen reported the appointment to Land Information Council will be held in committee. Chairperson Nooyen reported the request to have Resolution No. 25—2023-24 locked in at the meeting, if it is approved. COMMUNICATIONS - Communication Referral List (included in the packet). Chairperson Nooyen summarized the following communications:  The County Executive’s Report is in Drop Box.  Nine supervisors have to complete the May IT training sessions. Supervisors can contact Legislative Services if they need to have the links emailed to them.  The June 13th County Board meeting will be cancelled. The June 27th County Board meeting will be held virtually. June 6, 2023 County Board Minutes Page 2 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION FOR A PERIOD OF FIFTEEN MINUTES (PERTINENT TO THE RESOLUTIONS OF THE DAY) – Mary Hufford, 1344 W. Roselawn Dr., Appleton WI - spoke against Resolution No. 25—2023-24. Jonnie Urban, 711 E. Boldt Way, Lawrence University, Appleton WI - spoke in favor of Resolution No. 25—2023-24. Matthew Trewhella, 3177 Hwy 167, Richfield WI - spoke against Resolution No. 25—2023-24. Melissa Hrdlicka, 426 Ransom St. Apt. B, Ripon WI – representing Hate-Free Outagamie - spoke in favor of Resolution No. 25—2023-24. Ed Perkins, 4486 N. White Hawk Dr., Appleton WI – spoke against Resolution No. 25—2023-24. Rocky Rodriguez, 416 E. Capitol Dr., Appleton WI - spoke against Resolution No. 25—2023-24. Ronna Swift, 230 W. Seymour St., Appleton WI – spoke in favor of Resolution No. 25—2023-24. Peter Hofacker, N3618 State Rd. 47, Center WI - spoke against Resolution No. 25—2023-24. Logan Robinson, 1913 W. Russet Ct., Appleton WI – spoke in favor of Resolution No. 25—2023-24. Marcus Schroeder, 900 Michigan Ave., Waukesha WI - spoke against Resolution No. 25—2023-24. Lee Hendricks-Richman, E. Boldt Way, Lawrence University, Appleton WI - spoke in favor of Resolution No. 25—2023-24. Cindy Conradt, W6290 Klika Rd., Shiocton WI - spoke against Resolution No. 25—2023-24. Reiko Ramos, 400 N. Richmond St., Appleton WI - spoke in favor of Resolution No. 25—2023-24. Ruth Elmer, 427 Hidden Ridges Way, Combined Locks WI - spoke against Resolution No. 25—2023-24. Janice Quinlan, 322 Smith Ct., Appleton WI – representing LWV Appleton Fox Cities - spoke in favor of Resolution No. 25—2023-24. Chairperson Nooyen asked for unanimous consent to extend Public Participation an additional fifteen minutes. Angie Peterson, 833 E. Capitol Dr., Appleton WI - spoke against Resolution No. 25—2023-24. Sommer Loar, 1303 Manitowoc Rd., Menasha WI - spoke in favor of Resolution No. 25—2023-24. Dean Neubert, W7808 Cty Rd. MM, Hortonville WI – representing Republican Party of Outagamie - spoke against Resolution No. 25—2023-24. Nate Wolff, 1801 W. Pershing St. Apt 612, Appleton WI – representing District 12 Appleton - spoke in favor of Resolution No. 25—2023-24. June 6, 2023 County Board Minutes Page 3 Laurel Zempel, 1035 W. Harris St., Appleton WI - spoke against Resolution No. 25—2023-24. Vered Meltzer, 424 E. Atlantic St., Appleton WI – representing District 2 Appleton - spoke in favor of Resolution No. 25—2023-24. Wanda Winterfeldt, W7846 Cty Rd. MM, Hortonville WI - spoke against Resolution No. 25—2023-24. Gary Crevier, 37 Ramlen Ct., Appleton WI – representing ESTHER – spoke in favor of Resolution No. 25—2023-24. Chairperson Nooyen asked for unanimous consent to extend Public Participation an additional fifteen minutes. Elvin Blair, 2300 Palisades Dr., Appleton WI - spoke against Resolution No. 25—2023-24. Beth Destasio, 3408 N. Morrison St., Appleton WI – spoke in favor of Resolution No. 25—2023-24. Robert Kramer, W6461 Summer Wind Ln., Greenville WI - spoke against Resolution No. 25—2023-24. Rich Krake, 1144 E. Northwood Dr., Appleton WI - spoke against Resolution No. 25—2023-24. Michelle Schaefer, 413 S. Joseph St., Appleton WI - spoke against Resolution No. 25—2023-24. Helen Boyd, 324 E. Franklin St., Appleton WI - spoke in favor of Resolution No. 25—2023-24. Regan Koepke, N8114 Town Hall Rd., Eldorado WI – spoke against Resolution No. 25—2023-24. Jonathan Storms, 955 County C, Grafton WI – spoke against Resolution No. 25—2023-24. Rose Lorier, 401 Misty Meadows Blvd., Hartford WI – spoke against Resolution No. 25—2023-24. Dawsen Seibel, W9554 Olden Rd., Eldorado WI – spoke against Resolution No. 25—2023-24. Priscilla Truela, 3177 Hwy 167, Richfield WI - spoke against Resolution No. 25—2023-24. Jack Garen, W323 S4224 Grace Ct., Waukesha WI - spoke against Resolution No. 25—2023-24. APPOINTMENTS— being held in committee. County Board Chair Nooyen nomination for appointment of Rick Lautenschlager to the Land Information Council; said term expiring April 2024. In accord to County Board Rules, the Board took a recess and then reconvened. UNFINISHED BUSINESS – None. June 6, 2023 County Board Minutes Page 4 NEW BUSINESS Resolution No. 25—2023-24 – Various Supervisors. Approve of requesting the Chairperson of the Board verbally censure Supervisor Timothy Hermes for his conduct at the May 9th, 2023 Board Meeting in Appleton and finds the conduct of Supervisor Hermes to be damaging to the good reputation of Outagamie County, to be disrespectful and insensitive to members of our community, and to be inconsistent with the mission of Outagamie County, its employees, officers and the majority of the County Board of Supervisors. Supervisor Thiede moved, seconded by Supervisor Santonato, for adoption. Supervisor Patience moved to amend Resolution 25 —2023-24 to read as ‘Approve of requesting the Chairperson of th e Board verbally censure Supervisor Timothy Hermes for his conduct at the May 9 th, 2023 Board Meeting in Appleton and finds the conduct of Supervisor Hermes to be damaging to the good reputation of Outagamie County, to be disrespectful and insensitive to members of our community, and to be inconsistent with the mission, vision, and core values of Outagamie County, its employees, officers and the majority of the County Board of Supervisors.’, seconded by Supervisor Thiede, for amendment. ROLL CALL: 27 yes, 2 no ( Krueger, Rettler), 1 abstain ( Klemp), 6 absent. RESOLUTION NO. 25— 2023-24 IS AMENDED. ROLL CALL: 21 yes, 8 no (Krueger, Cooke, Klemp, Weinberg, Winterfeldt, Nejedlo, Clegg, Rettler ), 6 absent. RESOLUTION NO. 25—2023-24 IS ADOPTED AS AMENDED. RECONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION NO. 25—2023-24. Supervisor Santonato moved, seconded by Supervisor MacDonald, to reconsider the above listed resolution. Vote for reconsideration. ROLL CALL: 25 yes, 4 no (Cooke, Klemp, Weinberg, Winterfeldt), 1 abstain (Hermes), 6 absent. RESOLUTION NO. 25 —2023-24 IS RECONSIDERED. Vote for lock in. ROLL CALL: 23 yes, 6 no (Krueger, Cooke, Klemp, Weinberg, Winterfeldt, Nejedlo), 1 abstain (Hermes), 6 absent. RESOLUTION NO. 25—2023-24 IS ADOPTED & LOCKED IN. Chairperson Nooyen conducted the following verbal censure to Supervisor Timothy Hermes:  Based on the Vote of the Count Board I hereby censure you for your conduct we all witnessed at the May 9th, 2023 County Board Meeting.  While you are free to hold whatever opinions you may have on issues relating to transgendered individuals, and are also free to comment on your opinions, your position as an elected official and member of this body require you to make those comments in a manner which does not tarnish the reputation, integrity, and respect that we owe all of our constituents. Your duties as a public official for this body require you to act with civility, and respect, not with name calling and verbal attacks. The manner in which you expressed your opinion was not an example of civil discourse, they were offensive and disrespectful to many people.  Additionally, your comments brought up an issue which wasn’t even in front of this board to act on and made the County Board a stage for national debate. The purpose of this board is to carry June 6, 2023 County Board Minutes Page 5 out the important duties of the County on issues that come before it, not to create such a stage. This has caused significant issues for our Board, for our staff, and for members of this community.  This board has voted to censure you for the lack of civil discourse in the exercise of your duties, for tarnishing our reputation, and for ultimately precluding us from undertaking our mission as a County Board. Going forward, for you, and for any other member of the County board, do your job as an elected official. Do it respectfully, with dignity and appreciation for all members of our community regardless of their age, class, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, color or creed. REPORTS – none. ADJOURNMENT Supervisor Patience moved, seconded by Supervisor Wegand to adjourn until June 27, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. VOICE VOTE CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. The meeting adjourned at 9:36 p.m. ___________________________________ Jeff King, County Clerk ROLL CALL SUMMARY JUNE 6, 2023 COUNTY BOARD MEETING NO. OF ROLL NO. VOTES CUMULATIVE NO. VOTES CALLS TAKEN CAST THIS CALLS TAKEN CAST THIS DIST./NAME THIS MEETING MEETING THIS TERM TERM 1. Thompson 5 5 49 48 2. Miller 5 5 49 48 3. Smith 5 0 49 28 4. Patience 5 5 49 49 5. Gabrielson 5 5 49 49 6. Konetzke 5 5 49 49 7. Hammen 5 0 49 32 8. Lawrence 5 5 49 49 9. Krueger 5 5 49 22 10. Lamers 5 0 49 44 11. Ferguson 5 5 49 49 12. McCabe 5 5 49 32 13. Wegand 5 4 49 4 14. Hermes 5 3 49 45 15. MacDonald 5 5 49 49 16. Schroeder 5 5 49 36 17. Croatt 5 5 49 32 18. Spears 5 0 49 28 19. Cooke 5 5 49 49 20. Santonato 5 5 49 49 21. Cuff 5 5 49 49 22. Hagen 5 0 49 44 23. Klemp 5 3 49 30 24. Thiede 5 5 49 49 25. Nooyen 5 5 49 49 26. Weinberg 5 5 49 49 27. Culbertson 5 5 49 37 28. Monfils 5 4 49 18 29. Winterfeldt 5 5 49 37 30. Nejedlo 5 5 49 48 31. Clegg 5 5 49 49 32. Thyssen 5 0 49 44 33. Vander Heiden 5 4 49 31 34. Rettler 5 5 49 49 35. Koury* 5 5 37 36 36. Lautenschlager 5 5 49 49 *Koury's first day was May 8, 2023 Member(s) absent: Hagen, Hammen, Lamers, Smith Spears, and Thyssen