City of Marshfield. MWC file photo.
MARSHFIELD, WI (WSAU-WDLB) — On a night when Marshfield aldermen were choosing members of a new Ethics Board, they also denied a request from Mayor Bob McManus to investigate the actions of the city’s Police-and-Fire Commission.
The Common Council voted 8-to-2 last night against the Mayor’s request to authorize City Attorney Harold Wolfgram to look into the protocol and actions of members of the Commission from January 1st of last year to February 5th of this year.
McManus explained to the Council why he was requesting an investigation of the Commission. “Three separate incidents taking place regarding potential open meeting violations regarding email exchanges, information exchanges, between the Commissioner and the Police Chief between the time of 4/21/2020 and 4/24/2020 just before an open records request.”
McManus also alleges close cooperation between Police-and-Fire Commission President Randy Gershman and Police Chief Rick Gramza to thwart the Mayor’s attempts to replace Commissioner Andy Keogh in April of 2020.
Calling the investigation request “a distraction”, Alderman Ed Wagner urged McManus to instead file a complaint–just as Keogh has done against the Mayor. “There is a process. And we’ve been following that process with the Chief. We’ve been following that process on the complaint against you. We’ve been following those things religously.
“If you have evidence that there is some reason to do this investigation, file a complaint. By all means please give us something to work with.”
Alderman Nick Poeschel–a retired Marshfield police officer–said he was not opposed to an investigation, but wanted more evidence to go on. “You’re telling us that if we do an investigation we might turn up some information that we don’t know about.
“As someone that spent their career doing investigations, there has to be a basis to conduct an investigation. You can’t just go out and start looking for things.”
The Council’s rejection comes just one week after aldermen did agree to hold a special hearing to formally consider a complaint from Commissioner Keogh that seeks the removal of the Mayor from office. McManus, however, was not without support last night.
Four residents spoke in favor of the Mayor, during the public comment period. Retired Marshfield police officer Steve Leu of 1313 East 26th Street supported the Mayor’s efforts to replace Keogh on the Police-and-Fire Commission. “It appears the good old boys club didn’t want any new members. Or certainly not someone who doesn’t agree with their agenda.”
The nomination by McManus last April of a retired law enforcement officer to serve on the Commission was ultimately rejected.
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