By Heather Graves
Correspondent
GREEN BAY – A request for an outside human resources department or consultant to review the hostile workplace accusation by former city clerk Kris Teske was voted down at the Tuesday, April 20 city council meeting.
Earlier this year, alders approved a report from Joe Flauds, the city’s human resources director, regarding Teske’s allegations, which he ruled unsubstantiated.
“The report was thoroughly discussed in closed session and we made a determination at that time,” said District 1 Alderperson Barbara Dorff. “A 12-0 determination that we accepted the report. The word ‘complaint’ was never used anywhere. I’m not revealing anything we talked about in closed session, since a complaint was never made. It would make absolutely no sense to me that we would have someone else look at something that we’ve already said months ago that we were satisfied with, approved it, we moved on. It is time for us to again move on and not keep bringing up the same things over and over again to see if we can get the answer that we want.”
The request to seek an outside review was made last month by Council President Jesse Brunette, noting a conflict of interest.
“All I am asserting here is it is not appropriate for the human resources director position to conduct the investigation if that person reports directly to the office of mayor,” Brunette said. “There is a situation where a city employee felt very uncomfortable while carrying out their duties. We as an independent elected body of city government, the city council, have a duty to make sure that any investigations into such claims are done properly, without any conflict of interest. We have to do what is in the best interest of our government and our employees. That is why my motion is completely appropriate and I’m willing to defend that at length if you want me to.”
District 8 Alderperson Chris Wery said it’s about transparency.
“This is a hot-button issue, obviously, with everything that is swirling around it,” he said. “I think we should remove any appearance of any impropriety of investigating ourselves. If there is nothing wrong, then I’m sure the outside counsel is just going to confirm that and we can show the public ‘See it’s been double-checked.’ I really don’t see why we are afraid to do this.”
The review request made its way through the Personnel Committee and came to Tuesday’s full council meeting with a recommendation to receive and place on file.
This is a decision District 7 Alderperson Randy Scannell said he agrees with.
“Yes, our former clerk felt uncomfortable, that’s obvious – we know why,” Scannell said. “We discussed that in closed session. And in closed session, everyone understood that, everyone agreed with that, and everyone voted 12-0 to move on. And I have no idea why this is happening now with alders taking this position. You flip-flopped and you haven’t explained yourself. You haven’t explained why it was OK before and we all voted 12-0 and we all heard in closed session the reasons and accepted that and now you don’t. It makes no sense to me.”
Brunette’s request for the finance committee to review the costs of the outside consultant was also voted down.
A subsequent motion by Brunette at Tuesday’s meeting directing city staff to analyze the costs was also voted down.
2020 election report update
The council once again postponed action on a resolution expressing full confidence in the administration’s handling of the August and November 2020 elections, following the late release of the City Attorney Vanessa Chavez’s final report.
Chavez’s 19-page report further affirms the city’s stance it did nothing wrong.
Alderpersons received the final report Tuesday morning.
“I think it is wise to hold so we can all digest the report,” Wery said.
A committee of the whole discussion on next steps regarding the allegations of wrongdoing was also held.
The council is set to take up both topics at its next meeting May 4.