April 13, 2023 at 11:11 a.m.
RTMC controversy leads council to seek authority to compel the filling of vacancies
The vote came after a public comment session where a number of speakers offered effusive praise for Skinner, a longtime member of the committee who was not reappointed following a restructuring in 2022, and lobbied for her to be reappointed as soon as possible.
In her turn at the podium during public comment, Skinner stated she was not demanding reinstatement and was happy to turn over the reins to someone else, but was demanding that the city lodging representative position be filled so that local hoteliers will once again have a voice on the committee as required by city ordinance.
"It's now April 10 and that seat has still not been filled despite the fact that I have submitted twice my interest in the position," she said. "The hotels in the City of Rhinelander still do not have a voice on the room tax committee. It's my opinion that the mayor is looking to stack committees with his friends and acquaintances so that there are no dissenting opinions and I know some of you feel the same way..."
The purpose of the Rhinelander Tourism Marketing Committee is to determine how to spend the money collected through the 5.5 percent tax on hotels, rooming houses, lodges and the like. Room tax funds must be spent for the purposes of tourism promotion and development. This includes marketing projects like advertising media buys; creation and distribution of printed or electronic promotional tourist materials; or efforts to recruit conventions, sporting events, or motor coach groups.
In early February, Mayor Kris Hanus recommended Ben Brunell of The Hodag Store and former city administrator Zach Vruwink for appointment to the committee. However, when the recommendations came to the council for approval, the alderpersons rejected Vruwink.
Vruwink, who left his job with the city back in October 2022, was nominated as a "lodging industry representative," a categorization that appeared to concern some of the council members.
It was noted that he is no longer a full-time resident of Rhinelander and his experience in the lodging industry is in running an Airbnb.
The new-look RTMC held its first meeting of the year a few weeks later on March 20.
Toward the end of that meeting, Hanus was asked to provide an update on the search for a lodging industry representative to complete the panel. Hanus stated that three people responded to the city's call for applicants for the position, however two of those people changed their minds almost immediately.
Hanus was asked why he had chosen not to reappoint Skinner, the regional manager of the company that owns the Rhinelander AmericInn Hotel and a veteran of the hotel business.
"Is there a reason you would not put Erin up to be reappointed by council?" committee member Dan Brekke, who represents Pelican, asked. "She is a highly qualified member of the committee or has been."
Hanus responded by explaining that he has a preference for "new blood" and hasn't reappointed many people to any city committees.
The mayor repeated that sentiment on Monday evening when alderman David Holt, a former member of the RTMC who himself has been vocal in expressing a desire to be reappointed to the panel, asked again for an explanation as to the reluctance to reappoint Skinner.
Holt stated that he was asked by members of the RTMC to bring the topic of the vacancy to the attention of the council but insisted the issue is "not personal" for him and is not about his own desire to serve on the committee. However, in the same speech he noted that he has spoken to city administrator Patrick Reagan about stepping in as a city representative on the panel if the administrator should happen to decide he's not the best fit.
The alderman went on to refer to himself as a "policy and procedure guy" and argued that the council should have the ability to step in - in the long tradition of governmental checks and balances - to fill a vacancy if the mayor will not move forward with an appointment.
"I think if this is going to be a continued problem that the council should consider the idea of granting itself some authority and power to compel the filling of vacancies if it's just not going to be done," he said. "And again, this is not at all personal..."
In response, Hanus disputed any contention that the RTMC is not functioning or is functioning poorly as a result of the vacancy. He also reiterated his previous statement that he does not feel reappointment of Skinner is in the best interest of the committee and he wants new blood.
"I have said that multiple times and I stand by that," he said.
Holt responded by making a motion to direct city attorney Steve Sorenson to write language for a new ordinance that would allow the council to appoint someone to fill a vacancy "when the mayor refuses to fulfill that obligation."
The motion passed unanimously and Sorenson indicated he would bring language to the council at its next meeting.
Reached for comment on Tuesday, Hanus said he was aware Monday's meeting would likely include a campaign on Skinner's behalf. He said he would dispute any contention that Brunell and the panel's other new member, Kathy Dolch, are not qualified to serve and were appointed only as part of some sort of plot to stack committees.
He also said he believes it would be helpful for city council members to begin regularly attending RTMC meetings so they can see for themselves how the group is functioning rather than rely on secondhand reports.
The committee appointment process can be a problematic part of the mayoral position because there can be "an illusion" that he's appointing friends or has ulterior motives, he added.
As he did during the March RTMC meeting, Hanus noted that there were two individuals, both of whom appeared to be qualified to serve, who expressed interest in the vacancy only to lose interest within 24 hours.
Ultimately, he conceded that if the council wants Skinner to serve on the committee, she is all but certain to be reinstated. However, he did note that he believes the council members will need to clearly articulate for the city attorney exactly how the body wants to proceed in terms of endowing itself with the authority to compel the filling of vacancies.
In other business Monday, the council passed a resolution of support for the establishment of an easement for the Pelican River Forest.
The resolution is advisory only and it was noted that the Oneida County Board of Supervisors is set to weigh in on the easement request in May.
The panel also voted unanimously to purchase new benches, tables and trash barrels for both Hodag Park and Stevensport Square.
The council also heard from the owner of a local tavern who expressed concern over a recent fire department inspection of his business as well as a resident who was contesting a fine for failure to shovel snow in the required time frame. No immediate action was taken on either of those matters.
A separate story on those discussions will be published in a future edition of the River News.
City council meetings are available for the public to watch via www.hodagtv.com. The River News would encourage readers to view all of the statements and discussion regarding the RTMC vacancy as well as the council's other business.
Heather Schaefer may be reached at [email protected].
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