Onalaska town secretary resigns; clerk cites Kitzmann as cause : Courierlifenews.com

Consider This wrote on Mar 19, 2009 1:05 PM:

" james
wrote on
Mar 19, 2009 12:05 PM:

I have to agree with you on one point; Kitzmann's minutes are considerably more informative.

Now, did you notice the March 19, 2009 board meeting agenda posted on the Town of Onalaska site. Its an agenda for the Town of Burns.

Guess they need to work on their communication skills a little. "

headoutofsand wrote on Mar 19, 2009 12:23 PM:

" Did you also realize that Hauser, Schaller and Booth then tried to sweeten Kitzmann's benefits/contract? First, Kitzmann's contract was provided other board members with very short notice for review prior to the approving meeting.

Hauser, Schaller and Booth tried to push overtime pay even though Kitzmann would be hired as a salaried employee. (Overtime for a salaried position? I wish I was employed by Hauser with such a benefit!) They wanted to permit him to take vacation time with just 24 hours notice. They also did not have any significant probationary period for Kitzmann's employment.

Thank goodness Kelly voice objection to Hauser, Schaller and Booth's proposals. "

headoutofsand wrote on Mar 19, 2009 12:13 PM:

" Also realize that in last December's meetings Board members Davis and Kelly expressed concerns regarding the recent process of hiring the town administrator/clerk. Kelly and Davis AGAIN voted against hiring Paul Kitzmann for this position.

Concerns were also raised regarding the fact that the job was posted as a 'Town Administrator' position and then after the application deadline passed, it was changed to be Town Administrator/Clerk.

Mr. Hauser had the town's attorney present at the meeting as well. When board member Davis asked the town attorney for an opinion about the combination of the 2 positions after the job was posted. A close quote of the attorney included that 'it was not very clean'.

Why would Mr. Hauser make such a controversial and poorly qualified choice when other more qualified choices were available for the $68,000 salary? "

james wrote on Mar 19, 2009 12:05 PM:

" I think Schultz should refrain from discussing personnel matters with this paper. If Hanson wants to comment she can, but the town clerk has no business sharing personnel details with the press. Schultz is careless once again. The "hostile" environment she says exists in the town is due to her abrasive nature.

Why else is the town the lowest in the county on voter turn out? She has a repellent nature that says to citizens "you're not welcome here". Complain about her vague minutes and she chastises you for not coming to the meeting yourself.

She does not take seriously her statutory duty to provide a clear record of town government proceedings.

Check the minutes of the Feb meeting where Mr. Kitzman demonstrates how minutes ought to be kept by the town. Thank you Mr. Kitzman "

headoutofsand wrote on Mar 19, 2009 12:04 PM:

" Mr. Hauser, Booth and Schaller's choice for administrator (Kitzmann) has no education in municipal administration, nor any experience in municipal administration. I believe he is an electrician.

Mr. Hauser admitted he had not seen or requested to see any grant writing examples of Mr. Kitzmann at the time of interviews and to date.

Mr. Hauser, when asked by a resident, could not give any "factual"/objective reason to hire Mr. Kitzmann other than 'I think he will do well'.

Well qualified choices with significant town administration experience were passed up by Hauser, Schaller and Booth in order to hire Mr. Hauser's good friend Paul Kitzmann at $50,000 per year plus ~$18,000 in benefits. "

ht bast wrote on Mar 19, 2009 10:43 AM:

" justme
wrote on
Mar 18, 2009 9:23 AM:

"Kitzmann should have never been hired he is UNQUALIFIED"....... why is he unqualified, what do you know about him, good,bad,indifferent. "

ht bast wrote on Mar 19, 2009 10:37 AM:

" I say bring on the e mails. who knows what else will fall out of the tree. "

headoutofsand wrote on Mar 19, 2009 9:06 AM:

" ht bast

To the best of my recollection, Mr. Hauser has been on the Town of Onalaska board for about 20 years. Maybe less, but I think more likely more. "

Consider This wrote on Mar 19, 2009 8:28 AM:

" Now here's what wasn't in the paper:

Under Paudler's "leadership," they started having meetings all the time leading to Schultz demanding more pay and Paudler taking the citizens right to vote, as it pertains to the clerk, away.

Then under Paudler, they hired an administrator. This brought with it, another huge increase in non-discretionary spending, demands for a new town hall, and a huge workload for Hanson who also requested additional pay.

Hauser and the rest of the board did make a poor choice by hiring Kitzmann, but they simply followed the failed lead of the previous board lead by Paudler.

Now as to those Emails, I EXPECT the paper to submit an open records request asking for all email correspondence between Kitzmann, Schultz, and Hanson then we'll get the whole picture, not just Schultz's point of view. "

ht bast wrote on Mar 19, 2009 7:40 AM:

" headoutofsand how long has hauser ben on the board? "

headoutofsand wrote on Mar 18, 2009 9:02 PM:

" Because, sadly, Mr. Hauser appears 'unaware' of most processes, correct procedures and problems in the town. This becomes quite clear at most meetings I have been able to be a silent observer. Consider attending the next Town meeting which I believe is this coming Monday evening and see for yourself. "

ht bast wrote on Mar 18, 2009 2:17 PM:

" who said mr houser was unaware of a problem "

exercise wrote on Mar 18, 2009 2:07 PM:

" The concerns do include Chairman Hauser. Mr. Kitzman and Ms. Hanson essentially work for him. So, it is concerning that Mr. Hauser claims to be unaware of any 'problem' an employee of 12 years is having to provoke a resignation. "

ht bast wrote on Mar 18, 2009 2:06 PM:

" Unless you have solid facts about Hauser Shaller Booth and Kitzmann, actions while a town employee - keep your insinuations to yourself "

ht bast wrote on Mar 18, 2009 1:40 PM:

" well may be hanson got a better job some place "

justme wrote on Mar 18, 2009 1:06 PM:

" Interesting that this comes up 3 weeks prior to election time.

Hauser Shaller and Booth hired Kitzmann after protests from board members and the people they are supposed to represent. Hauser Shaller Booth and Kitzmann don't know how to properly post or run a legal meeting. I will be telling all my friends and neighbors to VOTE THEM OUT NOW.

Unless you have solid facts about Peg's actions while a town employee - keep your insinuations to yourself. She was a fine employee for many years and will be missed by many upstanding citizens in the town.

Upstanding citizens excludes Hauser Shaller Booth and Kitzmann, who probably just wanted her out of the way so they could hatch their sinister plans without her interfering.

Please do some research on Kitzmann and Hauser, they are unbelievable and don't deserve the positions they hold. "

ht bast wrote on Mar 18, 2009 12:39 PM:

" i thought its about hanson and kitzmann not hauser, nice personal attack. "

ht bast wrote on Mar 18, 2009 12:17 PM:

" can schultz show us the harrassing e-mails "

ht bast wrote on Mar 18, 2009 12:14 PM:

" may be she did some thing wrong and did not want to face the music "

headoutofsand wrote on Mar 18, 2009 11:36 AM:

" What would cause a dedicated employee to leave after 12 years?

It surely would not be due to Chairman Stan Hauser, after all he stated in the article, My relationship with her (Peg Hanson) has been a good one".

Do you ever 'not' lie Mr. Hauser? "

justme wrote on Mar 18, 2009 9:23 AM:

" Wow, is anyone surprised by this? Kitzmann should have never been hired he is UNQUALIFIED, sounds like he can't even notice a meeting correctly. I wonder what would cause a dedicated employee to leave after 12 years when Kitzmann has only been there a couple of months? "

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