Mayor vetoes ordinance

An ordinance that would have capped city operating expenses – including staff salaries and benefits – was vetoed this week by Mayor Darlene Kordonowy.

Her main concern, she said, was that the change would have too greatly limited flexibility early in the budget process.

She also was concerned that the changes were proposed as an ordinance, which becomes law, rather than a resolution, which acts as a guideline.

The City Council passed Ordinance 2007-13 by a 4-3 vote on July 2. In addition to the cap, it would have established a biennial budget process.

Kordonowy said she supports the latter change, but because mayoral veto power doesn’t include section-by-section or line item discretion, she had to veto the entire ordinance.

The ordinance will go back to committee for changes.

– Chad Schuster

Pledgeless at the City Hall

For this year, at least, there will be no more Pledge of Allegiance at City Council meetings.

Citing “contention” over the issue, Mayor Darlene Kordonowy on Wednesday said she no longer will lead City Councilors in the pledge, as she has since last year.

Recital of the pledge at council meetings began in July 2006, at the request of Councilman Bill Knobloch.

The pledge never made it onto the formal agenda, and after continued debate over whether it should be included at meetings, Kordonowy said it was best to leave it out unless council members choose otherwise.

Following the mayor’s announcement, Knobloch read aloud a statement in favor of saying the pledge that was met with some audience applause, but silence from his colleagues.

Since no one seconded the motion, it failed, and council meetings for the remainder of the year won’t include the pledge.

Kordonowy said she will ask the council to revisit the matter once its new members, to come via the November election, are installed next year.

– Chad Schuster

Council takes summer break

Wednesday’s City Council meeting was the last before the council’s six-week summer vacation.

The next regular council meeting is scheduled for Aug. 22.

Candidates to debate issues

Bainbridge City Council candidates will for the first time square off publicly next week at a primary candidate’s forum.

The forum, hosted by the Bainbridge Island Chamber of Commerce and the Bainbridge Island Senior Community Center, is at 7 p.m. July 24 at the Commons (370 Brien Drive).

In all, four council seats are up for election this November.

Candidates CarolAnn Barrows, Lauren Sato Ellis, John Waldo and incumbent Bill Knobloch, all of whom are vying for the Central Ward seat, will be on hand at the forum, as will South Ward candidates Robert Dashiell, Kim Brackett and Curtis Winston.

Because the forum will only feature primary candidates, some council candidates – Vineyard Lane resident Barry Peters, who is running unopposed for the At-Large council seat, and Hilary Franz and Matt van Winkle, who are vying for the North Ward seat – won’t participate.

A moderator will ask the candidates questions in a timed format. Audience members also will be given time to ask the candidates questions.

The forum ends at 9 p.m. Doors will open at 6:30 pm. For more information, please contact the Chamber at 842-3700.