Town of Waukesha meeting lasts less than six minutes after board doesn't vote on new legal representation

Published on: 4/18/2013

A special Town of Waukesha Board meeting was called Wednesday afternoon to look at removing its legal representation services and consider naming a new firm.

But Supervisor Joe Banske said that meeting was adjourned less than six minutes after it started as the board did not take action on the item after he read a motion that included the statement he did not "prefer to participate in a deceptive meeting practice."

Banske said he and new supervisor Larry Wolf and Mike Laska voted to have the meeting adjourned, while new chairman John Marek and supervisor Brian Fischer voted against it.

Marek, who defeated Angie E. Van Scyoc in the April 2 election for the chairman seat, is looking to appoint a new firm to represent the Town.

The attorneys at de la Mora & de la Mora, based in Elm Grove, currently represent the Town. 

The item was scheduled to be discussed and looked at for Thursday's meeting but Marek earlier in the week asked to have it moved up a day earlier so the new representation, if voted on Wednesday, could be ready for Thursday's meeting.

Marek said he wants a firm with more experience with towns rather than cities or villages.

Banske, however, didn't agree with Marek.

"On the heels of a bitter campaign during which Marek made many accusations about transparency and an open and honest town board it is ridiculous that he and Brian Tom Fisher would decide to take action on an issue in such a manner, especially given the utter lack of any urgency to consider this issue as listed," Banske said in his motion. "I do not contest the legality of the meeting; rather I question the ethics of the action taken.

"I find that the decision to circumvent the public meeting scheduled on Thursday by taking one item from the published agenda and sliding it on to a different agenda for a meeting held just one day earlier and at 1 p.m. to be sinister and makes me question how John Marek and Brian Tom Fisher intend to execute the duties of their elected office."

With the same item on the agenda, The Town Board is scheduled to look at naming new representation at its 6:30 p.m. meeting Thursday at Town Hall, W250 S3567 Center Road.