http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=490670

Arcadia immigrant plan unclear
Leaders mum on mayor's proposal after closed meeting
By GEORGIA PABST
gpabst@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Sept. 3, 2006
The firestorm ignited by the mayor of Arcadia when he suggested ways to deal with illegal immigration in the western Wisconsin city of 2,400 seems to have quieted after a closed meeting of the mayor, Common Council and the city's attorney.

The secret session violated the state's open meetings laws, an attorney for the Journal Sentinel protested in a letter last week to city and state officials.

John Kimmel, 31, the chatty mayor of Arcadia, who also manages the Detox Bar and Grill and was elected only four months ago, had been busy answering phone calls and questions from media throughout the state and beyond, discussing his Aug. 10 open letter to constituents. In it, he outlined his proposals on illegal immigration, including making English the official language and regulations for flying foreign flags.

A draft of his proposal included creating an "illegal alien task force" that would take reports of illegal immigrants and pass them on to federal authorities for investigation. He said he had received mostly supportive comments to his ideas, although the Latino community had met to decry the proposals.

But last week he suddenly clammed up after the hastily called Aug. 24 meeting, which immediately went into closed session for the purpose of "conferring with legal counsel rendering oral or written advice concerning strategy to be adopted by the city with respect to litigation in which it is or is likely to become involved," according to the agenda for the meeting.

The newspaper's attorney, Paul E. Kritzer, said the notice of the meeting should have included the subject matter to be discussed with the attorney because people have a right to know how their elected officials are proposing to legislate and operate government. Instead, it appears that the real purpose of the meeting was "a secret discussion on the proposed legislation itself," he said.

No actual ordinances have been introduced, but Kimmel's ideas sparked widespread interest because of a lawsuit filed last month by the ACLU and Latino activists in Hazleton, Pa., where the council passed ordinances trying to deal with illegal immigration.

Arcadia's Latino population has grown in recent years because of job opportunities at Ashley Furniture Industries and Gold'n Plump chicken in Arcadia.

Both companies had issued statements saying they hoped a quick and reasonable resolution would be made to what Gold'n Plump called "this unfortunate situation."

"No comment," Kimmel said tersely in response to questions about last week's council meeting, the status of his illegal-immigration proposals and whether he had been advised by the city attorney not to talk to the media.

A chorus of "no comments" also followed from the four council members contacted and asked about the meeting and the status of the mayor's proposals. The two other members of the six-member council could not be reached.

The local weekly, The Arcadia News Leader, reported that "according to Kimmel it was a meeting held to decide the best way to proceed with the recent events and that he is not aware of any pending litigation."

In the letter of protest, Kritzer said that "the mayor and the council misconstrued and misused the exemption that would warrant a closed session." The paper is asking that the secret proceedings be withdrawn and a statement explaining the subject and a summary of the discussion of the meeting be issued.

Kritzer sent the letter to Kimmel; William N. Koslo, the city's attorney; and state Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager.

Although it could not be confirmed, some sources indicated that they believe the council agreed to tear up the three controversial proposals at its meeting.

Repeated calls to Koslo for comment were not returned.

Father Michael Klos, pastor of Holy Family Catholic Church, said that he and a number of business and religious leaders in town had expressed their concerns to the mayor and council members that what Kimmel was proposing was unrealistic, unnecessary and already governed by federal laws.

"I think nobody is talking for a while to let things cool down," he said. "We have two businesses in town that are responsible for the great health of this town, and the fact of the matter is that neither one of them have as many workers as they need."

He said he thought that, in time, the issue will be resolved.

"We're trying to put our town in a position so that everyone will not look like jerks," he said.