MADISON, Wis. -- Members of the Wisconsin Veterans Affairs Board had detailed plans to fire Secretary John Scocos and replace him with Ken Black a week before voting to do so.

E-mails obtained by The Associated Press show three of the five board members who voted to fire Scocos in November had discussed nearly every detail about the firing beforehand, including whether he should be physically removed afterward.

Board members also shared talking points on how they should respond to questions from the public about the decision a full week before the vote.

The e-mails raise questions about whether the board violated the open meetings law. The Wisconsin Department of Justice advises public officials that "agreeing on a uniform course of action" before a meeting might be a violation.