Charges Against Town Board

Yesterday around noon I dropped off documentation with DA Brad Schimel asking that he investigate and respond to me regarding the December 17th meeting. My charge is that the use of closed session for the purpose of this discussion was not legal. The agenda for the meeting claimed an exemption from public discussion, in essence, based on contract negotiation. Well, the TB decided not to negotiate. Therefore I can only assume that the discussion must not have been negotiation strategy, but what to tell the Town to justify the decision to not negotiate with the Village. This is evidenced by the decision immediately after the closed session to dissolve the Joint Fire Department.

My position is that this discussion should have been held in open session and over the course of multiple meetings to allow people to comment before this decision was made. If you agree, please consider attending and making comment at the 1/7/10 Town Board meeting.

I suggest that an alternate strategy be developed to fix the current department, not dissolve it.

Comments

I've received several messages from people that would like to comment but do not want to register.  I can understand this.  So, I've changed the comment policy.  ANYONE can leave a comment; registered user or not.  You can leave comments without your name, but I have chosen to moderate all comments.

So have at it!  If you are a registered user and leave a comment I cannot post, then I'll email you and let you know why.  I'm inclined to allow all comments, but I won't allow personal attacks or nastiness.

If you care to post comments....

All readers please note: I do not moderate comments posted to this blog. I've allowed all registered users to post comments at will without moderation by me. If I see comments that are deemed inappropriate or lack the decorum and respect that is demanded of self governed, free people, then I will remove the comment.

12/30/09 - If you post a comment as an "Anonymous" user, feel free to sign you name in the post if you care to.  It has far more impact if your name is included in the post.  Of course, you may just sign up for the blog and your name is automatically included in any post.

Break-up of the Town Fire Department

As predicted in my last blog post, last Thursday the Town Board voted to dissolve the joint fire department.  I sent a message to the Town Board requesting an explanation.  I copied many of the people that I thought might have the same concern on the email, including Waukesha County District Attorney Brad Schimel.

Since this message I've been contacted by the Mukwonago Chief and Waukesha Freeman and have made a statement to them.  Here is my position:

I'm not sure how I feel about this decision by the Board; I honestly have not been provided enough information by our town leadership.  All of the discussion took place behind closed doors.  I have a real problem with this type of decision being made without the electorate (that's us!) being informed.  Brian Paff was unfairly taken to task by some on the Town Board for closed door dealings, now the same people do this?

What do you think?  Please pass on the link to this blog so others in the Town of Vernon may comment as well.  The people in this town need to be involved in decisions of this magnitude.

Link to this blog: http://afterthewakeup.blogspot.com/  Cut and paste then email to others you think may have a concern.  I think the Town Board sometimes only hears from those that have time to be at the meetings to provide public comment.  You can make your voice heard too.

Here is a copy of the email I sent out to the Town Board:

Community Leaders - I understand that you have voted to terminate the Fire Department (see the attached). Can you please let me know how you intend to provide fire and EMS service to the Town after 12/31/10?

I have to admit, I'm concerned about this. I'm told by my insurance company that if our fire rating drops from a 9 to a 10 that my homeowners insurance will increase by at least 30%. This means about $1,100 per year for me. I'd appreciate a response in writing or email.

In addition to my concern about fire and EMS service to our community, I'm deeply concerned about the lack of public knowledge of this action or that you even considered dissolving the department without public comment. I question the legality of this action, but I'm not an attorney and I have an open mind.

DA Schimel - I ask that your office investigate this action and respond to the community. The entire discussion of this matter was in closed session with no public input or comment. An agenda item that states "issues regarding the Intermunicipal Agreement" is much different than dissolving the Fire Department as per the attached. The agenda item stated:

"16. MOTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION. Consideration and possible action on a motion to Convene into executive session under Wis. Stats. 19.85 (1)(e): Deliberating or negotiating the purchasing of public properties, the investing of public funds, or conducting other specified public business, whenever competitive or bargaining reasons require a closed session, specifically issues regarding the Intermunicipal Agreement for Creation of a Joint Fire Department and a Joint Fire Board and a Joint Fire Commission between the Village of Big Bend and Town of Vernon (Hereafter referred to as Intermunicipal Agreement). Included in Closed Session Town Board Members, Town Clerk. Motion needs a roll call vote."

All town meetings are recorded. A copy of the recording can be obtained by contacting the Town Clerk at 262-662-2039.

Thanks in advance to all of you for your time in responding. I've copied everyone I can think of that might have a concern about this so that they know you are working on a response and there is no need for them to make a duplicate request. I'll share your response with all.

Reserving judgment and giving you the benefit of my doubt,
Respectfully,

Mike
_________________________
Michael P. Doble, P.E.
W.249 S.7180 Center Drive
Waukesha, WI 53189
[Email address deleted to prevent SPAM]
414-708-9466

It's Been a While

I'm really sorry it's been so long since a post, but it turned out to be a busy spring and summer.

Stay tuned for posts concerning our Town including:

- What's happening to our Fire Department? Will we split with the Village of Big Bend? Why do we want to stop sharing costs?

- Town sports program. Wow these guys do a good job!

- Why has the Town Board stopped being reasonable? I have a friend who was denied a hobby kennel permit because ONE neighbor was concerned about the "potential" for a problem. Shouldn't we deal with problems when they happen?

12/22/09 - Correction: At the meeting where this friend was denied a permit, there were two neighbors in opposition to his request.  I made the mistake because one neighbor later recinded his opposition and signed a petition in support of this application.  Sorry for the inaccuracy.

Anyway, I'm working on gathering the facts on these and other matters and will post them shortly.

In the meantime, be sure to tune to Channel 25 on your TV on the third Thursday night of each month at 7:00pm. You can witness our Town Board in action for yourself. Or you can read the agendas and minutes at:

http://www.townofvernon.org/

Stay abreast of the meetings, they are not always predictable. For instance the Town Board has met nine times since the beginning of October.

Stay informed, stay involved and most importantly, let your Board members know how you feel about the issues. I've been told they represent the majority of the "people they hear from", not necessarily the majority of the electors. They don't know how you feel unless you let them know!

Hey I have some followers!

Thanks for checking out my blog. This week I plan to post some comments on the following issues in our Town:

Some Board members ran on the theme "Restoring the Voice of the People." Are the Town meetings being friendly to the voice of the people?

Should fireworks sales be banned?

What do we do about the annexation of our property from the Town to surrounding communities?

Stay tuned!

Thanks for Caring!

Welcome and thanks for caring about what's happening in your Town!


My name is Mike Doble. I became a Town resident in 1998 when I bought a home in Heather Ridge Estates. In 2003, I bought an 11 acre piece of property on Center Drive and developed the vacant land into a small residential subdivision. I still live on the property in the original [updated] farm house. My experience with land division process in the Town and County got me involved in Town politics. I have to say, I do love this Town and I have very strong opinions on how to allow our Town to develop in a way that is best for all citizens.

During the Spring 2009 election cycle it became apparent that more people need to be involved in the Town's decision making. Thirty percent +/- of residents showing up at the polls to select the persons that will determine how we live is just not acceptable. I feel that if people know what issues are at stake, they would be at the polls. We would also have more honest debate between candidates; not single page fliers in our mailbox.

The most disturbing product of this last election cycle was a web site that popped up called WakeUpVernon.com. The owner and moderator of this web site never revealed themselves. Why? Who knows? Politics I assume. The discourse on this web site was troubling. I was ashamed that this was happening in MY Town! Whomever you are "WakeUpVernon", you should be ashamed. Please do better next time.

My goal for this blog is to provide a forum for an exchange of ideas.

A RESPECTFUL, HONEST, EXCHANGE OF IDEAS.

What do YOU think? Decisions in this Town are sometimes based on who yells the loudest.

I will post facts. If the facts are wrong, please let me know! Please cite your sources.

I will post what I hear said at meetings. If I get it wrong or if it is taken out of context, then post a response and explain. This is called discussion. I might have to post a lesson on this based on what I saw on WakeUpVernon.com.

I will express my opinions on matters that I care about; you are welcome to do the same. If my opinion is wrong, please respectfully tell me why. I might change my opinion! Imagine that!

Sometime opinions are formed out of reaction. I'm the type of person who is open to change my opinion and position if I can be shown why my position might be wrong. I'm an "end state" sort of guy. I look at my position and try to understand how this position will play out in the long run. Sometimes I nail it; sometimes I'm wrong. Sometimes how things worked out in the past don't necessarily predict how other things will play out in the future. We all just try our best.

But please! Form you opinions based on facts and reasonable assumptions.

Please feel free to visit often. If you have suggestions, please post them.

Let's keep our Town on track so that it remains a wonderful place to live and raise a family.