Lousy council is at fault, not mayor | Letters | March 27

Published 9:11 am Friday, March 27, 2009

The last few professional assessments of our city government have concluded with the finding that the council itself is dysfunctional.

The inability to compromise and agree with each other is not the fault of the form of government – it is the fault of the council itself.

My question: “Do we really want to give a dysfunctional council total control over the executive branch without any veto?” At least with the mayor–council form of government someone has a veto and we voters get to approve or disapprove of the actions taken every four years.

The council has a history of making policy and then cutting the poor employee, who had the audacity to enforce that policy, off at the knees when threatened by a complaining citizen.

The result has been a plethora of resignations by key employees.

I envision “musical city managers,” hired and fired at will when the council is confronted with any resistance.

We should ponder this issue before voting away a strong mayor with a veto and giving the executive authority to an obstreperous council. I, for one, will work to keep the present system.

David L. Corn

Grow Avenue