ORDINANCE NO. 2026-02 CITY OF OCONTO OCONTO COUNTY, WISCONSIN AN ORDINANCE REGARDING REVISIONS TO THE GOVERNMENT AND ADMINISTRATION ORDINANCE IN THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF ORDINANCES FOR THE CITY OF OCONTO NOW THEREFORE, THE MAYOR AND COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OCONTO, OCONTO COUNTY, WISCONSIN, DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS: I. ADDITION. Section 2-2-12.1 of the City of Oconto Code of Ordinances shall be added as follows: Sec. 2-2-12.1 - Penalties for Disseminating Closed Session Information (a) Open Meeting Policy. Wisconsin has expressed its policy requiring open meetings of governmental bodies. The law with regard to open meetings is embodied in Subchapter V of Chapter 19 of the Wisconsin Statutes. The declaration of policy is set forth in Section 19.81 of the statutes. That declaration of policy is: "In recognition of the fact that a representative government of the American type is dependent upon an informed electorate, it is declared to be the policy of this State that the public is entitled to the fullest and most complete information regarding the affairs of government as is compatible with the conduct of governmental business." To implement and ensure the public policy above expressed, all meeting of all state and local governmental bodies shall be publicly held in places reasonably accessible to members of the public and shall be open to all citizens at all times unless otherwise expressly provided by law." (b) Exceptions to the Open Meeting Law. Any governmental body may convene in closed session under certain exemptions which are set forth in Section 19.85, Wis. Stats. The exemptions offer the governmental body the opportunity to consider matters in closed session when public welfare requires secrecy. The exemptions set forth in Section 19.85, Wis. Stat., allow the governmental body and the members thereof to avoid discussing matters in open session when the public welfare requires secrecy and an exemption applies. (c) Duty. (1) To benefit from the right bestowed upon members of the governmental body by Section 19.85, Wis. Stats., to convene in closed session, that benefit should not be made valueless by members of the governmental body prematurely disseminating closed session information to members of the public prior to the reason for the closed session having been extinguished. It is the responsibility of each councilperson and committee member to uphold the right so given and to not publish or disseminate the same until the purpose of the closed session has been extinguished. (2) All City Council members and committee members have a duty to refrain from disseminating information circulated during a closed session convened under one or more of the exemptions provided in Section 19.85, Wis. Stats., and properly noticed. This duty is continuing until the reason for the closed session has been extinguished. A violation of this duty is considered neglect of duty for which a fine may be levied as authorized in Section 62.11(3), Wis Stat. (d) Prohibition. No City Council member or committee member shall directly or indirectly disseminate any information discussed at a properly authorized, noticed, and convened meeting in closed session in such a manner as to potentially alter or affect the deliberation process, until the reason for the closed session has been extinguished. (e) Enforcement. Violation of the Ordinance shall constitute neglect of duty. A finding of guilty by the Ethics Board shall subject the violator to a forfeiture of not less than $100.00 nor more than $500.00. For conviction of a second or subsequent violation, the penalty shall be increased to not less the $500.00 nor more than $1,000.00. Subject to the circumstances and severity of the matter, the violation may be subject to further recommendation for action by the Ethics Board. 11. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Ordinance shall be adopted under suspension of local rules, and shall take effect upon passage and publication as provided by law. Offered by: Kim Bronikowski Seconded by: Dan Zoeller VOTE: Ayes: 8 Nays: 0 Abstention: 0 Absent: 0 Date of Adoption: 02/17/2026 Date of Publication: 03/04/2026 BY ORDER OF THE COMMON COUNCIL CITY OF OCONTO, OCONTO COUNTY, WISCONSIN Clifton Martin, Mayor Brittney M. Burruel, City Administrator WNAXLP March 4 2026 LWIX0463627