Marshfield is Seeing Rising Legal Costs
Wednesday, September 23rd, 2020 -- 11:01 AM
(WDLB) -Marshfield's legal costs are rising, as city officials deal with two major employment issues involving the police department.Administrator Steve Barg told the Common Council last night the city has spent nearly 80-thousand dollars related to an ongoing grievance filed earlier this year by the Marshfield Professional Police Association, on behalf of 21-year veteran Jared Beauchamp, who was let go after failing to complete a physical fitness test within a certain amount of time. Barg also noted the city has spent nearly 38-thousand dollars pertaining to two separate leaves of absence taken over the last six weeks by Police Chief Rick Gramza. During the public comment period, Jim Hiller of 1011 East Grant Street asked 18 specific questions regarding Gramza's absence, on behalf of what he said was a "deserving community", which he stated was "nearing the point of lost confidence in our elected politicians, our city administrator and definitely our police chief."
Gramza is currently on a voluntary leave of absence which began in mid-August. It follows a one-week absence from July 15-21, during which the state Justice Department looked into a more than decade-old allegation of criminal misconduct which investigators deemed unfounded. When asked specifically about Gramza's leave of absence in recent weeks, both Barg and Mayor Bob McManus have said they could not comment about an ongoing investigation.
Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.