Oshkosh Common Council ammends City Manager contract

OSHKOSH, WI—(WISS)— The Oshkosh Common Council tackled several issues at its meeting Tuesday night. Among the agenda items were changes to the City Manager’s employment agreement, accepting donations to the city for the Oshkosh Public Museum, a trackless train at Menominee Park, and improvements at Red Arrow Park.

City Manager Rebecca Grill

The Oshkosh Common Council voted to approve the yearly salary progression for City Manager Rebecca Grill during the consent agenda on Tuesday night. Along with that boost in pay, the vote amended Grill’s employment contract to prohibit her termination, without cause, during certain periods of the year.

The amendment reads as follows:

“The City cannot terminate Ms. Grill, without cause, in the period starting ninety (90) days before the Spring local election and ending ninety (90) days after the Spring local election. The Spring local election is currently held on the first Tuesday in April, but this would apply to any modified or changed date of the local elections. This provision does not apply to any primary election.”

Grill said she asked for a similar clause when she was initially hired by Oshkosh a year ago to take over the City Manager position. She said that because Oshkosh’s Common Council is elected every two years, this would establish stability and continuity for the Council, the residents, and the position holder.

“ Not that there’s any current problems or ideas that are going on,” Grill explained. “But just in case something happens in the future, we can have that continuity of operations. So we continue to serve the public.”

In addition to the salary adjustment and election provision, a clause to make Grill eligible for up ot $11,000 in tuition reimbursement per year.

Deputy Mayor Joe Stephenson told Grill and those attending the meeting that the Common Council has been impressed with Grill’s first year as City Manager.

“One, we are really surprised how quickly, I think, Rebecca came up to speed. We weren’t expecting you’d be able to kind of hit the ground running as quickly as you did,” Stephenons said. “We were very impressed with your ability to rein in our budget.”

Menominee Park Train

The upkeep and operation of the train at Menominee Park has been a topic of conversation in the Oshkosh City Government for several years. As the train and the track aged, maintenance costs increased. At Tuesday night’s meeting, the Common Council voted 5 – 1 to accept a private donation of a trackless train for Menominee Park. This trail will run on already established roads and paths and will not require a track. 

“ I’m excited that we’re getting the trackless train. I think a lot of effort has been put into trying to make sure that the train situation in Menominee works,” said Stephenson. “And after a year of clunking our heads together, I think this is the solution. It works budgetarily and also provides a really cool amenity for our flagship park.” 

Mayor Matt Mugerauer was the sole dissenting voice to accept the donation of the train.

In a memo to the board, Chad Dallman, Parks Services & Events Manager, said the new train will cost less to operate, allow for greater use during other city events, and generate more revenue for the city.

Dallman said with the trackless train, the city no longer needs to operate amusement services at the Menominee Park Children’s Amusement Center. The Common Council voted unanimously to accept the train donation and discontinue amusement services. 

An average 15-minute ride on the new trackless train will begin at $3.00 per person. The train will operate during the Menomonee Park Zoo seasonal operation from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Other Donations

The Common Council accepted two other donations at the meeting. One was for $27,000, specifically earmarked to allow the Oshkosh Public Museum to replace replica Tiffany sconces with the real deal.

The Historic Sawyer Home, which houses the Oshkosh Public Museum (OPM), is the only surviving residence with commissioned interior design by Tiffany Studios that is open ot the public. 

The OPM received an anonymous, designated gift to purchase six original Tiffany Studios sconces for the museum’s Grand Hall.

Finally, the Common Council accepted a $70,000 donation from the Oshkosh Community Foundation for Red Arrow Park Athletic Field Improvements 

Other Oshkosh Common Council action

In other business, the Oshkosh Common Council voted to regulate e-scooters and electric personal assistive mobility devices (EPAMDs), such as Segways, the same as e-bikes in the city. 

“ Not too long ago, when Council had a discussion about e-bikes on sidewalks and walkways in towna lot of people had questions about scooters and Segways,” said Council Member Jacob Floam. “So this resolution, this ordinance here, basically brings that in line with e-bikes. So that we have uniformity across the board.”

The vote will amend the city code to allow e-scooters and EPAMDs on sidewalks and walkways except where buildings abut the sidewalk. The Transportation Committee also recommended that e-scooters and EPAMDs be required to follow the same safety regulations as e-bikes.

The Council also voted to amend portions of Chapter 4 of the City of Oshkosh Municipal Code pertaining to alcoholic beverages. Specifically, the changes would add language encouraging, but not requiring, new alcohol beverage license applicants to appear before the Common Council. It added language limiting alcohol licenses to one per tax parcel, unless otherwise approved by the Council.

Mugerauer asked city staff to look into changes to how the Common Council fills seats vacated when a member leaves the council before their term ends. Specifically, he stated he’d like to see the process sped up by shortening the application period from 30 to 14 days.

“ Having gone through the appointment process three times,” Mugerauer said. “It has its deficiencies. It could be better; it could be more efficient.”

Additionally, there is currently no process to fill the Mayor’s seat should he/she resign before the term expires. Mugerauer requested that city staff look into adjusting the process, setting time limits for filling a vacant seat before an election, and adding a process to fill the mayor’s seat if needed.

The issue will come up again at a future Oshkosh Common Council meeting.