Wisconsin Center District board agenda signals possible closed-session personnel discussion amid Marty Brooks scrutiny
Closed session notice appears on Jan. 30 board agenda
The Wisconsin Center District’s Board of Directors is scheduled to meet Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. at Baird Center, with a live broadcast listed on the agenda. The posted agenda includes a “Personnel Discussion” item stating the board may convene in closed session under Wisconsin’s open meetings law provision that permits closed deliberations to consider and discuss an investigation of charges made against an employee when a public discussion would likely have a substantial adverse effect on a person’s reputation.
The agenda does not name the employee or describe the underlying allegations, and it does not list any public action item tied to the closed session notice.
Brooks leads the district that runs Baird Center, the arena and theater
Marty Brooks is the district’s president and chief executive officer. The Wisconsin Center District is the public entity that owns and operates Baird Center, UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena and Miller High Life Theatre. The district’s governing structure includes a 17-member board representing local and state stakeholders, and the board’s chair is listed as James Kanter.
Recent reporting has described an investigation involving Brooks and an elected official
In late January 2026, public reporting described an investigation into an allegation that Brooks inappropriately touched Milwaukee Common Council President José Pérez. The same reporting said the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office reviewed the matter and did not issue criminal charges. Brooks, through legal counsel, said prosecutors found no basis for criminal charges and that he intended to continue his work.
The Wisconsin Center District board agenda’s closed-session language refers broadly to an “investigation of charges made against an employee,” without specifying whether it is connected to that matter. As written, the board’s notice establishes only that it may discuss an employee-related investigation in closed session.
Committee agendas show additional closed-session authority for personnel and business matters
Separate meeting agendas for the board’s Governance Committee and Finance and Personnel Committee, both dated Jan. 22, 2026, list “CEO Report” as an item involving Brooks. The Governance Committee agenda also includes a provision that it may meet in closed session to consider employment, compensation or performance evaluation of certain employee(s), and to conduct specified public business where competitive or bargaining reasons require confidentiality.
Board also set to review bond refunding and a district development study
Beyond personnel matters, the Jan. 30 board agenda lists a financial report, a discussion and possible action on refunding the district’s 2016 appropriation bonds, and discussion of a “Highest and Best Use Analysis Report.” A separate January 2026 report prepared for the district evaluates redevelopment opportunities tied to the arena, the theater and surrounding neighborhood opportunities and discusses the district’s position in Milwaukee’s convention and entertainment landscape.
Board of Directors meeting: Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, 8:30 a.m., Baird Center.
Governance Committee and Finance and Personnel Committee meetings: Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026.
What to watch: Under Wisconsin law, a board may convene in closed session for certain personnel-related discussions, but any formal action generally must occur in open session. The Jan. 30 agenda does not list a public vote tied to the personnel item.