MERRILL, WI (WSAU) — Some called it the biggest city meeting in Merrill in the last two and a half years as nearly 60 residents packed a special Committee of the Whole meeting to discuss concerns over City Administrator Dave Johnson’s performance.
And after nearly 90 minutes in closed session, Johnson received no punishment. However, city leaders will be monitoring his interactions with the public and he will have to adhere to guidelines set up by the city’s Personnel and Finance Committee. City leaders will also “expect improvement” in some of those areas.
“I have a different management style,” Johnson told reporters after the meeting. “So, I guess I have to be more careful in how I come across to people.” He added that he does feel everything he has done since coming to the city in 2012 is in the best interest of Merrill.
Woellner didn’t directly say what mechanisms would be used to monitor Johnson from here on out, saying the Personnel and Finance Committee will have the final say. “That will be decided in P and F. The metrics will have to be decided on [during their next meeting].”
Johnson was allowed in on the closed session along with the city attorney.
Around 35 minutes of public input was given with about half speaking in favor of ousting Johnson and about half in support of him. Johnson himself estimated that the crowd was about 60-40 in his favor if you factor in those who did not speak.
One individual who spoke in support of Johnson took direct aim at the 25-year-old Mayor by saying he had two pieces of advice for the young politician; don’t make any big decisions in your first six months, and if you start a battle you better win it.
Others told stories of having to deal with Johnson’s off-putting demeanor, saying there’s no wonder why the city has so many outside developers. A Wausau man also accused Johnson of wasting taxpayer dollars pursuing a municipal violation against his Merrill business that had previously been corrected.
Both Johnson and Woellner agreed that it’s in the best interest of the city to move forward from here. “I have no doubt in our ability to work together. That was something I was concerned about, I do think that we will both be able to move past this. It will take some time to heal but I don’t think there will be an issue.”
Woellner adds he was very open with his concerns while he was running for the position. He adds that he hopes this issue will become water under the bridge and won’t divide the community.
Johnson issued a challenge to Woellner, saying from here the relationship between them is up to him. “As I said I am looking forward to doing what I can for the city to improve the city. A good working relationship is what I’d like to have, with everyone.”
As for the concerns over issues such as unmet expectations or holes in the city’s strategic plans, Johnson said those plans are not meant to be set in stone. “It’s nice to say we have these plans, but without a budget to pay for it, you don’t have a lot. I can only do what we have a budget for and what the council says they want to go forward with.”
The full council is set to take up the recommendations made during Monday’s session as part of Tuesday’s regular meeting. The next scheduled meeting of the Personnel and Finance committee is August 21st.
