Owen City Council discussed 2014 Legal Costs at Recent Meeting
Friday, November 7th, 2014 -- 10:44 AM
-The Owen City Council discussed the 2014 legal costs for the city at their meeting on Tuesday of last week.Owen's Mayor Heggemeier reported prior to the discussion beginning, that the discussion will be used as a learning tool for all involved and is in no way deemed to put fault or cause embarrassment to any person.
Information provided in packet A included a spreadsheet of a breakdown of legal costs regarding Check #22413 and included copies of the invoices, totaling $6,696. Packet B contained a spreadsheet for all legal costs for the year 2014 for information purposes.
At this point discussion began on an incident that occurred in the city adding to their legal costs. Alderman Hanson asked who has access to the City Attorney. The Mayor explained that when it comes to the Freedom of Information Act, anyone has a right to contact the City Attorney. One example was a citizen concerned a video was going to be erased and that is why she contacted the City Attorney. A Written Order was created and submitted from the Mayor to Chief Schade not to destroy the video. Alderman Hanson and Pfeffer feel the Attorney should not charge the City when a citizen calls them. The citizen also spoke and explained her scenario of events with Chief Schade regarding open records requests. Mayor Heggemeier reported the City Attorney works for the best interest of the City.
Discussion then took place about officer safety. Alderman Tolzmann responded to put this incident behind them all and work forward in working together. Free legal advice can be obtained from the League of Wisconsin Municipalities. A request was made that Owen's Attorney be directed to not accept calls from news media and citizens. Chief Schade read from the Attorney a statement that the video does not reflect any misconduct by the City Officers.
A motion and subsequent vote approved to advise the City Attorney to no longer take phone calls from news media and citizens; the Attorney should contact the council with those calls; and those who may contact the Attorney are the Mayor, Council Members, City Clerk and Police Chief; and all legal costs to date be paid in full to the Attorney.
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