A Tale Of Two Fire Merit Ordinances (Update)
Posted by Jeff Pruitt - 7/15/08 @ 2:45 pm - Filed Under City Council, Local Politics
Tonight the city council will discuss two separate Fire Merit ordinances. One has the support of the firefighters and was actually introduced last year before it was tabled by the previous council. I believe it will be jointly introduced tonight by councilmembers Tom Didier and Karen Goldner.
The other ordinance is being introduced by councilman Marty Bender and does not have the support of the firefighters. That in and of itself makes his ordinance completely moot as the firefighters would have to approve any ordinance that passes. That leaves me wondering - why is he even introducing it?
Many of the councilmembers made campaign promises to the firefighters to support their ordinance and I would expect they will keep that promise.
I believe the firefighters’ preferred ordinance will pass this evening but the interesting question will be whether or not it will pass with a veto-proof six votes. It appears Goldner, Didier, Harper, Smith and Brown will likely vote in favor with Pape, Hines and Bender voting against it. That leaves John Shoaff as the swing vote so to speak.
I guess I should also say that Mayor Henry hasn’t specifically said he would veto the legislation so there’s no guarantee that 6 votes would be necessary although I’m sure the firefighters would rather not take that chance…
Update 7-16-08: During last night’s council meeting city attorney Carol Taylor said that she didn’t feel councilman Bender’s ordinance would need to be approved by the firefighters themselves. While it’s a moot point now (Bender’s ordinance failed) it does answer my question of why Bender would offer an ordinance that the firefighters clearly wouldn’t support…
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