By a vote of eight “aye’s” and two “nay’s”, the Sheboygan Common Council approved a resolution to terminate City Administrator Todd Wolf without cause.
An overflow crowd filled City Hall by 5:15, and the beginning of the meeting was delayed by the absence of one alder, but eventually the process began with the usual opening and pledge of allegiance.
The first to take up the subject at hand was a series of five speakers, four defending Todd Wolf, and one defending the Council action to study the issue and propose termination.
Were the crowd that filled the council to capacity, plus an additional room, to be any measure of sentiment, then it would be that of coming to the defense of Wolf, with signs mostly demanding “integrity” be returned to Sheboygan government.
Alder Joe Heidemann endeavored to strike any language from the proposal that referred to “terminating”, and to substitute “written warning” instead. After a lengthy discussion with City Attorney Charles Adams over protocol in presenting, withdrawing and amending, Heidemann asked for a vote to “indefinitely postpone” action on the resolution, which failed.
The original proposal to terminate Todd Wolf without cause, and to “authorize the payment of severance pursuant to Paragraph 13 of said Employment Agreement” was approved 8-2, with Alders Heidemann and Mitchell voting “Nay”.
The details of an investigation into Wolf’s conduct commissioned by the City were not released nor discussed during the session, leaving many in attendance without answers to the “why”…but the “what” was clear when Mayor Ryan Sorenson adjourned the meeting at 5:56 p.m. Todd Wolf was no longer employed by the City of Sheboygan.
