Is a village president a chief executive officer under state law?
No. A village president, unlike a mayor,
is not designated as the chief executive officer by state law. Instead, a
village president is declared a trustee with certain administrative
responsibilities. These responsibilities include presiding at all board
meetings and signing all ordinances, rules, bylaws, regulations,
commissions, licenses and permits adopted or authorized by the board and
all orders drawn on the treasury except as provided by Wis. Stat. sec.
66.0607. In addition, the village president is also directed to
“maintain peace and good order” and “see that the ordinances are
faithfully obeyed.” The village president is also given authority to
appoint special marshals in certain circumstances and is given charge of
the village jail. In all other respects, the executive authority of a
village president is a shared authority with all other members of the
village board. Wis. Stat. sec. 61.24.