WEDC drops proposal that would have restricted board communication with reporters

The WEDC has pulled a proposal that would have required board members go through WEDC’s communications team before fielding questions from reporters.

The proposal, which was to have been take up at today’s board meeting, had quickly drawn concerns from the two Dem members on the board — Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca and Sen. Julie Lassa — who called the policy a “gag order.” And it got slammed by Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke, R-Kaukauna.

“This is a bad idea. We need transparency at WEDC more than ever. The public deserves it,” Steineke tweeted.

The policy would’ve required WEDC’s chief legal officer, Hannah Renfro, to “diligently investigate” any claims of board members’ violations.

But WEDC Secretary and CEO Mark Hogan said he’s pulled the review of the policy after hearing from “various board members.”

“Providing guidance to directors regarding their board responsibilities is an important part of establishing good governance practices,” Hogan said. “I look forward to working with board members to achieve a policy that addresses the issues that have been raised.”

WEDC spokesman Mark Maley did not say whether others beyond Barca and Lassa raised concerns. But he said WEDC staff had proposed the policy “based on best practices by boards” of companies and public-private partnerships.

Barca said he’s “encouraged” that Hogan pulled the proposal but remains troubled by the fact that it was even on the agenda.

“The last thing WEDC needs is less scrutiny and oversight,” the Kenosha Dem said. “WEDC should be focusing its efforts on cleaning up its practices and bringing accountability to taxpayers — not placing a gag order on board members.”

See the agenda

See the proposed policy