Green Bay City Hall recording controversy enters March with another committee talk, before heading to court Thursday
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GREEN BAY - A lawsuit is making its way to court that claims the city illegally records conversations using microphones hidden in the ceilings of City Hall's first and second floors.
The plaintiffs and city representatives are due in court Thursday morning in front of Brown County Circuit Judge Marc Hammer.
Here's what we know about the case:
The issue
Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich's opponents complain about city's installing of audio and video recording equipment on the bottom two floors of City Hall, saying that's it is "spying on" the public on behalf of the mayor and administration. The administration says the recorders are legal, and protect the public and workers who use City Hall.
Genrich's critics say "Big Brother is listening" to "secret conversations" of the public. A group demands removal of the recorders.
The lawsuit
A group consisting of the Wisconsin State Senate; state Sen. Andre Jacque, who serves Kewaunee and Door counties; former City Council member Anthony Theisen; and a woman identified in court papers as "Jane Doe" filed a lawsuit Feb. 21 in Brown County Circuit Court.
The ask
The plaintiffs have asked Judge Hammer to require the city to immediately:
Disable and remove the recording devices.
Not disclose information recorded by such devices.
Destroy all recordings "unlawfully obtained by" devices they say were installed under the direction of Genrich.
Declare that the city's use of the recording devices violates the Wisconsin Constitution.
The current issue
City Council's Finance Committee on Tuesday discussed how the city should pay the cost of defending the lawsuit filed against the city.
What happens next
The issue will next go before the city's Parks Committee, which is slated to meet at 5 p.m. Wednesday on City Hall's second floor. It then goes to court Thursday, and council member Chris Wery has spoken of a special meeting of the City Council on Friday.
Public comments
"My friends and I are now paying higher taxes for secret surveillance," said Scott Liddicoat, who lives on Springdale Lane in Green Bay. "The mayor who took this action on his own should pay for the legal expense on his own."
The city reassessed the value of properties in 2022 after nearly 20 years without a reassessment, increasing some people's tax bills.
At the recommendation of an insurance provider, the city has hired two lawyers, said city Attorney Joanne Bungert.
Who's unhappy?
Council member Chris Wery, who represents the 8th Ward on the City Council, and who first broached the subject at a Feb. 7 City Council meeting, is one. Wery asked on Tuesday if the City Council has the money to hire its own attorney, saying the council would get "one-sided legal advice from attorneys recommended by the insurance company."
But Bungert said the council lacks authority to do so.
Council member Brian Johnson said the council has very little knowledge about the administration's plans for the recordings. "We don't even know why we're in the situation we're in," he said.
Council President Jesse Brunette, called the situation "perplexing" and "a big mess" on Tuesday.
Email: Doug Schneider at DSchneid@gannett.com, call him at (920) 265-2070 and follow him on Twitter @PGDougSchneider
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Green Bay City Hall controversy to enter March with committee meeting
