Chapter 62

62.13(5)(em)4. 4. Whether the effort described under subd. 3. was fair and objective.

62.13(5)(em)5. 5. Whether the chief discovered substantial evidence that the subordinate violated the rule or order as described in the charges filed against the subordinate.

62.13(5)(em)6. 6. Whether the chief is applying the rule or order fairly and without discrimination against the subordinate.

62.13(5)(em)7. 7. Whether the proposed discipline reasonably relates to the seriousness of the alleged violation and to the subordinate’s record of service with the chief’s department.

62.13(5)(f) (f) Findings and determinations hereunder and orders of suspension, reduction, suspension and reduction, or removal, shall be in writing and, if they follow a hearing, shall be filed within 3 days thereof with the secretary of the board.

62.13(5)(g) (g) Further rules for the administration of this subsection may be made by the board.

62.13(5)(h) (h) No person shall be deprived of compensation while suspended pending disposition of charges.

62.13(5)(i) (i) Any person suspended, reduced, suspended and reduced, or removed by the board may appeal from the order of the board to the circuit court by serving written notice of the appeal on the secretary of the board within 10 days after the order is filed. Within 5 days after receiving written notice of the appeal, the board shall certify to the clerk of the circuit court the record of the proceedings, including all documents, testimony and minutes. The action shall then be at issue and shall have precedence over any other cause of a different nature pending in the court, which shall always be open to the trial thereof. The court shall upon application of the accused or of the board fix a date of trial, which shall not be later than 15 days after such application except by agreement. The trial shall be by the court and upon the return of the board, except that the court may require further return or the taking and return of further evidence by the board. The question to be determined by the court shall be: Upon the evidence is there just cause, as described under par. (em), to sustain the charges against the accused? No costs shall be allowed either party and the clerk’s fees shall be paid by the city. If the order of the board is reversed, the accused shall be forthwith reinstated and entitled to pay as though in continuous service. If the order of the board is sustained it shall be final and conclusive.

62.13(5)(j) (j) The provisions of pars. (a) to (i) shall apply to disciplinary actions against the chiefs where applicable. In addition thereto, the board may suspend a chief pending disposition of charges filed by the board or by the mayor of the city.

62.13(5m) (5m) Dismissals and reemployment.

62.13(5m)(a) (a) When it becomes necessary, because of need for economy, lack of work or funds, or for other just causes, to reduce the number of subordinates, the emergency, special, temporary, part-time, or provisional subordinates, if any, shall be dismissed first, and thereafter subordinates shall be dismissed in the order of the shortest length of service in the department, provided that, in cities where a record of service rating has been established prior to January 1, 1933, for the said subordinates, the emergency, special, temporary, part-time provisional subordinates, if any, shall be dismissed first, and thereafter subordinates shall be dismissed in the order of the least efficient as shown by the said service rating.

62.13(5m)(b) (b) When it becomes necessary for such reasons to reduce the number of subordinates in the higher positions or offices, or to abolish any higher positions or offices in the department, the subordinate or subordinates affected thereby shall be placed in a position or office in the department less responsible according to the subordinate’s efficiency and length of service in the department.

62.13(5m)(c) (c) The name of a subordinate dismissed for any just cause set forth in this section shall be left on an eligible reemployment list for a period of 2 years after the date of dismissal, except that if the dismissal was for disciplinary reasons the subordinate may not be left on an eligible reemployment list. If any vacancy occurs, or if the number of subordinates is increased, in the department, the vacancy or new positions shall be filled by persons on the eligible reemployment list in the inverse order of the dismissal of the persons on the list.

62.13(6) (6) Optional powers of board.

62.13(6)(a) (a) The board of fire and police commissioners shall have the further power:

62.13(6)(a)1. 1. To organize and supervise the fire and police, or combined protective services, departments and to prescribe rules and regulations for their control and management.

62.13(6)(a)2. 2. To contract for and purchase all necessary apparatus and supplies for the use of the departments under their supervision, exclusive of the erection and control of the police station, fire station, and combined protective services station buildings.

62.13(6)(a)3. 3. To audit all bills, claims and expenses of the fire, police, and combined protective services departments before the same are paid by the city treasurer.

62.13(6)(b) (b) The provisions of this subsection shall apply only if adopted by the electors. Whenever not less than 70 days prior to a regular city election a petition therefor, conforming to the requirements of s. 8.40 and signed by electors equal in number to not less than 20 percent of the total vote cast in the city for governor at the last general election, shall be filed with the clerk as provided in s. 8.37, the clerk shall give notice in the manner of notice of the regular city election of a referendum on the adoption of this subsection. Such referendum election shall be held with the regular city election, and the ballots shall conform with the provisions of ss. 5.64 (2) and 10.02, and the question shall be “Shall s. 62.13 (6) of the statutes be adopted?”

62.13(6m) (6m) If a city of less than 4,000 population has not by ordinance applied subs. (1) to (6) to the city, the city may not suspend, reduce, suspend and reduce, or remove any police chief, combined protective services chief, or other law enforcement officer who is not probationary, and for whom there is no valid and enforceable contract of employment or collective bargaining agreement which provides for a fair review prior to that suspension, reduction, suspension and reduction or removal, unless the city does one of the following:

62.13(6m)(a) (a) Establishes a committee of not less than 3 members, none of whom may be an elected or appointed official of the city or be employed by the city. The committee shall act under sub. (5) in place of the board of police and fire commissioners. The city council may provide for some payment to each member for the member’s cost of serving on the committee at a rate established by the city council.

62.13(6m)(b) (b) Appoint a person who is not an elected or appointed official of the city and who is not employed by the city. The person shall act under sub. (5) in place of the board. The city council may provide for some payment to that person for serving under this paragraph at a rate established by the city council.

62.13(7) (7) Compensation. The salaries of chiefs and subordinates shall be fixed by the council. Unless the council otherwise provides, in cities of the 4th class rewards for the apprehension of criminals may be retained by the person entitled thereto. Such salaries when so fixed may be increased but not decreased by the council without a previous recommendation of the board. The council may provide that the salaries shall increase with length of service.

62.13(7m) (7m) Rest day.

62.13(7m)(a) (a) The council of every city of the fourth class shall provide for, and the chief of the police or fire department, or the chief of the combined protective services department, shall assign to, each subordinate police officer, or each subordinate designated as primarily a police officer under sub. (2e) (b), in the service of such city one full rest day of 24 consecutive hours during each 192 hours, except in cases of positive necessity by some sudden and serious emergency, which, in the judgment of the chief of police, the fire chief, or the chief of the combined protective services department, demands that such day of rest not be given at such time. Arrangements shall be made so that each full rest day may be had at such time or times as will not impair the efficiency of the department.

62.13(7m)(b) (b) The council of every city of the second or third class shall provide for, and the chief of the police or fire department, or the chief of the combined protective services department, shall assign to, each subordinate police officer, or each subordinate designated as primarily a police officer under sub. (2e) (b), in the service of such city 2 full rest days of 24 consecutive hours each during each 192 hours, except in cases of positive necessity by some sudden and serious emergency, which, in the judgment of the chief of police, the fire chief, or the chief of the combined protective services department, demands that any such day of rest not be given at such time. Arrangements shall be made so that each full rest day may be had at such time or times as will not impair the efficiency of the department. This section shall not apply to villages to which s. 61.65 is applicable.

62.13(7n) (7n) Hours of labor. Except when a labor agreement under subch. IV of ch. 111 that governs hours of employment exists, the council of every 2nd, 3rd or 4th class city shall provide for a working day of not more than 8 hours in each 24 except in cases of positive necessity by some sudden and serious emergency, which, in the judgment of the chief of police, the fire chief, or the chief of the combined protective services department, demands that such workday shall be extended beyond the 8-hour period at such time; and, when such emergency ceases to exist, all overtime given during such emergency shall be placed to the credit of such subordinate police officer, or each subordinate designated as primarily a police officer under sub. (2e) (b), and compensatory time under s. 103.025 given therefor.

62.13(8) (8) Fire department.

62.13(8)(a) (a) The council may provide by ordinance for either a paid or a volunteer fire department and for the management and equipment of either insofar as not otherwise provided for by law. In the case where a combination of paid and volunteer fire department is provided for, such city shall be reimbursed by the department of transportation, not to exceed $500 for any fire calls on a state trunk highway or on any highway that is a part of the national system of interstate highways and is maintained by the department of transportation if the city submits written proof that the city has made a reasonable effort to collect the cost from the insurer of the person to whom the fire call was provided or from the person to whom the fire call was provided, except that the city may attempt to collect the cost from the person only if the city is unsuccessful in its efforts to collect from the person’s insurer or if the person has no insurer. If the city collects the cost from an insurer or such person after the department reimburses the city, the city shall return the amount collected to the department.

62.13(8)(b) (b) A city may enter into a contract for fire protective services with a village, a town, or another city. A city that contracts for fire protective services shall pay the full cost of services provided. A city that contracts for all of its fire protective services under this paragraph and for all of its police protective services under sub. (2g) is not required to have a board of police and fire commissioners. A city that contracts for all of its fire protective services under this paragraph, but not for all of its police protective services under sub. (2g), shall have a board of police and fire commissioners under this section, but the board may address only issues related to the police department.

62.13(10m) (10m) Rules governing leaving city. Subject to approval of the common council the fire chief, police chief, or the chief of the combined protective services department, may establish rules requiring subordinate fire fighters, or each subordinate designated as primarily a fire fighter under sub. (2e) (b), to obtain permission before leaving the city.

62.13(11) (11) Fire fighters, rest day. The common council of every 4th class city, having a population of 5,000 or more and a fire department, or a combined protective services department, shall provide for, and the chief of the fire department, police department, or combined protective services department shall assign to each full paid subordinate member of the fire department or subordinate designated as primarily a fire fighter under sub. (2e) (b), a period of 24 consecutive hours off duty during each 72 hours, except in cases of positive necessity by some sudden and serious fire, accident or other peril, which, in the judgment of the chief engineer or other officer in charge demands that the day of rest not be given at that time. The provisions of this section shall not apply to cities having a 2-platoon or double shift system. The provisions of this subsection apply to a person designated as primarily a fire fighter who is employed by a police department, as described in sub. (2e).

62.13(11a) (11a) Fire department platoons.

62.13(11a)(a) (a) The common council, or other governing body of every city of the first, second and third class, whether organized under a general or special charter, having a paid fire department, shall provide for, and the governing power of the fire department shall divide the full paid fire fighting force in the fire department into 2 or more bodies or platoons. Each platoon shall work, or be on duty, alternately an equal number of hours or as nearly so as the governing power of the fire department of each such city decides, but no member of said platoon shall be on duty for a longer continuous period of time than the governing power of the fire department designates, except in cases of positive necessity by some sudden and serious fire, accident, or other peril, which in the judgment of the chief engineer or other officer in charge demands.

62.13(11a)(b) (b) The hours of duty of each member of the fire fighting force of the fire department in every city of the first class shall be limited to 72 hours in any one week. If any such department shall be on a platoon system of hours of duty, 12 hours may be added to one of 2 successive weeks and such period of time deducted from the previous or succeeding week, as the case may be.

62.13(12) (12) Legislative intent. Section 62.13 and chapter 589, laws of 1921, chapter 423, laws of 1923, and chapter 586, laws of 1911, shall be construed as an enactment of statewide concern for the purpose of providing a uniform regulation of police, fire, and combined protective services departments.

62.13 History History: 1971 c. 41 s. 12; 1971 c. 213 s. 5; 1975 c. 94 ss. 26, 91 (5); 1975 c. 199; 1977 c. 20; 1977 c. 29 s. 1654 (8) (c); 1977 c. 151, 182, 196; 1981 c. 171, 380; 1981 c. 390 s. 252; 1981 c. 391 s. 211; 1985 a. 135 s. 83 (3), (5); 1985 a. 166; 1987 a. 27; 1989 a. 31, 192; 1991 a. 32, 101, 189; 1993 a. 16, 53, 144, 213; 1995 a. 225, 270; 1999 a. 182; 2003 a. 205; 2005 a. 40; 2009 a. 173; 2011 a. 32, 75; 2013 a. 20; 2015 a. 150; 2023 a. 12.

62.13 Annotation An amnesty agreement by a city not to prosecute a firefighter for striking, made as part of the settlement of the strike, does not bar a complaint by a citizen alleging a violation because of the strike. Durkin v. Board of Police & Fire Commissioners, 48 Wis. 2d 112, 180 N.W.2d 1 (1970).

62.13 Annotation A written charge of conduct unbecoming an officer filed by the chief was sufficiently specific when the officer did not object at the hearing. That one member of the board prejudged the case was immaterial when the decision was unanimous. State ex rel. Richey v. Neenah Police & Fire Commission, 48 Wis. 2d 575, 180 N.W.2d 743 (1970).

62.13 Annotation In 2nd and 3rd class cities, monthly compensation for purposes of computing a pension does not include employer contributions to the pension fund and health and life insurance. These items cannot be included by a collective bargaining agreement. State ex rel. Manitowoc v. Police Pension Board, 56 Wis. 2d 602, 203 N.W.2d 74 (1973).

62.13 Annotation Standby time required of municipal police officers by the issuance of a “yellow alert,” under which officers were required to leave their names, phone numbers, and locations with the station house and were forbidden to leave the city without permission, did not constitute work or overtime under sub. (7n), since the officers were not confined at the police station and, although restricted in some senses, were basically free to spend the standby time for their own purposes. Theune v. City of Sheboygan, 67 Wis. 2d 33, 226 N.W.2d 396 (1975).

62.13 Annotation Legislatively created agencies or boards such as city police and fire commissions have the capacity to sue or be sued if that authority is necessary to carry out an express power or to perform an express duty, or if the action arises out of the performance of statutory powers or obligations. Racine Fire & Police Commission v. Stanfield, 70 Wis. 2d 395, 234 N.W.2d 307 (1975).

62.13 Annotation Review of determinations of fire and police commissions may be had only by writ of certiorari or by the appeal procedure provided by the legislature since the procedure under sub. (5) (i) is exclusive and conclusive. A party failing to commence a certiorari proceeding within six months of a decision is guilty of laches. State ex rel. Enk v. Mentkowski, 76 Wis. 2d 565, 252 N.W.2d 28 (1977).

62.13 Annotation A labor contract under s. 111.70 may limit the scope of a police chief’s discretion under sub. (4) (a). Glendale Professional Policemen’s Ass’n v. City of Glendale, 83 Wis. 2d 90, 264 N.W.2d 594 (1978).

62.13 Annotation By imposing an arbitrary and capricious penalty, a board exceeded its jurisdiction. State ex rel. Smits v. City of De Pere, 104 Wis. 2d 26, 310 N.W.2d 607 (1981).

62.13 Annotation A probationary officer had neither a constitutional nor a statutory right to a statement of specifications and a hearing on a city’s decision not to retain the officer. Kaiser v. Board of Police & Fire Commissioners, 104 Wis. 2d 498, 311 N.W.2d 646 (1981).

62.13 Annotation Service under sub. (5) (i) must be personal. Gibson v. City of Racine Police & Fire Commission, 123 Wis. 2d 150, 366 N.W.2d 144 (Ct. App. 1985).

62.13 Annotation Because this section protects police officers against wrongful discipline or discharge, a police officer cannot state a cause of action by invoking the public policy exception to the employment-at-will doctrine. Larson v. City of Tomah, 193 Wis. 2d 225, 532 N.W.2d 726 (1995).

62.13 Annotation A collective bargaining agreement cannot provide for the right to seek arbitration of a discipline decision rather than to seek a hearing before the police and fire commission under this section. City of Janesville v. WERC, 193 Wis. 2d 492, 535 N.W.2d 34 (Ct. App. 1995).

62.13 Annotation Suppression of evidence is not required when a law enforcement officer obtains evidence outside of the officer’s jurisdiction. Any jurisdictional transgression violates the appropriate jurisdiction’s authority, not the defendant’s rights. State v. Mieritz, 193 Wis. 2d 571, 534 N.W.2d 632 (Ct. App. 1995).

62.13 Annotation Service of a notice of appeal under sub. (5) (i) is sufficient when served on the secretary of the police and fire commission. There is no requirement that the notice must first be filed with the court. Truttschel v. Martin, 208 Wis. 2d 361, 560 N.W.2d 315 (Ct. App. 1997), 96-2183.

62.13 Annotation Sub. (5) (i) deprives the court of appeals jurisdiction to review orders issued by a circuit court under sub. (5) (i). Younglove v. City of Oak Creek Fire & Police Commission, 218 Wis. 2d 133, 579 N.W.2d 294 (Ct. App. 1998), 97-1522.

62.13 Annotation It is unconstitutional to condition continued public employment upon a waiver of the privilege against self-incrimination. An employee may be required to answer questions in a disciplinary hearing when granted immunity from criminal prosecution. There is no immunity for uncoerced false statements made during a disciplinary investigation. There also is no requirement for Miranda, 384 U.S. 436 (1966)-like warnings, which in their absence would require the suppression of all statements made in the disciplinary proceedings. Herek v. Police & Fire Commission, 226 Wis. 2d 504, 595 N.W.2d 113 (Ct. App. 1999), 98-1927.

62.13 Annotation A police officer promoted to sergeant, subject to a one-year period of probation, could not be demoted without a just cause hearing under sub. (5) (em). An original appointment is on a probationary basis under s. 165.85 (4) (b). Once that period has passed, no promotion can be taken away without a hearing under sub. (5) (em). Antisdel v. City of Oak Creek Police & Fire Commission, 2000 WI 35, 234 Wis. 2d 154, 609 N.W.2d 464, 97-3818.

62.13 Annotation The court properly determined whether salaries had been decreased under sub. (7) by comparing the police officer’s total cash receipts for each year at issue with the officer’s total cash receipts for the immediately preceding year. Gold v. City of Adams, 2002 WI App 45, 251 Wis. 2d 312, 641 N.W.2d 446, 01-1173.

62.13 Annotation The Department of Workforce Development has statutory authority to receive and investigate a firefighter’s employment discrimination claim under s. 111.321 that is tied directly to the charges sustained and disciplinary sanctions imposed by a police and fire commission under this section, to which claim preclusion is no bar. City of Madison v. DWD, 2002 WI App 199, 257 Wis. 2d 348, 651 N.W.2d 292, 01-1910.

62.13 Annotation There are two ways to appeal police and fire commission decisions: 1) under sub. (5) (i) when the court determines, on the evidence in the administrative record, if there is just cause to sustain the charges against the accused; and 2) by certiorari action, by which legal defects in the administrative record for which there is no statutory judicial review under sub. (5) (i) may be reviewed. An accused may file both and the trial court may address them in any order it deems prudent. State ex rel. Heil v. Green Bay Police & Fire Commission, 2002 WI App 228, 256 Wis. 2d 1008, 652 N.W.2d 118, 01-1781.

62.13 Annotation Having a common council liaison to the police and fire commission was not a reasonable local adaptation of the statute. The liaison effectively was a representative of one of the parties yet sat with the commission at hearings and, although nonvoting, participated in deliberations, tainting the appearance of commission independence and rendering the commission’s decision void. State ex rel. Heil v. Green Bay Police & Fire Commission, 2002 WI App 228, 256 Wis. 2d 1008, 652 N.W.2d 118, 01-1781.

62.13 Annotation Sub. (4) (a) and (c) grants police chiefs and police and fire commissions the authority to promote subordinates, subject to a reasonable probationary period. Sub. (5) (em) requires just cause to act only in disciplinary actions. A promoted officer who does not successfully complete the probationary period may be returned to a former rank without either a sub. (5) (em) or due process hearing, as the demotion is not discipline. Kraus v. City of Waukesha Police & Fire Commission, 2003 WI 51, 261 Wis. 2d 485, 662 N.W.2d 294, 01-1106.

62.13 Annotation Fire chiefs, police chiefs, and police and fire commissions are exclusively empowered to make, and are responsible for, appointment and promotion decisions in their respective departments. An arbitrator may not overrule decisions that are specifically entrusted to the chiefs and the commissions. Nothing in s. 111.70 requires such an interpretation of this section. City of Madison v. WERC, 2003 WI 52, 261 Wis. 2d 423, 662 N.W.2d 318, 99-0500.

62.13 Annotation A board of police and fire commissioners has authority under sub. (5) (g) to adopt a rule permitting a hearing examiner to conduct initial and evidentiary hearings and to make reports to the board on the examiner’s recommendations when the rule ensures that the ultimate decision-making authority remains with the board. Conway v. Board of Police & Fire Commissioners, 2003 WI 53, 262 Wis. 2d 1, 662 N.W.2d 335, 01-0784.

62.13 Annotation The police and fire commission has exclusive statutory authority under sub. (5) to review disciplinary actions against firefighters. Any claim that a disciplinary termination is discriminatory under ch. 111 must be raised before the commission. The Department of Workforce Development may not take jurisdiction over a ch. 111 complaint arising out of a decision of a commission to terminate a firefighter. City of Madison v. DWD, 2003 WI 76, 262 Wis. 2d 652, 664 N.W.2d 584, 01-1910.

62.13 Annotation Sub. (4) (a), providing appointments are to be made by promotion within the ranks when qualified insiders exist, neither specifies the promotion process nor restricts a chief’s discretion in any way, other than making a chief’s selection subject to departmental approval. If promotion from within the department cannot be “done with advantage,” the alternative appointment process involving “an eligible list” comes into play, but those provisions are not triggered when a chief has appointed a subordinate who can be promoted “with advantage.” Baures v. North Shore Fire Department, 2003 WI App 103, 264 Wis. 2d 815, 664 N.W.2d 113, 02-1936.

62.13 Annotation Sub. (5) (i) is not the exclusive remedy for a claim that the rules a subordinate is found to have violated are unconstitutionally vague and overbroad. Constitutional issues of vagueness or overbreadth may be considered under certiorari because they concern whether the police and fire commission board keeps within its jurisdiction and proceeds on a correct theory of the law. Gentilli v. Board of Police & Fire Commissioners, 2004 WI 60, 272 Wis. 2d 1, 680 N.W.2d 335, 02-3208.

62.13 Annotation A recruit who does not complete the initial probationary term of employment as a police officer is not entitled to avail himself or herself of the just cause protections afforded by sub. (5) (em). State ex rel. Massman v. City of Prescott, 2020 WI App 3, 390 Wis. 2d 378, 938 N.W.2d 602, 18-1621.

62.13 Annotation A citizenship requirement for peace officers is constitutional. 68 Atty. Gen. 61.

62.13 Annotation A mayor in a city with a police and fire commission does not have the authority to order a police chief to reinstate a discharged probationary police officer. 81 Atty. Gen. 1.

62.13 Annotation A firefighter’s dismissal violated due process. Schultz v. Baumgart, 738 F.2d 231 (1984).

62.13 Annotation Sub. (5) confers a property interest in employment protected by the 14th amendment to the U.S. Constitution on police officers and fire fighters. Dixon v. City of New Richmond, 334 F.3d 691 (2003).

62.13 Annotation There was no suspension under this section when the police chief carried out an agreement that a part-time officer, normally assigned work on an as-needed basis, would not be assigned shifts pending the completion of disciplinary proceedings against the officer in another jurisdiction where the officer was also employed as a police officer. Dixon v. City of New Richmond, 334 F.3d 691 (2003).

62.13 Annotation Police Accountability in Wisconsin. Flynn. 1974 WLR 1131.

62.133 62.133 Ambulance service. The common council may purchase, equip, operate and maintain ambulances and contract for ambulance service with one or more providers for conveyance of the sick or injured. The common council may determine and charge a reasonable fee for ambulance service provided under this section.

62.133 History History: 1991 a. 39.

62.135 62.135 Highway safety coordinator. In cities with a population of 150,000 and more, the mayor may appoint a city highway safety coordinator who shall be a member of the city agency or commission responsible for traffic accident analysis and traffic safety related matters. The commission or agency shall meet at least quarterly to review city traffic accident data and other traffic safety related matters.

62.135 History History: 1983 a. 291.

62.14 62.14 Board of public works.

62.14(1) (1) How constituted; terms. There shall be a department known as the “Board of Public Works” to consist of 3 commissioners. In cities of the 2nd class the commissioners shall be appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the council at their first regular meeting or as soon thereafter as may be. The members of the first board shall hold their offices, 1, 2 and 3 years, respectively, and thereafter for 3 years or until their successors are qualified. In all other cities the board shall consist of the city attorney, city comptroller and city engineer. The council, by a two-thirds vote, may determine that the board of public works shall consist of other public officers or persons and provide for the election or appointment of the members thereof, or it may, by a like vote, dispense with such board, in which case its duties and powers shall be exercised by the council or a committee thereof, or by such officer, officers or boards as the council designates. The words “board of public works” wherever used in this subchapter shall include such officer, officers, or boards as shall be designated to discharge its duties.

62.14(2) (2) Organization. The members of the board of public works shall, on the first Tuesday in May of each year, choose a president of the board from their number, and in cities of the first class a secretary; in other cities the city clerk shall be the secretary of the board.

62.14(3) (3) Compensation. The commissioners of public works in cities of the second class shall receive a salary, but in all other cities the salaries of the attorney, comptroller and engineer respectively shall be in full for their services as members of such board.

62.14(4) (4) Rules for, by council. The council may make such rules as the council deems proper, not contravening this subchapter, for the government of the board of public works and the manner in which the business of said board shall be conducted.

62.14(5) (5) Quorum; record; report. A majority of the board shall constitute a quorum for doing business. They shall keep a record of all their proceedings, which shall be open at all reasonable times to the inspection of any elector of such city, and shall make a report to the council on or before the first day of March in each year, and oftener if required.

62.14(6) (6) Duties and powers.

62.14(6)(a) (a) In general. It shall be the duty of the board, under the direction of the council, to superintend all public works and keep the streets, alleys, sewers and public works and places in repair.

62.14(6)(b) (b) Unusual use of streets. No building shall be moved through the streets without a written permit therefor granted by the board of public works, except in cities where the council shall, by ordinance authorize some other officer or officers to issue a permit therefor; said board shall determine the time and manner of using the streets for laying or changing water or gas pipes, or placing and maintaining electric light, telegraph and telephone poles therein; provided, that its decision in this regard may be reviewed by the council.

62.14(6)(c) (c) Restoring streets. In case any corporation or individual shall neglect to repair or restore to its former condition any street, alley or sidewalk excavated, altered or taken up, within the time and in the manner directed by the board, said board shall cause the same to be done at the expense of said corporation or individual. The expense thereof, when chargeable to a lot owner, shall be certified to the city clerk by the board, and if not paid shall be carried into the tax roll as a special tax against the lot.

62.14(7) (7) Records of city engineer. The city engineer shall keep on file in the engineer’s office, in the office of the city clerk, a record of all the engineer’s official acts and doings and also a copy of all plats of lots, blocks and sewers embraced within the city limits, all profiles of streets, alleys and sewers and of the grades thereof, and of all drafts and plans relating to bridges and harbors and of any buildings belonging to the city; and shall at the same place keep a record of the location of all bench marks and permanent corner stakes from which subsequent surveys shall be started; which said records and documents shall be the property of the city and open to the inspection of parties interested, and shall be delivered over by said engineer to the engineer’s successor or to the board of public works. Whenever requested, the engineer shall make a report of all doings of the engineer’s department to the board of public works.

62.14 History History: 1977 c. 151; 1991 a. 316.

62.15 62.15 Public works.

62.15(1) (1) Contracts; how let; exception for donated materials and labor. All public construction, the estimated cost of which exceeds $25,000, shall be let by contract to the lowest responsible bidder; all other public construction shall be let as the council may direct. If the estimated cost of any public construction exceeds $5,000 but is not greater than $25,000, the board of public works shall give a class 1 notice, under ch. 985, of the proposed construction before the contract for the construction is executed. This provision does not apply to public construction if the materials for such a project are donated or if the labor for such a project is provided by volunteers. The council may also by a vote of three-fourths of all the members-elect provide by ordinance that any class of public construction or any part thereof may be done directly by the city without submitting the same for bids.