City of Ithaca
Chief of Police Search Process
Council turns back mayor’s vetoes
Journal Staff
ITHACA – With a tally of nine to one Wednesday night, Common Council voted to override Mayor Alan Cohen’s veto of three measures, including a process for the selection of a police chief.
As a result, voters in November 1997 will decide whether the mayor’s appointment to the city’s Planning and Developing Board, and the Board of Zoning Appeals should be subject to approval by Common Council.
City voters also will decide whether to back a council plan that would bring the selection of the police chief under the City’s Search Committee process, and subject to Council’s approval.
“Overriding this veto is about making sure that there is public discussion on the issue,” said Alder4man Thomas Hanna (D-4th Ward).
Cohen vetoed the measures in September, preventing them from appearing on this November’s ballot with five other measures that were approved.
Alderwoman Jane Marcham (D-4th Ward) cast the sole vote to uphold Cohen’s veto, agreeing with the mayor’s arguments that subjecting the decisions to the consent of council weakened his, and future mayor’s abilities to make good on policy decisions and promises.
But Alderwoman Pamela Mackesey (D-1st Ward) said she was disappointed that council did not vote to hold a special election for the selection of the police chief, rather than waiting until 1997.
She also criticized the method currently outlined in the city charter for putting all of the decision-making power in the mayor’s hands.
“As the women in this country know, and as the minorities in this country know, having the opportunity to recommend and having the opportunity to vote are very different things and we’re letting an important opportunity pass us by here,” she said.
In the meantime, the mayor and council members continued the discussion of the selection of the next police chief which will occur long before the November 1997 voter decision on council’s selection plan.
Mary Kane Trochim and William Trochim, of Concept Systems Inc., asked for a commitment from council on the general concepts of the chief of police selection plan, first presented last week.
After hearing council concerns about the selection of committee members and the short time table of the plan, the two said further meetings with the mayor would be necessary to iron out differences before the plan could be implemented.
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This project is sponsored in part by:
Concept Systems Incorporated |
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