Wausau City Hall. MWC photo by Mike Leischner
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — The Wausau Ethics Board has requested information from City Attorney Ann Jacobson and Clerk Kaitlyn Bernarde regarding what information they can and cannot provide during the upcoming hearing into a complaint against Mayor Doug Diny.
The request came from Board Member Brian Mason, who says he feels they have an incomplete picture of the situation because they failed to provide sworn statements during the investigation. “The absence [of that information] affects how complete our understanding can be.”
Mason says the move will help guide the Board as they prepare to ask questions. He also feels it will help the process be more transparent to the public. “I think it would be helpful to invite them to clarify whether they intend to offer full testimony or they anticipate continuing to invoke privilege or decline to answer certain questions. Knowing now will help us structure a better hearing.”
He says that could include a list of what is being withheld due to the state investigation, such as emails or other correspondence.
“This will not be a challenge to their discretion. I think it would be a good-faith step forward [to] clarify the scope of the record for us and the public,” added Mason.
The vote was 4-1, with Board Member Doug Hossler voting against, saying he didn’t see how the information would be helpful. The decision came during a brief meeting on Thursday.
The complaint centers on Diny’s handling of a locked but not yet secured municipal dropbox placed outside City Hall last September. City Clerk Kaitlyn Bernarde intended for the box to be secured and opened the next week to collect completed absentee ballots.
Diny said he moved the box into his office for safekeeping, noting that anyone could have walked off with it. Opponets of the move believe he broke election laws and cite a State Supreme Court decision that gave local clerks the authority to implement ballot drop boxes at their discretion.
RELATED: Wausau Ethics Board Schedules Discussion on Diny Complaint
The hearing is scheduled for April 30th in the Council Chambers. A time has not been set.
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