Marshfield Alderman Vote Against Investigation of Police and Fire Commission

Wednesday, February 10th, 2021 -- 12:00 PM

(WDLB) On a night when Marshfield aldermen were choosing members of a new Ethics Board, they also denied a request from Mayor Bob McManus to investigate the actions of the city's Police-and-Fire Commission.

The Common Council voted 8-to-2 last night against the Mayor's request to authorize City Attorney Harold Wolfgram to look into the protocol and actions of members of the Commission from January 1st of last year to February 5th of this year.

McManus also alleges a close cooperation between Police-and-Fire Commission President Randy Gershman and Police Chief Rick Gramza to thwart the Mayor's attempts to replace Commissioner Andy Keogh in April of 2020.

Calling the investigation request "a distraction", Alderman Ed Wagner urged McManus to instead file a complaint, just as Keogh has done against the Mayor.  Alderman Nick Poeschel, a retired Marshfield police officer, said he was not opposed to an investigation, but wanted more evidence to go on. 

The Council's rejection comes just one week after aldermen did agree to hold a special hearing to formally consider a complaint from Commissioner Keogh that seeks the removal of the Mayor from office.

McManus, however, was not without support last night. Four residents spoke in favor of the Mayor, during the public comment period.  Retired Marshfield police officer Steve Leu of 1313 East 26th Street supported the Mayor's efforts to replace Keogh on the Police-and-Fire Commission.  The nomination by McManus last April of a retired law enforcement officer to serve on the Commission was ultimately rejected.

Meanwhile, the Council last night took another step in putting a new Ethics Board in place.  After receiving resumes and letters of interest from 10 applicants, and hearing from all but two of them last night, the Council voted in favor of three regular Board members, along with one alternate. 

Marshfield native and U-W Madison law school graduate Krista James was elected to a three-year term on the new Ethics Board. James is a 2006 graduate of Columbus High School.

Retired Circuit Court Judge Mike Brennan was elected to serve a two-year term on the board. Brennan served as a Clark County Circuit Court Judge for 30 years, and also served for seven years on the state's Government Accountability Board from 2007-2014.

Former Marshfield Alderman Alanna Feddick was elected to a one-year term. She has practiced law in Marshfield for 19 years, and also served for 13 years on the Common Council.

Jenny Jirschele of Marshfield, a consultant who helped write the proposed Ethics Board ordinance for the city, was elected to a three-year term as an alternate to the board. Jirschele has 15 years of public service experience working in human resources, specifically doing ethics investigations of state and public officials.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.