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Record of Proceedings

City of New Berlin Common Council Meeting and Closed Session Summary: April 28, 2026

Common Council — Tuesday, April 28, 2026
BodyNew Berlin, Wisconsin
SessionCommon Council
DateTuesday, April 28, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 9:37

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Unassigned speaker

0:22

Yes.

Speaker 1

0:23

Okay, prior to intercommunal meaning we do have proven floor.

0:26

Is there anybody in the audience to say if you have a like this because permitted floor?

Unassigned speaker

0:30

Okay.

Speaker 1

0:31

That's uh rolls of the floor.

0:34

Um, presentation limit of three minutes.

0:36

Tributal floor shall last no longer than thirty minutes, unless otherwise deem appropriate whether mayor reconsent for the counter council time limit will be increased by a conference of 15 minutes.

0:46

Presentation shall be directed to topics subject to the council action related to the city of the ruin.

0:51

This means the presentations are not limited to those agenda items.

0:56

Presentation shall not deal in personalities or personal tax members, like council or city employees.

1:02

Presentations are not to be designed for purposes of engagement.

1:07

At times this there may be a large number of presidents that would like to speak in an order to provide as many residents the right to speak the mayor or by the consensus of the counter council.

1:17

They limit the amount of times a person can speak to only once.

1:21

So there's no rules.

Speaker 2

1:35

Hello, thanks for letting me speak today.

1:37

Name is Leah Donald, 3480, Southware Road, Berlin.

1:42

Um I'm here to object to an agenda to an agenda item regarding the long-term appointment contract with attorney

Unassigned speaker

1:49

Mark

Speaker 2

1:49

Lou.

1:50

He is a former attorney Thomas Schmitter's past law firm partner.

1:55

And I believe this is a conflict of interest.

1:58

Attorney Schmitzer, in my opinion, does not represent or respect the citizens of New Berlin as evidenced by his actions and demeanor regarding the Milwaukee Rescue Mission Project.

2:10

In past, he has black citizens' rightful attempts to receive pertinent open records regarding Milwaukee rescue mission development.

Unassigned speaker

2:19

The

Speaker 2

2:19

farm's extreme risk aversion policy regarding a role ball has put our community at risk, in my opinion.

2:27

We cannot continue down the path of avoiding some legal risk at the expense of everything else, including zoning integrity, code violations, citizen safety, and increases in taxpayer dollars.

2:40

We uh yet into what I consider an incredible mess because of the personnel columns, often unelected, um appointed officials.

Unassigned speaker

2:51

New

Speaker 2

2:52

Berlin needs a clean break from some of its current waitmiers.

2:56

Please consider alternative firms.

2:58

You previously received an email regarding suggestions, or you can certainly do due diligence in selecting a different firm to lead New Berlin on a new path forward.

3:09

Um also I support Joe Strival being um elected to the Plan Commission.

3:17

Um I uh also would prefer not

Unassigned speaker

3:22

to have

Speaker 2

3:23

another HR position um introduced, because taxes have increased substantially in the last two years for me alone.

3:31

I believe I'm paying like an extra fifteen hundred dollars or at least a thousand dollars in the last two years in my taxes, and this is just one more thing to increase my taxes.

3:41

Um is my understanding that most cities have um just one person for that position, and that should be adequate to conserve tax hours.

Speaker 1

3:50

Thank you.

Unassigned speaker

3:51

Thank

Speaker 1

3:51

you, thank

Unassigned speaker

3:52

you.

Unassigned speaker

3:54

Is

Speaker 1

3:54

there anyone else which is reconstruction floor?

3:57

Anyone else?

Unassigned speaker

3:59

I

Speaker 1

3:59

don't know.

4:00

Okay, I

Unassigned speaker

4:00

will

Speaker 1

4:00

go to the floor, and

Unassigned speaker

4:02

we will call our

Speaker 1

4:04

meeting to order and start with political agents.

Unassigned speaker

4:25

Okay, call me to order.

Speaker 3

4:28

Just for the record, it's 6 15 p.m.

Unassigned speaker

4:30

And

Speaker 3

4:30

we'll start with roll call.

Unassigned speaker

4:31

Aldman Hopkins.

Speaker 3

4:32

Present.

4:33

Colder Woman Gardner is excused.

4:34

Elderman Maxie.

Unassigned speaker

Present.

Summary of Proceedings

City of New Berlin Common Council Meeting and Closed Session Summary: April 28, 2026

The New Berlin Common Council met on April 28, 2026, at 6:15 PM in the City Hall Council Chambers. During the open session, the council unanimously approved the consent agenda, heard public comment, and then entered a closed session to discuss legal services negotiations with Attorney Mark G. Blum and litigation strategy for Clark vs. City of New Berlin. Reconvening to open session, the council approved an interim contract extension for Attorney Blum and resolved the pending litigation.

Consent Calendar

  • The Council unanimously (5-0) approved the consent agenda, which included the following items:
  • Approval of the April 14, 2026, Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes.
  • Approval of Water Utility claims ($40,196.56), Sewer Utility claims ($52,861.43), and General City claims ($870,678.19, including a $99,774.40 We Energies EFT payment).
  • Appointment of William Jonas to the City of New Berlin Ethics Board for a term expiring April 30, 2029.
  • Election of an alderperson to the Plan Commission (requiring a two-thirds vote).
  • Approval of the New Berlin Fire Department's AED Library Program.
  • Recommendation to approve the Human Resources Department reorganization, creating an HR Manager position and transitioning the Benefits & Leave Specialist to a Benefits Administrator role.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Resident Leah Donald (3480 Southware Road) spoke during Privilege of the Floor. She expressed opposition to the proposed contract extension with Attorney Mark G. Blum, citing a conflict of interest based on his past affiliation with a partner of the former city attorney. She also opposed the creation of the HR Manager position, arguing it would contribute to a further increase in property taxes, which she stated have risen by approximately $1,000 to $1,500 for her in the last two years.
  • Ms. Donald voiced support for Joe Strival's election to the Plan Commission and urged the Council to issue a Request for Proposals for a new legal firm to provide a 'clean break' from current representation.

Closed Session (Discussion Item)

  • The Council convened in closed session at 6:18 PM pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 19.85(1)(e) to deliberate on a contract for legal services with Attorney Mark G. Blum, and under Wis. Stat. § 19.85(1)(g) to receive legal advice regarding Clark vs. City of New Berlin. Attorney Mark G. Blum recused himself from the discussion regarding his contract.
  • The Council reconvened to open session at 6:41 PM.

Key Outcomes

  • Extension of Contract for Legal Services: The Council voted 5-0 to approve an extension of Attorney Mark G. Blum's contract through December 31, 2026. Council President Harenda noted the interim arrangement allows the city to prepare a Request for Proposals (RFP) for legal services to be issued for 2027.
  • Resolution of Litigation: The Council voted 5-0 to approve the claim in Clark vs. City of New Berlin as outlined by the City Attorney.
  • Meeting Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 6:45 PM.

Meeting Transcript

Yes. Okay, prior to intercommunal meaning we do have proven floor. Is there anybody in the audience to say if you have a like this because permitted floor? Okay. That's uh rolls of the floor. Um, presentation limit of three minutes. Tributal floor shall last no longer than thirty minutes, unless otherwise deem appropriate whether mayor reconsent for the counter council time limit will be increased by a conference of 15 minutes. Presentation shall be directed to topics subject to the council action related to the city of the ruin. This means the presentations are not limited to those agenda items. Presentation shall not deal in personalities or personal tax members, like council or city employees. Presentations are not to be designed for purposes of engagement. At times this there may be a large number of presidents that would like to speak in an order to provide as many residents the right to speak the mayor or by the consensus of the counter council. They limit the amount of times a person can speak to only once. So there's no rules. Hello, thanks for letting me speak today. Name is Leah Donald, 3480, Southware Road, Berlin. Um I'm here to object to an agenda to an agenda item regarding the long-term appointment contract with attorney Mark Lou. He is a former attorney Thomas Schmitter's past law firm partner. And I believe this is a conflict of interest. Attorney Schmitzer, in my opinion, does not represent or respect the citizens of New Berlin as evidenced by his actions and demeanor regarding the Milwaukee Rescue Mission Project. In past, he has black citizens' rightful attempts to receive pertinent open records regarding Milwaukee rescue mission development. The farm's extreme risk aversion policy regarding a role ball has put our community at risk, in my opinion. We cannot continue down the path of avoiding some legal risk at the expense of everything else, including zoning integrity, code violations, citizen safety, and increases in taxpayer dollars. We uh yet into what I consider an incredible mess because of the personnel columns, often unelected, um appointed officials. New Berlin needs a clean break from some of its current waitmiers. Please consider alternative firms. You previously received an email regarding suggestions, or you can certainly do due diligence in selecting a different firm to lead New Berlin on a new path forward. Um also I support Joe Strival being um elected to the Plan Commission. Um I uh also would prefer not to have another HR position um introduced, because taxes have increased substantially in the last two years for me alone. I believe I'm paying like an extra fifteen hundred dollars or at least a thousand dollars in the last two years in my taxes, and this is just one more thing to increase my taxes. Um is my understanding that most cities have um just one person for that position, and that should be adequate to conserve tax hours. Thank you. Thank you, thank you. Is there anyone else which is reconstruction floor? Anyone else? I don't know. Okay, I will go to the floor, and we will call our

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