Thomas Frenn Resigns From The Historic Mitchell Street BID#4 Board

First Historic Mitchell Street BID#4 Board member to also serve as a Board member with the Historic Mitchell Street Preservation Corporation has resigned after allegations of conflict of interest surfaced in June.

By H. Nelson Goodson

September 4, 2014

Milwaukee, WI - On Thursday, Rudy Gutiérrez, the president of BID#4 (Historic Mitchell Street Business Improvement Distric - BID) has confirmed that Attorney Thomas "Tom" Frenn had resigned in August as a Board member for BID#4. Frenn and other Board members from BID#4 are also Board members for the Historic Mitchell Street Preservation Corporation (HMSPC), which Board members from BID#4 say is a conflict of interest. Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) first broke the story in June when allegations of conflict of interest were raised by BID#4 members.

Frenn resigned shortly after the BID#4 August meeting. At the meeting, the issue of conflict of interest was brought up and all the Board members were put on noticed that members had to decide in which Board they would choose to stay in. Frenn then resigned from BID#4 and decided to continue as a Board member for the HMSPC.

HNNUSA attempted to get a copy of Frenn's resignation letter, but Nancy Bush, the executive director for the BID#4 denied the request and she would not comment on the matter. Bush did confirm, that Mayor Tom Barrett had received a copy of Frenn's resignation. HNNUSA also learned that Alderman José Pérez had also received a copy of Frenn's resignation letter. Ald. Pérez hasn't notified other business owners along Mitchell Street that Frenn had resigned as a Board member. Pérez had known of the allegations of conflict of interest that were raised by business owners along Mitchell, but it was HNNUSA that actually reported and exposed an alleged conflict of interest among Board members serving in the two entities. 

The next BID#4 meeting is scheduled for September 18, at noon and will take place at the BID#4 and HMSPC building 1635 S. 8th St., which both entities share office space.

When contacted Attorney Frenn stated, "My letter speaks for itself" and wouldn't comment anymore.