MAYOR RECOMMENDS NO ON MEASURE 3-552

 

Fellow Citizens,

 

I’m ok with the language in 8d which three of our City Councilors (Cummings, Relyea, and Sakelik) propose to restore to our City Charter. However, our City Attorney has informed our Council that the 8d language is not necessary because the Council already has full authority under the existing City Charter to secure any legal advisors it believes are necessary.

 

What I am opposed to is the second part of the Measure where these Councilors want to remove any authority our City Manager may have involving legal matters. It’s important to understand that there are many legal aspects of our City Operations and Governance that don’t fall under the direct purview of the City Council – for example, addressing Staff labor and human resource matters.

 

The proposed language in the second part of the Measure stems from fear these Councilors and their supporters have about a legal hybrid system that was once used where a legal advisor was on Staff which sometimes conflicted with advice from the City Attorney. The hybrid system is no longer being used, and Council can at anytime stop a hybrid approach simply by eliminating the Staff position in the budget for which the Council has complete and final authority over.

 

In my opinion, what is at stake here is the balance of power intended by our Charter and City Council/City Manager form of government. It is important that our City Manager have reasonable authority over legal aspects critical to City Operations, and especially on issues that are not the purview of the City Council, except to ensure consistency with City policy goals and objectives.

 

The City Council and City Manager should be working as a team to address legal matters and to maintain the proper checks and balances in our governance – I’m concerned this Measure threatens that balance.

 

I urge you to Vote No on Measure 3-552!

 

Respectfully, Mayor Russ Axelrod