Strong mayor ordinance introduced to assembly

PALMER — The Mat-Su Borough Assembly voted 5-2 to open the public hearing on Assemblyman Jesse Sumner’s ‘Strong Mayor’ Ordinance 20-046 in June, as opposed to the previously scheduled public hearing at the next Assembly meeting on May 19.

The ordinance sponsored by Sumner and Assemblyman Ted Leonard will go before the Assembly for public testimony on June 16, July 21 and August 18 after several motions to determine the timing of the public participation. While Leonard cosponsored the ordinance, he had not yet arrived at the meeting when a crucial vote was taking place. Assemblyman Dan Mayfield moved to pull 20-046 from introduction which failed along a 4-3 vote.

“By pulling this ordinance off the agenda you’re not allowing any debate on it. You’re not allowing it to be introduced and have public comment. You know, you say that you pull it because the office of the mayor won’t be vacant until next year, well the office of the manager is going to be vacant this year and I think that this is something that at least deserves some debate now. We cannot debate an ordinance that’s not introduced,” Sumner said.

Prior to Leonard’s arrival, Tim Hale, Sumner and George McKee voted against removing the strong mayor ordinance from introduction and Stephanie Nowers, Tam Boeve and Mayfield voted for removal. At a 3-3 tie, Mayor Vern Halter voted no, allowing the strong mayor ordinance to be introduced.

“I’ll vote no and let you go ahead and discuss it,” said Halter.

Mayfield voiced his concern with introducing the ordinance that would “remove the manager form of government” and allow the Borough Mayor to act as both chief administrator and executor. The introduction of Sumner’s ordinance delayed the search team made up of the Deputy Borough Manager, Attorney, Clerk and Human Resources Director from selecting a firm to hire a new manager as John Moosey has taken a job as the city of Palmer’s Manager. Sumner surmised that a new manager would not have to be hired if the ordinance passed the Assembly and was then sent on to the voters, but the search team will continue their work to hire a new manager and select a firm following the introduction of 20-046.

“It’s really simply the wrong timing to introduce this ordinance,” said Mayfield.

Mayfield argued that it would be better served in 2021 when Halter will have termed out of office and a new Mayor will be elected. Sumner believes that getting the ordinance in front of the voters in 2020 will allow for the issue to be settled prior to the next mayoral election. Former Assemblyman Jim Sykes spoke to the Assembly about the strong Mayor ordinance and suggested a previously unmentioned option. Sykes noted that existing staff could perform the duties of a manager until 2021 and suggested the Assembly delay the ordinance. As ordinances on the Consent Agenda were being read into the record, Mayfield offered a second motion which would split the question of ordinances, putting the Strong Mayor ordinance to a vote by itself.

“I strongly object to this. This is well, I do think it’s rather abuse to basically propose a nearly similar action to what was just defeated,” said Sumner.

Mayfield’s motion to divide the question passed by a 4-3 vote with Sumner, Leonard and McKee voting against. Once the question was divided and the other ordinances had been read into the record, the Assembly debated on when to bring the strong mayor ordinance up for public hearing. Mayfield originally moved to push the discussion back to September, not allowing the ordinance to be on the 2020 ballot if passed by the Assembly.

“I think it’s really kind of frightening that we’re going to put a really big ballot issue out there when we’re not even sure how people are going to be able to vote. At this point I have real concerns about bringing it forward this year,” said Boeve.

For the ordinance to be on the ballot this fall, it would have to be approved by the August 18 meeting at the latest.

“The time to do it is when the Mayor is up. I think that makes sense so I appreciate it, support having a discussion on this just the timing is off for me right now and I’d rather focus on what’s right in front of us right now and try to get our borough on a good track than get into this discussion,” said Nowers.

After the question was divided, Leonard moved to begin the public hearing in June and hold one public hearing on the strong mayor ordinance each month until August. The motion to begin public hearing in June passed 5-2 with Sumner and McKee opposed.

“The real issue besides that, if somebody ever wants to take a look at it is not only that change for management style but where the Mat-Su Borough is at the size which should be a first class municipality rather than it’s currently a second class,” said Halter. “That’s the real issue really that the borough is facing so you can beat around the bush with all this miscellaneous stuff but that’s the issue and you ought to think about realistically and not get caught up in these weeds.”