Common Council Meeting — Minutes

Common Council MEETING MINUTES April 28, 2026 - 6:05 PM City Hall Council Chambers MINUTES 1. PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR Each speaker will be limited to three (3) minutes. The Privilege of the Floor session shall not exceed a total of thirty (30) minutes, unless extended by the Common Council. Council President Harenda read the rules governing the Privilege of the Floor and invited any members of the public who wished to speak to come forward. A resident spoke in opposition to the proposed City Attorney contract and the creation of the Human Resources Manager position. 2. CALL TO ORDER, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Council President Harenda called the meeting to order at 6:15 PM and led the Pledge of Allegiance. 3. ROLL CALL; DECLARATION OF QUORUM; PUBLIC NOTICE City Clerk Rubina R. Medina took the roll call as follows: Present: Alderperson Hopkins, Alderperson Maxey, Alderperson Harenda, Alderperson Horbinski, Alderperson Kroupa Excused: Alderperson Gardner, Alderperson Stribl, Mayor Dave Ament Staff Present: City Attorney Mark Blum, City Clerk Rubina R. Medina The City Clerk confirmed that a quorum was present and that the meeting was properly posted in compliance with the open meetings law. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. April 14, 2026, Common Council Installation Meeting Minutes MOTION: Motion to Approve Motion by: Alderperson Maxey Second by: Alderperson Kroupa VOTE: Motion Passed 5-0 5. REPORTS A. City Clerk No Report. B. Council President Council President stated that he had provided Council members with the board and commission appointments for the 2026–2027 term. No motion needed. i. Appointed Positions for 2026–2027 (For Information Only) C. Mayor No report as the Mayor was excused from the meeting. 6. COMMUNICATIONS 7. MAYORAL APPOINTMENTS A. Discussion and Possible Action to approve the Mayoral Appointments per the list as presented There were no mayoral appointments to approve. 8. DEFERRED, REFERRED & TABLED ITEMS None 9. ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA, if any None 10. CONSENT AGENDA------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Items under the Consent Agenda have passed unanimously by the Committee of the Whole. Items not passed by a unanimous vote will be removed from consent agenda and will be considered separately. MOTION: Motion to Approve Motion by: Alderperson Maxey Second by: Alderperson Horbinski VOTE: Motion Passed 5-0 11. MINUTES A. April 14, 2026, Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes 12. UTILITY & FINANCE A. Discussion and possible recommendation to the Common Council regarding approval of the April 29, 2026, claims, including Water Utility claims of $40,196.56, Sewer Utility claims of $52,861.43, and General City claims of $870,678.19, which includes a We Energies EFT payment of $99,774.40. 13. MISCELLANEOUS A. Discussion and possible action regarding the appointment of William Jonas as the Common Council nominee to the City of New Berlin Ethics Board, pursuant to Section 28-6(B) of the City Code, for a term commencing upon appointment and expiring April 30, 2029. B. Election of an Alderperson to the Plan Commission, pursuant to Section 275-15(B)(1) of the City Code, requiring a two-thirds vote of the Common Council. C. Discussion and possible recommendation to the Common Council for approval of the New Berlin Fire Department's AED Library Program to support expanded access to life- saving equipment and enhance emergency response efforts within the community, as outlined in the RAS. D. Discussion and possible action regarding the proposed reorganization of the Human Resources Department, including the creation of an HR Manager position and the transition of Benefits & Leave Specialist duties to a Benefits Administrator role to address operational needs and support strategic HR functions. 14. END CONSENT AGENDA----------------------------------------------------------------------- 15. CLOSED SESSION A. The Common Council may convene in closed session pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 19.85(1)(e), to deliberate or negotiate the purchase of public properties, the investing of public funds, or the conduct of other specified public business, whenever competitive or bargaining reasons require a closed session, specifically to discuss terms and negotiations for a contract for legal services with Attorney Mark G. Blum. City Clerk Medina read the statutory basis for entering into closed session. MOTION: Motion to Enter Closed Session 6:18 PM Motion by: Alderperson Hopkins Second by: Alderperson Kroupa ROLL CALL VOTE: Motion Passed 5-0 City Attorney Mark Blum recused himself from the closed session discussion regarding Item 15A. B. The Common Council may convene into closed session pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 19.85(1)(g) to confer with legal counsel who is rendering oral or written advice concerning strategy to be adopted with respect to litigation or potential litigation in which the City is or is likely to become involved, specifically regarding: Clark vs. City of New Berlin. 16. RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION MOTION: Motion to return to open session at 6:41 PM. Motion by: Alderperson Hopkins Second by: Alderperson Horbinski ROLL CALL VOTE: Motion Passed 5-0 A. Discussion and possible action regarding entering into a contract for legal services with Attorney Mark G. Blum Council President Harenda noted that this interim arrangement provides the City with time to prepare and issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) for legal services in 2027, in coordination with the Mayor's Office and Human Resources. All council members thanked Attorney Blum for his service to the City. MOTION: Motion to Approve the extension of the contract with Attorney Mark Blum Motion by: Alderperson Maxey Second by: Alderperson Hopkins VOTE: Motion Passed 5-0 B. Discussion and possible action regarding Clark vs. City of New Berlin MOTION: Motion to Approve the claim as outlined by the City Attorney Motion by: Alderperson Kroupa Second by: Alderperson Maxey VOTE: Motion Passed 5-0 17. ADJOURN MOTION: Motion to Adjourn at 6:45 PM. Motion by: Alderperson Kroupa VOTE: Second by: Alderperson Horbinski Motion Passed 5-0 Respectfully Submitted, Rubina R. Medina, City Clerk