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No temporary aldermen appointed in Lake Geneva

LAKE GENEVA--Unprecedented things are happening in Lake Geneva—and the latest political turn of events essentially has left residents without a representative government.

Mayor Bill Chesen on Monday night was stopped in his tracks as he tried to appoint four people to temporarily serve as aldermen while Aldermen Mary Jo Fesenmaier, Arleen Krohn, Penny Roehrer and Tom Spellman are suspended pending a hearing before the city council next week.

Chesen has accused the aldermen of neglecting their duties, misconduct and violating the Wisconsin Open Meetings Law.

The city council failed to raise quorum, which is six aldermen, according to city code. Only four aldermen were present at the meeting, and after about a half-hour of discussion with an attorney, who is representing the city council, they voted to adjourn for the night.

Newly appointed Alderman Spyro “Speedo” Condos called into question the validity of what Chesen is doing with regard to filing petitions to remove the aldermen and appointing people to take their seats and hear the charges brought against them.

“If this is to be allowed…then any mayor in the state can drum up some charges and wipe out the city council if he doesn’t agree with them. Where’s the democracy?" he said. " … This is the judge, the jury and the executioner, and again I ask, where’s the democracy? "If this is allowed to happen, it’s wrong.”