Wisconsin Ethics Commission
101 E Wilson Street, St. Croix Room
Madison, Wisconsin
Tuesday, May 14, 2024, 9:00 a.m.
Open Session Agenda
A. Call to Order
B. Report of Appropriate Meeting Notice – Administrator
C. Approval of Minutes of Prior Meetings
1. Open Session Minutes for Meeting on December 12, 2023
2. Open Session Minutes for Meeting on February 12, 2024
3. Open Session Minutes for Meeting on February 20, 2024
4. Open Session Minutes for Meeting on March 22, 2024
5. Open Session Minutes for Meeting on April 10, 2024
D. Personal Appearances
E. Introduction of New Commissioner
F. Election of Chair and Vice Chair to serve beginning July1, 2024
G. Staff Report
H. Closed Session
1. Requests for Advice
2. Complaints, Investigations, and Audits
3. Legal Advice Regarding Potential Litigation
4. Personnel Matters
I. Return to Open Session
J. Referral of Probable Cause Findings to Contiguous District Attorneys
K. Adjourn
Future Ethics Commission Meetings Scheduled:
• Tuesday, July 23, 2024, at 9:00AM
• Tuesday, October 15, 2024, at 9:00 AM
• Tuesday, December 17, 2024, at 9:00 AM
The Ethics Commission will convene in open session but may move to closed session under WIS. STAT. § 19.85(1), (c), (g), (h), or WIS. STAT. § 19.851. This notice is to inform the public that the Commission intends to convene in open session but may move to closed session. The Commission intends to return to open session after completing the closed session agenda.
WIS. STAT. §§ 19.50 & 19.55(3) No employee of the Commission may disclose information related to an investigation or prosecution under ch. 11, subchapter III of ch. 13, or ch. 19.
WIS. STAT. § 19.85(1) Any meeting of a governmental body, upon motion duly made and carried, may be convened in closed session under one or more of the exemptions provided in this section. The motion shall be carried by a majority vote in such manner that the vote of each member is ascertained and recorded in the minutes. No motion to convene in closed session may be adopted unless the chief presiding officer announces to those present at the meeting at which such motion is made, the nature of the business to be considered at such closed session, and the specific exemption or exemptions under this subsection by which such closed session is claimed to be authorized. Such an announcement shall become part of the record of the meeting. No business may be taken up at any closed session except that which relates to matters contained in the chief presiding officer’s announcement of the closed session. A closed session may be held for any of the following purposes:
(c) Considering employment, promotion, compensation, or performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility.
(g) Conferring with legal counsel for the governmental body who is rendering oral or written advice concerning strategy to be adopted by the body with respect to litigation in which it is or is likely to become involved.
(h) Consideration of requests for confidential written advice from the elections commission under s. 5.05 (6a) or the ethics commission under s. 19.46 (2), or from any county or municipal ethics board under s. 19.59 (5).
WIS. STAT. § 19.851(2) The commission shall hold each meeting of the commission for the purpose of deliberating concerning an investigation of any violation of the law under the jurisdiction of the commission in closed session under this section.
WIS. STAT § 19.851(3) The commission shall convene in closed session for any of the following purposes:
(a) To consider whether there is a reasonable suspicion or probable cause to believe that a violation of the law occurred or is occurring based on a complaint and, if received, a response to that complaint.
(b) To receive reports concerning audit findings and consider whether there is a reasonable suspicion or probable cause to believe that a violation of the law occurred or is occurring.