5.19.22 Special Board Meeting

VILLAGE OF ORFORDVILLE

Special Board Meeting

Thursday, May 19, 2022  5:30 p.m.

Orfordville Village Hall

Main Board Room

CALL TO ORDER

                Village President Dennis Burtness called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.  Present were President Burtness, Chuck Boyce, Beth Schmidt. Cami Myers-Alstat, Nikki Tuffree, Terry Gerber, and Jason Knox.   Also present were Tim Bremel, Interim Chief Jeremiah Burdick, and Clerk Sherri Waege.

AGENDA VERIFICATION

                Clerk Waege verified that on May 18, 2022, copies of the agenda were emailed to the President and Trustees; and posted at the Village Hall, Library, Post Office, and the Bank of Brodhead.   There were no additions made to the agenda.

CITIZENS WISHING TO BE HEARD

                President Burtness explained that he would like to explain the reason for the meeting for the citizens present.  President Burtness explained that there was a recall submitted for the previous Village President prior to his resignation, as a result the Village is not able to stop the recall due to state statutes.    President Burtness further explained that the Petitioner for the Recall Election stating that he no longer wished to pursue the recall, unfortunately the state statutes do not allow for it to be stopped.    President Burtness explained that the Village is forced to complete the process to comply with state statutes.

                Clerk Waege explained that the statutes are very specific on the timeline with the recall process.   Clerk Waege further explained that it was looked into having the recall included with the upcoming August Primary, which unfortunately will not comply with state statutes.  Clerk Waege further explained that she has spoken with two people at the Wisconsin Election Commission, Attorney Michael Oellerich, and Rock County Clerk Lisa Tollefson to see if it could be stopped.   Clerk Waege further explained that Attorney Oellerich had a conference call with the Wisconsin Election Commission on May 18th and they confirmed that the statutes do not allow for the recall to be stopped once the signatures are turned in. 

                Tim Bremel of 208 N. Mowe Street wanted to clarify that the recall is for the Village Presidents position and that President Burtness as the incumbent would have to run as a candidate for the position.  Clerk Waege confirmed that that is correct,  President Burtness will have to run for the position.

CALLING THE RECALL ELECTION

                Clerk Waege explained the timeline that is set by Wisconsin State Statute  9.10(4).  Clerk Waege explained that the Signature Petition was turned in on April 25, 2022 and that she has 31 days to certify the signatures.  Clerk Waege added that she certified the signatures on Wednesday, May 18th, a week early based on the statutory election scheduling requirements.   Clerk Waege further explained that the Recall Election has to be scheduled the sixth Tuesday after the Certification by the Municipal Clerk, which would be June 28th, waiting until the 31 days to certify would have required the Recall Election to be scheduled on July 5th, which may have been an issue getting election workers during the Fourth of July Week. 

                Clerk Waege further explained that the nomination papers are due the fourth Tuesday before the election which would be May 31st.   Clerk Waege further explained that the statue requires the Village to “promptly” schedule the recall upon certification.   Clerk Waege explained that the Special Meeting for tonight was called, in lieu of waiting until the Regular Board Meeting of May 23rd, to allow additional time for those wishing to circulate Nomination Papers as the window of time is very short.

Clerk Waege explained that if a Recall Election Primary was necessary, it would be June 28th and move the Recall Election to July 26th. 

Bremel asked what the signature threshold was for signatures.  Clerk Waege explained it is 20.

Motion by Tuffree, seconded by Gerber to schedule the Recall Election for June 28, 2022 to comply with Wisconsin State Statutes.  Motion carried.

ADJOURN

                Motion by Tuffree, seconded by Schmidt to adjourn at 5:34 p.m.  Motion carried.

                                                                                                                                                Submitted by,

                                                                                                                                                Dennis Burtness

                                                                                                                                                Village President

                                                                                                                                                Sherri Waege

                                                                                                                                                Village Clerk