MARINETTE — The Marinette County Executive Committee met Thursday to hear and discuss an appeal made by administrator John Lefebvre regarding the recent Development Committee’s motion not to recommend the county board approve an amendment to the county’s code of ordinances. He asked members to consider sending the amendment to the board for their consideration, without recommendation.
The Development Committee voted Aug. 6 against recommending the board approve the amendment, 4-3. The amendment would place a $10 fee on property owners who have private wastewater treatment systems.
“This is such a major issue, that I believe the full 30 members of the county board should consider it,” Lefebvre said. “It shouldn’t be decided by four members who voted against it.”
There was some discussion about whether Farm Service Agency and at-large Development Committee member John Frendryk should have abstained from the vote, thus creating a tie. Under the county’s rules, in the event of a tie the ordinance would move to the board without recommendation, where they would have the opportunity to vote on it.
Lefebvre said previous FSA member Mary Noll would abstain from voting, but Chair John Guarisco said Frendryk’s vote shouldn’t count any less than the supervisors.
“The deciding member is not a county board member, but he is a member of the committee,” Guarisco said.
Lefebvre went on to say that if the board did not hear, or voted not to adopt the amendment, more services would have to be cut to balance the budget. The fee is expected to generate an estimated $190,000 in revenue for the county.
The motion to send the amendment to the board for approval — without recommendation — passed, 6-1. Guarisco was the lone “no” vote.
In another matter, the committee discussed whether or not to approve an amendment to the county ordinance that would permit virtual attendance at board and committee meetings.
Committee member Bonnie Popp was in favor of virtual attendance and said that she felt it was illegal to deny a supervisor remote access to meetings.
“I don’t think those guidelines are legal ... in this day and age,” she said. “I don’t know how you, or anyone can stop me — an elected official — from representing my district.”
“We don’t stop you,” Guarisco said. “We have policy in place that says, ‘You come and you represent your district.’ It doesn’t say you can represent it by mail, by telephone, by zoom or by any other thing.”
Corporation Counsel Rebecca Linden said it was in fact legal, and vice chair Stan Gruszynski made mention of state statutes and the rules that were made when creating the organization.
“One of the rules of assembly is to be at the assembly,” he said.
Lefebvre was not opposed to supervisors calling in and listening but said he did not feel they should be considered part of the quorum. Additionally, he said supervisors and committee members should be excluded from voting if not physically present.
Members found common ground on a motion that would allow them to listen in via phone or computer. The motion was carried with one opposed, Supervisor Tom Buelteman.
In other matters, the committee discussed making recommendations to amend or remove specific resolutions from the upcoming Wisconsin Counties Association annual business meeting, which meets Sept. 22.
The committee voted unanimously to recommend that the body act on Resolution 20, rather than postponing it indefinitely, as is currently the recommendation. Under the resolution, .5% of the state’s 5% sales tax would be redistributed to the counties.
A motion stating that the committee was in agreement with all other resolutions carried, with one oppositional vote from Popp.
Popp took issue with Resolution 3, which would give counties the ability to set wake regulations above state minimums. Popp argued that local governments should have the ability to set regulations below state minimums.
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