119.9001 Commissioner of opportunity schools and partnership program; general provisions.

(1) The governor, the mayor of the city, and the county executive shall each appoint a person who is not an elected official to compile a list of candidates for the position of commissioner.

(2)

(a) No later than 120 days after July 14, 2015, the county executive shall select, from the list of qualified candidates provided under sub. (1), an individual to serve as the commissioner of the opportunity schools and partnership program.

(b) In the event of a vacancy in the commissioner position, the county executive shall notify the governor and the mayor of the city who shall follow the procedure under sub. (1). No later than 120 days after providing notice under this paragraph, the county executive shall select an individual to fill the vacant position.

(c) The commissioner shall report to the county executive and may be removed from office only by the county executive.

(3) The commissioner is subject to all restrictions, liabilities, punishments, and limitations, other than recall under s. 9.10 (4), prescribed by law for members of the common council in their city.

(4) The commissioner shall be paid an annual salary in the amount set by the county executive.

(5)

(a) The corporation counsel of the county shall be the legal adviser of and attorney for the commissioner and the opportunity schools and partnership program, except that the commissioner shall retain an attorney to represent the commissioner and the opportunity schools and partnership program in any matter if any of the following applies:

1. The county executive, the county corporation counsel, or the commissioner determines that the commissioner or the opportunity schools and partnership program requires specialized legal expertise not possessed by the county corporation counsel.

2. The county executive, the county corporation counsel, or the commissioner determines that the county corporation counsel does not have sufficient staff to adequately represent the interests of the commissioner or the opportunity schools and partnership program.

3. The county executive, the county corporation counsel, or the commissioner determines that a conflict of interest exists.

(b) The county corporation counsel shall notify the commissioner as soon as a determination is made under par. (a) that the county corporation counsel is unable to represent the commissioner.

(c) The commissioner shall provide the county corporation counsel with reasonable notice of any meeting at which the commissioner will consider retention of an attorney.

History: 2015 a. 55; 2017 a. 150.