Ald. Berg has suggested a
change to Brookfield's Ethics Code to discourage the unauthorized
release of confidential information.
Ethics Code Change - Overview
Ethics Code Change - Supporting
Information
So, just how often does the Council meet in closed session?
|
Date Range |
# Items /
# Closed
Sessions |
# Meetings |
% Meetings with
a
Closed Session |
|
26th Council
4/20/2004 to
3/15/2004 |
1 / 1 |
20 |
5% |
|
25th Council
4/16/2002 to
4/6/2004 |
23 / 16 |
46 |
35% |
|
24th Council
4/18/2000 to
3/19/2002 |
32 / 18 |
45 |
40% |
Out of those 55 items discussed in closed sessions:
- 31 were land purchases (options, leases, etc.), mostly for
public parks or stormwater detention
- 17 were legal consultation on litigation (lawsuits)
- 6 were personnel related (separation agreements, etc.)
- 1 was a labor contract
What topics do you discuss in a closed session?
The following is a list of all of the Common Council closed sessions
since Ald. Berg was first elected. The descriptions were taken
from the official minutes of the meetings. As far as Ald. Berg
has been able to determine, the identical phrases were used on the
agendas released before the meetings.
All of these topics are permitted by state law for discussion in
closed sessions. In almost every case, a premature leak of the
confidential information from that session would have caused a
negotiation to go against the city, usually costing more money.
You can guess where that extra money would come from. The
topics considered to be confidential and allowed for discussion in
closed session are defined in state law. The proposed change to
the ethics code will not change that list; closed sessions will discuss
the things they have always discussed.
There has been the claim that improper disclosure is already
covered by state law. In fact, only discussions relating to
personnel are kept confidential under state law, which provides for
penalties for disclosure. Discussions on real estate transactions
and pending litigation may be confidential, but there is no penalty for
unauthorized disclosure.
26th Council
| Date |
Land |
Liti |
Pers |
Lab |
Description |
| March 15,
2005 |
1 |
|
|
|
25. * Discussion and possible action relative
to the acquisition of land adjacent to the west property line
of Endicott Park (435 S. Calhoun Road) for park and open space
purposes. |
| Total |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
25th Council
| Date |
Land |
Liti |
Pers |
Lab |
Description |
| May 21, 2002 |
|
|
3 |
|
Item #26, Ordinance
modifying the Positions Ordinance and the Salary Ordinance
regarding the titles of Director of Facilities and Inspection
Services, Chief of Staff, Administrative Coordinator, Intern
and Quality Service Manager;
Item #27, Ordinance
addressing civil service status of the positions of
Administrative Coordinator and Director of Facilities and
Inspection Services; and
Item #28,
Resolution affirming the Mayoral appointment of the Director
of Facilities and Inspection Services. |
| August 20, 2002 |
1 |
|
|
|
Resolution authorizing staff to negotiate and execute
documents necessary for the acquisition of land located at
2380 and 2400 N. Calhoun Road for flood storage. |
| September 3, 2002 |
|
|
1 |
|
Discussion and possible action on a Resolution approving a
Separation Agreement between the City of Brookfield and
Police Captain Douglas Turner. |
| September 17, 2002
|
1 |
|
|
|
Request for Council authorization to begin negotiations
for possible property acquisition in order to implement
recommendations of the Storm Water and Floodland Management
Plan for the Dousman Ditch and Underwood Creek subwatersheds. |
| October 15, 2002
|
|
1 |
|
|
Discussion and possible action on pending litigation
titled Daniel J. Phillips v. City of Brookfield, et al. |
| November 19, 2002
|
1 |
1 |
|
|
Discussion and possible action relating to offer to
purchase made by Kings Way Land Development, LLC relative to
property located on the west side of Brookfield Road at Carol
Drive (Fire House parcel.)
Discussion and possible action on request for payment of
legal fees by Officer Prusak. |
| January 21, 2003
|
|
1 |
|
|
Discussion and possible action on request for payment
of legal fees by Officer Prusak |
|
March 4, 2003 |
2 |
|
|
|
Item #9, Discussion and possible action relative to the
acquisition of land adjacent to Wirth Park (16580 Pheasant
Drive) for the purpose of providing access for the Greenway
Corridor Trail and other park and open space purposes; and
Item #10, Discussion and possible action to purchase
right-of-way from 1465 N. Calhoun Road.) |
| March 18, 2003
|
|
|
1 |
|
Discussion and possible action
on an amendment to an Agreement between Gerald Keuper and the
City of Brookfield. |
| April 15, 2003
|
|
1 |
|
|
Discussion and possible action on the Notice of Claim:
Fleet Business Credit Corp. |
| May 20, 2003 |
1 |
2 |
|
|
Tabled discussion and possible action regarding Waukesha
County Circuit Court Case No. 01-CV-2388,
Aegerter v. City of Brookfield;
Discussion and possible action relative to the acquisition
of land adjacent to Wirth Park (16580 Pheasant Drive) for the
purpose of providing access for the Greenway Corridor Trail
and other park and open space purposes; and
Discussion regarding possible litigation relating to the
Capitol Heights project. |
| July 15, 2003 |
|
1 |
|
|
Discussion and possible action on the Notice of Claim:
Fleet Business Credit Corp. |
| August 19, 2003 |
1 |
|
|
|
Discussion and possible approval of an easement agreement
between the City of Brookfield and We Energies for the
construction and maintenance of a gas lateral pipeline through
City property located north of Capitol Drive. |
| September 16, 2003 |
|
1 |
|
|
Discussion and possible
action on request for payment of legal fees by Officer
Prusak. |
|
February 17, 2004 |
1 |
|
|
|
Discussion and possible action concerning the potential
acquisition of two real estate parcels located at 16150 and
16160 W. Bluemound Road. |
| April 6, 2004 |
2 |
|
|
|
Ordinance granting a development moratorium with
respect to each of Shire Outlots 6 thru 10 as depicted on
Exhibit "A" and outlots depicted on Exhibit "B" until the
earlier of August 1, 2006, or the point in time at which the
City has released the outlots from the restrictions contained
in Exhibit A and B relating to the Preliminary Plat approval
and adopted measures to define and implement development goals
for the focus area. Exceptions to this moratorium may be
authorized by the Common Council, after recommendation from
the Plan Commission.
Discussion and possible action concerning the potential
acquisition of two real estate parcels located at 16150 and
16160 W. Bluemound Road.) |
| Total |
10 |
8 |
5 |
0 |
|
24th Council
| Date |
Land |
Liti |
Pers |
Lab |
Description |
| April 18, 2000 |
4 |
|
|
|
Discussion and possible action on acquisition of
property located at 2460 N. Brookfield Road, 2480 N.
Brookfield Road, and 2500 N. Brookfield Road and
Discussion and possible action on sale of property
owned by City and located at 18440 Milwaukee Avenue. |
| May 2, 2000 |
1 |
|
|
|
Resolution authorizing the City to enter into an Option
Agreement between James Spinato {or as the owner's interest
may appear} and the City of Brookfield, and an escrow
agreement relative thereto, for the property located at 16010
W. Bluemound Road and approval of a transfer of funds from the
Economic Development Fund balance account #205-325-607 to the
Economic Development Fund Other Expenses account #205-943-546,
for purposes of acquiring the above noted property. |
| May 16, 2000 |
1 |
|
|
|
Discussion and possible action relating to the City's
involvement in the construction and financing of the Sharon
Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts to be constructed in
Mitchell Park. |
| June 6, 2000 |
1 |
|
|
|
Discussion and possible action on the acquisition of the
property located at 2500 N. Brookfield Road and Discussion and
possible approval of an option leading to the potential
sale of a city lot located on Milwaukee Avenue. |
| September 19, 2000 |
2 |
|
|
|
Item #17 - Discussion and possible action relative to the
purchase of property owned by CMC Heartland Partners located
on Brookfield Road south of the railroad tracks and Item
#18 - Discussion and possible action on a Resolution
authorizing the City to enter into an Extension of an Option
Agreement between James Spinato (or as the owner's interest
may appear) and the City of Brookfield for the property
located at 16010 W. Bluemound Road. |
| September 28, 2000 |
1 |
|
|
|
Reconsideration of the Resolution authorizing the City to
enter into an Extension of an Option Agreement between James
Spinato {or as the owner's interest may appear} and the City
of Brookfield for the property located at 16010 W. Bluemound
Road, which was passed by the Common Council on September 19,
2000. |
| October 3, 2000 |
|
|
|
1 |
Discussion and update on the status of labor
negotiations with Police, Fire, Dispatcher/Clerical and
Library. |
| January 16, 2001 |
1 |
|
|
|
Discussion and update on negotiations of leases
with telecommunication carriers. |
| February 6, 2001 |
|
1 |
|
|
Discussion and possible action on filing a motion to
intervene in the City of Waukesha's request for judicial
review of a proposed rule promulgated by the United States
Environmental Protection Agency. |
| June 19, 2001 |
|
1 |
|
|
Conferring with legal counsel about a pending lawsuit
with Lakeshore Burial Vault Co. |
| July 17, 2001 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
Discussion and possible action relative to the purchase
of the Knull property located at 14305 Ivy Lane.
Confer with legal counsel about a pending lawsuit
with Lakeshore Burial Vault Co. |
| August 21, 2001 |
7 |
|
|
|
Relocation Order and Resolution of acquisition of lands
for public purposes including authorization relative to
offering price reports and relocation determinations relating
to the following seven properties: 2345 Lilly Road (David &
Lisa Betancourt); 2415 Lilly Road (Philip & Dawn Carson); 2445
Lilly Road (Michal & Waleria Strakszyc); 14135 Oak Hill Lane
(Mary Jane Lenartz); 14065 Oak Hill Lane (James & Nancy Torke);
14035 Oak Hill Lane (Winifred Hammermeister); and Parcel
#1064-987-001 - 8.17 acres (Shirley Gruen), for an amount not
to exceed $1.15 million. |
| October 2, 2001
|
|
|
1 |
|
Discussion and possible action on a Separation
Agreement with a City employee. |
| October 16, 2001 |
|
1 |
|
|
Discussion with legal counsel with respect to Town of
Brookfield vs. City of Brookfield, Case No. 01CV1869. |
| January 22, 2002 |
|
3 |
|
|
Item #12-Discussion with legal counsel and possible action
with respect to Cummings claim relating to 2420 N.
Calhoun Road;
Item #14- Discussion with legal counsel and possible action
with respect to Susan Marie Wilson v. County of Waukesha,
et. al, Case No. 01-C-1186; and
the Addendum- Discussion with legal counsel and possible
action with respect to Lake Shore Burial Vault Company Inc.
v. City of Brookfield Case No. 00-CV-1650. |
| February 25, 2002 |
|
2 |
|
|
Item #3-Discussion and possible action on the pending
litigation titled Susan Wilson v. City of Brookfield (and
other municipal entities) and
Item #4 -Discussion and possible action on the pending
litigation titled Daniel J. Phillips v. City of Brookfield. |
| March 5, 2002 |
1 |
|
|
|
Discussion with legal counsel and possible action with
respect to Offer to Purchase Vacant Land by the City for the
land owned by Eastgate LLC, located at approximately 12980 W.
Lisbon Road, Tax Key No. BRC 1012.999.012, as a site for a
stormwater detention basin. |
| March 19, 2002 |
1 |
|
|
|
Discussion with legal counsel and possible action with
respect to Offer to Purchase Vacant Land by the City
for the land owned by Mound Zion Cemetery located north of
North Avenue and west of 14510 W. North Avenue, tax key no.
BRC 1064.984.001 |
| Total |
21 |
9 |
1 |
1 |
|
|