Members of the public wanting to address the Shawano County Board will be free to speak on any subject, not just those on the agenda, after the rules committee adopted the change at an Aug. 20 meeting.
Approval by the full county board, expected to occur Aug. 26, is necessary for the change to take effect.
Supervisor Joe Miller proposed the change after earlier board meetings turned contentious when residents wanted to speak but were denied that opportunity by Chairman Tom Kautza. Among the reasons for his denial were that they wanted to speak on issues that were not germane to an item on the agenda. That rule was adopted by supervisors earlier this year.
Supervisors Terry Tipton and Steve Schinke were the first committee members to agree with the proposal.
“I would agree with allowing them to speak on whatever they choose for that two or three minutes,” Tipton said. “Let them say their piece and move on.”
County Clerk Raymond Rigsby pointed that regardless of the topic or length of time, the chairman still has the right to end a resident’s comments if they are personally attacking a specific supervisor or staff member.
“I think it gives the feeling to the public that we’re listening to their concerns, but, if somebody gets out of line …” Schinke said.
All five committee members approved the change.
A second proposal, this one from Supervisor Randy Mallmann, was unanimously voted down by the rules committee.
Mallmann wanted to change one aspect of how a vacancy on the board is filled.
He wanted the names and statements of qualifications of interested candidates forwarded to members of the executive committee and the full board, with the intent that supervisors would act on the chairman’s recommendation at the following board meeting, giving them more time to assess the candidates.
“You have a hard enough time as it is to find somebody willing to take these jobs,” Kautza said.
Kautza also noted that state law prevents appointments to be made by committees or the full board. The board can ratify but not choose an appointee.
“If I had to write about myself, I wouldn’t do it,” Schinke said.
Some supervisors suggested the appointment to fill a vacancy shouldn’t be more complicated than when someone is elected to the post. The only qualifications to run for election are the candidate must be 18 years old and live in the district they will represent.
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