McCarthy named Gillett interim mayor

GILLETT — As expected, the Gillett City Council on Oct. 7 named Council President Josh McCarthy to serve as interim mayor through the remainder of former Mayor James Beaton’s term in April.

The council then split on the matter of who should replace McCarthy as council president. Alderman Deb Rudie nominated Matt Stroik, and Marie Blaser nominated Nanette Mohr.

With McCarthy no longer voting and the candidates abstaining, Alderman Sandra Hubbard joined Blaser in choosing Mohr, two votes to one.

The six council members signed and presented a letter to Beaton on Sept. 30 asking for his resignation because he lost his home when his business was sold earlier in the month. Citing state statute 17.03(4), they claimed he had vacated his office because he was no longer a Gillett resident.

There is no evidence the council ever met or voted to send the letter, which was nonetheless signed by all six aldermen. They have made no comment about how the letter was approved.

Beaton signed a “release and separation agreement” during a meeting that was closed to the public at the beginning of the council’s Oct. 3 meeting. Under the agreement, Beaton received a lump-sum payment representing his salary for the rest of his term through April ($2,762.50) in exchange for his resignation.

When the council reconvened in open session, it voted unanimously to approve the agreement in the first public acknowledgment of the discussions with the former mayor. NEW Media is considering whether to ask the Oconto County District Attorney’s Office to investigate the matter as a violation of the state open meetings laws.