TOWN OF GENEVA – Newly-elected Town Supervisor Scott Williams is calling on the town board to improve transparency and public involvement in town government, including seeking a full public explanation for $1.6 million in borrowing approved in the town’s 2025 budget.

Williams, a Town of Geneva resident and property owner for many years, was elected April 1 to the Town Supervisor #2 position on the five-member Town Board.

In a news release, Williams said he campaigned on promises of being a watchdog for taxpayers and being an advocate for ethics and transparency.

In his first regular Town Board meeting a week ago, Williams proposed several improvements.

First, he proposed giving the general public more input at every Town Board meeting by establishing a new “public comment” period near the start of each meeting. That way, members of the community can have their say about any business coming before the board on that day. Previously, the only formal opportunity for public comment occurred near the end of each meeting, and was geared toward suggestions for future consideration.

“Any time this board gathers, we should make certain that the general public has input into every decision we make – before those decisions are made,” he said in the news release.

Williams also said he proposed improving transparency by conducting a review of the town’s practices in complying with Wisconsin’s open meetings and open records laws.

Both of these state laws are vital safeguards ensuring that the public is fully informed about what their government is doing. Williams cited recent instances when he found questions in the town’s handling of open meetings and open records issues.

He asked that the Town Board and town staff hold a review – in public, of course – to refresh their understanding of the town’s obligations on open meetings and open records.

Finally, the new town supervisor proposed a public review of $1.6 million in borrowing that was included in the town’s 2025 annual budget, which was approved last December. The borrowing included a $325,000 bank loan for various capital improvement projects, followed by another bank loan of $1.3 million for operating expenses.

Both were approved by the Town Board after voters in 2024 had rejected two separate referendums for $1.5 million in from the public, he said, adding that he heard concerns from town taxpayers both during the recent town supervisor campaign and since then.

He requested that the Town Board hold a public discussion to explain the borrowing strategy in detail, and to answer questions from the public.

“Nothing is more important than being completely open and transparent when it comes to spending the public’s money,” Williams said. “I was not involved in these borrowing decisions, but I believe more discussion is needed to ensure the public has been fully engaged in the process.”

Williams requested that all of his proposals be considered at the next Town Board meeting.

The Town Board’s next regularly scheduled meeting is 7 p.m. June 9 at the Town Hall, N3496 Como Road.
For more information, contact Scott Williams at 262-617-3023 or supervisor2@townofgeneva.wi.gov