An attorney representing Town of Grand Chute officials denied their clients violated Wisconsin’s open meetings law in court documents — contrary to a lawsuit filed by former town administrator Jim March.
According to a Jan. 6 story in the Appleton Post-Crescent, an attorney retained by the town said the defendants complied with the requirements of the open meetings law. An attorney representing two supervisors named as defendants asked for the case to be dismissed and said the two supervisors relied on the town’s attorneys and staff to ensure proper public notice occurred.
March served as Grand Chute town administrator for nearly 15 years before he was fired without cause by the town board on May 2, 2023. The story by reporter Duke Behnke said March subsequently sued the town, the town chair and two Grand Chute town supervisors, alleging they fired him in retaliation for his cooperation with a state criminal investigation involving one of the supervisors.
The defendants have denied any wrongdoing. The case is pending in U.S. District Court, which potentially could overturn any decision made during an illegal meeting.
A reversal of March’s firing would be complicated, in part because March started a new job Thursday, Jan. 2 as village administrator of Allouez.
March’s attorney, Michael Fox, said there was “almost no precedent in this area.”
Wisconsin State Statute 19.96 states that individuals found in violation of the open meetings law shall forfeit between $25 and $300 for each violation.
