No action was taken Monday night against two members of the Rhinelander City Council who other members of the city council allege released information from a closed session to the public. But more hearings and investigations are on the horizon.
Last week a complaint was filed with the District Attorney's office against council members Tom Gleason and Steve Sauer, after information about a performance review from fired City Administrator Kristina Aschenbrenner was allegedly made public. District Attorney Michael Schiek said late last week the matter was sent to the Oneida County Sheriff's Department for investigation.
Monday, Council President George Kirby filed ethics complaints against Gleason and Sauer. On the ethics complaint, Gleason questioned whether the council should have it's ethics complaint hearing heard prior to the end of the Sheriff's investigation....
"....if we're going to have any kind of hearing that would have some kind of penalty you're basically violating our due process by basically hearing and convicting prior to an investigation being completed...."
Kirby said the second complaint against Sauer could be heard sooner...
"....I think this one should be handled to set the date for a special meeting again because this one is against Steve..."
The Sheriff's Department is said to take up to 20 days to investigate the matter. On the first complaint against both Gleason and Sauer, the matter was put off until the next council meeting on October 10th to set a date to hear that complaint. A second complaint against Sauer only will likely be heard at the October 10 meeting.
