Syracuse and checks and balances
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No comments [ Add Comment ]By Michael McBride
Guest commentary
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any people believe that city governments function similar to the federal system, with separate branches of legislative, executive and judicial powers. However, the council-mayor form of government is the only form of city government in Utah which functions like the federal system and separates these powers. Salt Lake City, Ogden and Provo are a few of the 12 cities in Utah that operate under this type of government. This form is generally only used by large cities, because it is very expensive due to the large administrative staff. The rest of the cities in Utah operate under different forms of government, which have shared legislative and executive powers resting in their mayor and city councils.
Syracuse city has never operated under a council-mayor form of government, even though we have a mayor and council. The reality is, Syracuse has a six-member council form of government that gives its mayor and council shared legislative and executive powers, functions and duties. This is a much more democratic form of government for a city the size of Syracuse, because all six members are accountable to the citizens.
However, Syracuse city ordinances are unclear about the roles of the mayor and city council. In 2006, both the mayor and the city council agreed that changes were needed to clarify those ordinances. Both the mayor and the city council proposed changes, which were considered. The major difference in those proposals is that the mayor's proposed changes would have made Syracuse operate like a council-mayor form of government. (See the Web site citizensforsyracuse.com). His proposal would have stripped the city council of any power to provide a check and balance to the mayor. The city council's proposed changes did not change the form of government in the city, but merely changed the title of the city "administrator" to city "manager" and left the city manager accountable to the entire governing body, not just to the mayor.
The changes the city council proposed will improve the operation of the city by providing a full-time manager, rather than having a part-time mayor try to keep up with the day-to-day management of the city. Syracuse has quadrupled in size and needs a full-time manager. Nearly 73 percent of the cities in Utah, including Layton, Clearfield, West Point, Clinton and Kaysville have a full-time manager, and have the same form of government as Syracuse.
I attended the meeting where the city council explained the changes that Syracuse residents will be voting on in November. The changes the council made brought clarity, efficiency and balance to Syracuse's government while creating greater accountability and better checks and balances. This change keeps the checks and balances, and keeps elected officials, including the mayor, working as a body to govern the city. At least two of those elected officials will come up for election every two years, rather than having just the mayor run the city alone and only be held accountable to the citizens every four years.
Syracuse residents will be voting for or against referendum No. 1 to bring some finality to this issue in November. I strongly urge people to get educated about referendum No. 1 and the city council candidates. You can learn more about the cities in Utah that operate under a manager by going to www.ucma-utah.org/formofgovernment.asp. I know that I will be voting for referendum No. 1, and those city councilmen who had the vision to make these changes and lead our growing city and keep the checks and balances that have existed for many years.
McBride is a member of the Citizens for Syracuse committee. He served two terms on the Syracuse Planning Commission from 1983 to 1991. He developed the Glen Eagle Golf Course and the homes surrounding the golf course. He continues to develop residential and commercial property.
