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
Open Meetings of Governmental Bodies Law, subch. IV of ch. 19, Stats., does not require that notice of a meeting be given by a legal notice or paid publication. Method of giving notice pursuant to sec. 19.84(1), Stats., discussed. 65-250
Public notice under sec. 19.84(2), Stats., for meeting of governmental body must contain reference to specific subject matter upon which discussion or action is anticipated and reference to "regular business" is not sufficient in most instances. (Unpub.). 65-1976
Requirements of notice given to newspapers under sec 19.84(1)(b) and (3), Stats., discussed. 66-230
Specificity of notice required by governmental body where agenda item includes item "Citizens and Delegations," cross reference 66 OAG 68 (1977). 66-195
Under section 120.11(4), Stats., a school district in which no newspaper is published may print legal notices of the proceedings of school board meetings in a shopper paper which does not meet the qualifications contained in section 985.03(1)(a). Other legal notices required to be published by law may not be printed in such a shopper paper. 75-269
Public Utility Commission
A municipal Public Utility Commission managing a city-owned public electric utility is a governmental body under sec. 19.82(1), Stats., and its meetings are subject to secs. 19.81-19.98, Stats. 65-243
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
Quorum
The presence of more than one-half of the members of a governmental body in one place presumptively creates a meeting within the meaning of the Open Meeting Law, but the presumption is rebuttable and it is necessary to look to the facts in each case, including whether the members are convening for the purpose of exercising responsibilities, authority, power or duties delegated in the body. 66-254
Reapportionment
The December 2, 1981, meeting of the Senate Special Committee on Reapportionment was probably held in violation of Wisconsin's Open Meetings of Governmental Bodies Law. 71-63
School board
Discussion of public notice requirements for meetings of city district school board under secs. 19.81-19.98 and 120.48, Stats. 66-93
In exceptional cases, section 19.85(1)(f), Stats., would permit a school board to reconvene into closed session to interview applicants for a vacant position on such board, but appointment should be made in open session. Section 19.85(1)(c) would not permit a closed session for purposes of interviewing applicants for a vacant school board position and to make appointment thereto. 74-70
"Private conference" held under sec. 118.22(3), Stats., on nonrenewal of teacher's contract is a "meeting" within sec. 19.82(2), Stats., and school board could hold closed session under sec. 19.85(1)(c), Stats., although specific notice to teacher under sec. 19.85(1)(b), Stats., would have to be given where nonrenewal was based on charges and teacher would have right to require open meeting where evidentiary hearing was held or before final action or nonrenewal where charges were involved. 66-211
Under section 120.11(4), Stats., a school district in which no newspaper is published may print legal notices of the proceedings of school board meetings in a shopper paper which does not meet the qualifications contained in section 985.03(1)(a). Other legal notices required to be published by law may not be printed in such a shopper paper. 75-269
Where school board permits citizens to appear at regular meeting and notes fact in agenda and notice, board may discuss and act on such matters, if urgent, even though express subject was not referred to in notice. There is no requirement that the board delay the matter until the next meeting, although nothing would prevent it from doing so either. 66-68
Schools and school districts
The presence of more than one-half of the members of a governmental body in one place presumptively creates a meeting within the meaning of the Open Meeting Law, but the presumption is rebuttable and it is necessary to look to the facts in each case, including whether the members are convening for the purpose of exercising responsibilities, authority, power or duties delegated in the body. 66-254
