SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) - Last Thursday, November 5, 2015, a judge halted work on changes to Field of Dreams North as opponents to a new medical building west of North Taylor Drive are using the courts to try to keep the green space as is.
Plaintiffs say the Sheboygan Area School District violated the open meetings law when it failed to inform the public they were discussing the possible land sale with Aurora in closed session, and thus a resulting land sale should be voided.
Board of Education President David Gallianetti tells WHBL News the board and the district did not act in the wrong. "The school district and board of education did not violate the opening meetings law, and we will continue to defend this position. The law is absolutely clear that we have the right to discuss negotiating positions in closed session, and that is what we did. No decisions were made in closed session, no votes were taken."
Gallianetti went on to say the public had several opportunities to give their opinion before the school district voted on accepting the land sale. He also says support for the project has grown over time while opposition to it has shrunk. "This project has strong support among community leaders, business leaders and the general community, and we need to move forward so we can get these improvements going."
The judge’s decision on whether to void the sale is still pending.