TOWN OF GRAND CHUTE, WI — Long-time Grand Chute Town Administrator James March will not be rehired. The Board of Supervisors decides Tuesday to contract with a recruiting firm to provide temporary administration services and select a new administrator. That comes after town residents speak out. That decision ends a saga that began when the board decided in closed session in May to terminate March without cause. March claims it was due to his cooperation with a state Department of Justice investigation involving one of one supervisor. During the public input session, former Supervisor Walt Nocito said the board acted within its authority. He also believes further investigation should be considered.
“It is my recommendation to the board, given the extraordinary efforts so far on Mr. March’s behalf,” he said. “That the board conduct a forensic audit of the town’s activities to assure all residents and our new finance director that the town does not have any issues going forward. It can hire a new administrator. It will not have any issues of fiscal security to resolve.”
Mary Klasen, however, says a clear reason for March’s firing has never been made public.
“Chair Van Eperen and others on the board wanted a change,” she said. “Why? I guess they were not happy when he cooperated with the Department of Justice investigation. It should be noted that it will be difficult to replace Mr. March with a person of similar qualifications because the board is under investigation. And because it now has a history of dismissing qualified administrators simply because board members don’t like them.”
David Green says hiring a search firm to find a new administrator will be costly and counterproductive.
“I’m sure one of the first questions the consultant will ask is why was the previous township administrator terminated?” he said. “Your answer will probably be one they do not hear very often–“he did an exemplary job.” You’re going down a very slippery slope here. Personal vendetta have no place here in Grand Chute Township…period!”
A proposal to rehire March under the terms of his previous contract was put on the board agenda. It was submitted by recently elected Supervisor Beth English, who voted to terminate March in a closed session meeting in May. English changed her mind after failing to get answers about a temporary administrator.
“I asked Chair Van Eperen to share his vision for an interim administrator on several occasions over the past weeks and he has not,” she said. ” I have asked for updates on the search for a new administrator and have not heard back. I should not have to resort to parliamentary procedure to have my questions answered in open session. And it really borders on secrecy. This town deserves better.”
Town Board Chair Jason Van Eperen explained that any personnel matter needs to be handled in closed session.
“It’s hard to make decisions when you can’t talk to one or two and we have to get them together at one time,” he said. “You can’t talk about the situation. So, it’s not like it’s trying to be hidden. We’re following the rules.”
The board voted 3-2 against the motion to rehire March. After meeting in closed session for just over 90-minutes, the board approved a pair of motions to enter into a contract with Public Administration Associates, L-L-C for interim administration services and to recruit a permanent town administrator.
