Thank you for your letter of September 3rd and the opportunity to respond. As you are aware the Commerce and Industry Association, at its meeting held August 3rd, agreed to conduct its business in accordance with the Wisconsin Open Meetings Law. During the special meeting held on September 2nd we adjourned to closed session to discuss your request for various records from CIA meetings which had occurred prior to our adoption of OML.

In my review of your letter to Mr. Olson of August 26th, it was readily apparent that your request for items relating to the "Performance Evaluation of Executive Director" would result in our having to discuss personnel issues. Related to that was the discussion I felt would arise since I was going to question the need to enjoin legal counsel to resolve possible OML conflicts. In retrospect we should have cited the personnel exemption rather than the litigation exemption.

As President of the Commerce and Industry Association I give you my assurances that meetings presided over by me will adhere to the OML. The CIA has always conducted its business so that its efforts would result in the bettering of our community. Adoption of OML is but a natural progression to insure that the betterment of the overall Jefferson community continues to be our prime directive.

CC: Dave Olson