For the Hub City Times

MARSHFIELD – Marshfield aldermen will hold a special hearing to formally consider a complaint that seeks the removal of Mayor Bob McManus from office.

With President Tom Witzel abstaining, the common council voted 9-0, on Feb. 2, in favor of authorizing Witzel to coordinate the scheduling of the hearing. Another motion approved by the council indicated the complaint was filed by a member of the city’s Fire & Police Commission.

He said:

That motion was approved on a vote of 7-3.

The aldermen also authorized the council president to work with City Administrator Steve Barg to secure special legal representation to advise the Common Council as it goes through the investigation and hearing process. Witzel was also authorized to serve the mayor with a notice of the formal complaint and the pending hearing, which will be open to the public.

McManus said last week in his weekly press conference with local media that the investigation dates back to last summer, when the Portage County Sheriff’s Department looked into an alleged open-records violation having to do with text messages sent to and from the mayor’s city-issued cell phone.

McManus stated:

The city is now required to give the Mayor a minimum 10-day notice prior to conducting the hearing.