Central Wisconsin State Fair Association
See State Fair
City council
The exemption in section 19.85(1)(c), Stats., of the open meetings law only authorizes a governmental body to convene in closed session to consider employment, compensation, promotion or performance evaluation of a specific public employe or employes. The purpose of the exemption is to protect the public employe who is being considered, not to protect the governmental body. The exemption does not permit a governmental body to convene in closed session to consider employment, compensation, promotion or performance evaluation policies to apply to a position of employment in general, but may permit a governmental body to convene in closed session to apply those general policies to a specific employe or employes. 80-176
Closed session
A county board chairperson and a county board committee are not authorized by section 19.85(1)(c), Stats., to meet in closed session to discuss appointments to county board committees; however, in appropriate circumstances section 19.85(1)(f) would authorize closed sessions. 76-276
Common school district board could utilize closed session to discuss qualifications of potential candidates for vacancy, if and only if, personal matters to be discussed might unduly damage reputations. (Unpub.). 9-1976
The exemption in section 19.85(1)(c), Stats., of the open meetings law only authorizes a governmental body to convene in closed session to consider employment, compensation, promotion or performance evaluation of a specific public employe or employes. The purpose of the exemption is to protect the public employe who is being considered, not to protect the governmental body. The exemption does not permit a governmental body to convene in closed session to consider employment, compensation, promotion or performance evaluation policies to apply to a position of employment in general, but may permit a governmental body to convene in closed session to apply those general policies to a specific employe or employes. 80-176
Governmental body can call closed session for proper purpose without giving notice to members of news media who have filed written request under sec. 66.77(2)(e), Stats. 63-470
University subunit may discuss promotions not relating to tenure, merit increases and property purchase recommendation in closed session. 66-60
Where a governmental body has convened in open session on proper notice, it can convene in closed session for proper purposes to discuss an element of subject matter for which the meeting was called, and which is proper to discuss in closed session, upon motion made and adopted with vote of each member recorded, if proper public announcement is made to those present at the meeting and if such closed session was not contemplated at the time notice for the open session was given. 66-106
Where Water and Light Commission has power to fix compensation of employes, it may meet in closed session to discuss and vote upon increases for non-union employes. A record must be made of motions and roll-call votes at open and closed meetings. Such record is open to inspection and copying subject to sec. 19.21, Stats., and common-law limitation with respect thereto. 67-117
Collective Bargaining
Section 19.85(3), Stats., requires that a governmental body conduct its discussions and deliberations regarding final ratification of a collective bargaining agreement in open session. 81-139
Where Common Council hears a grievance under a procedure established under a signed contract, the Council is engaged in collective bargaining within the meaning of sec. 111.70(1)(d), Stats., and is therefore, for that purpose, not a "governmental body" within the meaning of sec. 19.82(1), Stats., of the Open Meeting Law. 67-276
Common Council
Common Council may not vote to fill vacancy on Council by secret ballot. Sec. 19.88(1), Stats. 65-131
Communication"
Meaning of "communication" in sec. 66.77(2)(e), Stats., the Open Meeting Law, discussed with reference to giving the public and news media members adequate notice. 63-509
Posting in Governor's office of agenda of future Investment Board meetings is not sufficient communication under sec. 66.77(2)(e), Stats., as created by ch. 297, Laws of 1973, to the public or the news media who have filed a written request for notice. 63-549
Coroner's inquest
The Open Meeting Law does not apply to a coroner's inquest. 67-250
Employment Relations Commission
Application of subch. IV, ch. 19, Stats. (1975), to subchs. I, III, IV and V of ch. 111, Stats., discussed in relation to duties of the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission. 68-171
Equal rights conciliation session
Equal rights conciliation session involving representative of a city, the employe and a representative of the Department of Industry, Labor and Human Relations is not a meeting of a governmental body under sec. 66.77, Stats., and may be closed to the public. (Unpub.). 43-1975
Exemptions
Boards of review cannot rely on exemptions on Open Meeting Law, sec. 19.85(1), Stats., to close any meeting in view of explicit requirements in sec. 70.47(2m), Stats. 65-162
The exemption in section 19.85(1)(c), Stats., of the open meetings law only authorizes a governmental body to convene in closed session to consider employment, compensation, promotion or performance evaluation of a specific public employe or employes. The purpose of the exemption is to protect the public employe who is being considered, not to protect the governmental body. The exemption does not permit a governmental body to convene in closed session to consider employment, compensation, promotion or performance evaluation policies to apply to a position of employment in general, but may permit a governmental body to convene in closed session to apply those general policies to a specific employe or employes. 80-176
Forfeiture
Sections 895.35 and 895.46, Stats., apply to actions for open meetings law violations to the same extent they apply to other actions against public officers and employes, except that public officials cannot be reimbursed for forfeitures they are ordered to pay for violating the open meetings law. 77-177
The District Attorney has the authority to institute an action for forfeiture for violation of the Open Meetings Law only after receiving a verified complaint pursuant to sec. 19.97(1), Stats. (Unpub.). 34-1981
friends" organizations
Open meetings and public records laws are not applicable to independently created and independently operated non-stock, non-profit "friends" corporations organized to provide financial and other support to radio and television stations licensed to governmental agencies. 74-38
Governmental or quasi-governmental corporation
The term "quasi-governmental corporation" in section 19.82(1), Stats., includes private corporations which closely resemble governmental corporations in function, effect or status. As currently organized, the Milwaukee Economic Development Corporation and Metropolitan Milwaukee Enterprise Corporation constitute "quasi-governmental" corporations within the meaning of section 19.82(1) and are, therefore, subject to the open meetings law. 80-129
Grievance procedures
Where Common Council hears a grievance under a procedure established under a signed contract, the Council is engaged in collective bargaining within the meaning of sec. 111.70(1)(d), Stats., and is therefore, for that purpose, not a "governmental body" within the meaning of sec. 19.82(1), Stats., of the Open Meeting Law. 67-276
Joint apprenticeship committees. 63-363
Legal notice
See Public notice
Medical Examining Board
Investigative hearings or meetings conducted by the Medical Examining Board must be given public notice whether conducted in closed session or open session. (Unpub.). 93-1976
Metropolitan Milwaukee Enterprise Corporation
The term "quasi-governmental corporation" in section 19.82(1), Stats., includes private corporations which closely resemble governmental corporations in function, effect or status. As currently organized, the Milwaukee Economic Development Corporation and Metropolitan Milwaukee Enterprise Corporation constitute "quasi-governmental" corporations within the meaning of section 19.82(1) and are, therefore, subject to the open meetings law. 80-129
Milwaukee economic development corporation
The term "quasi-governmental corporation" in section 19.82(1), Stats., includes private corporations which closely resemble governmental corporations in function, effect or status. As currently organized, the Milwaukee Economic Development Corporation and Metropolitan Milwaukee Enterprise Corporation constitute "quasi-governmental" corporations within the meaning of section 19.82(1) and are, therefore, subject to the open meetings law. 80-129
Municipality
Common Council's practice of giving notice in December of all contemplated meetings and general subjects to be considered during the next year does not comply with notice requirements of sec. 19.84(1)-(4), Stats., even where detailed agenda is available for inspection in City Clerk's office four hours before meeting. Governmental body cannot commence an open session, convene into closed session, and reconvene into open session within twelve hours unless notice of such subsequent open session was given in the same manner as the public notice of first open session. (Unpub.). 111-1979
Natural Resources, Department of
Department of Natural Resources advisory committees that have at least some members who are not officers or employes of the DNR and that are appointed by the board, the secretary, district directors, bureau directors or property managers are subject to the open meetings law. 78-67
News media
Written request pursuant to sec. 19.84(1)(b), Stats., by news media for notice of meetings of governmental body should be filed with chief presiding officer or his designee and separate written request should be filed with each specific governmental body. 65-166
Notice
See Public notice
Private corporation
The Historic Sites Foundation, Inc., created under the provisions of chapter 181, Stats., by the Board of Curators of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin acting in their individual capacities, is a private corporation and as such is not subject to the requirements of the Open Meetings Law, section 19.81, Stats. 73-53
Public notice
A municipality may not expend funds to publish the text of a legal notice in a shopper paper which does not meet the qualifications contained in section 985.03(1)(a), Stats. 71 Op. Att'y Gen. 177 (1982) discussed and adhered to. (Unpub.). 29-1986
A town board is a "governmental body" within the meaning of the Open Meetings Law and is subject to its provisions, including the notice requirements of secs. 19.83 and 19.84, Stats. An annual town meeting is a meeting of the electorate. It is not a "governmental body" within the meaning of the Open Meetings Law, and therefore, notice under subch. IV, ch. 19, Stats., is not required. If an annual town meeting is held at a time other than on the first Tuesday in April, notice must be given as required by secs. 60. 17(2) and 60.13, Stats. Other Open Meetings Law notice requirements discussed. 66-237
Common Council's practice of giving notice in December of all contemplated meetings and general subjects to be considered during the next year does not comply with notice requirements of sec. 19.84(1)-(4), Stats., even where detailed agenda is available for inspection in City Clerk's office four hours before meeting. Governmental body cannot commence an open session, convene into closed session, and reconvene into open session within twelve hours unless notice of such subsequent open session was given in the same manner as the public notice of first open session. (Unpub.). 111-1979
In giving notice of public hearings held under sec. 13.56(2), Stats., legislative committee for review of administrative rules should concurrently employ the various forms of notice available which would best fit the particular circumstances. 62-299
News media who have filed written requests for notices of public meetings cannot be charged fees by governmental bodies for the communication of such notices. 77-312
