Change Lehi government, panel says

LEHI — The city's form of government would change overnight if it were up to nine members of a committee hand-picked by the mayor and city council.

The 12 residents on the committee — 10 chosen by the council, two by the mayor — outlined their 2 1/2-month study of Utah's varying forms of municipal government for the council Tuesday night.

Eight committee members (all appointed by the council) said they favor adoption of an ordinance that would switch governance from the current mayor/council system to a manager/council system that would essentially strip the mayor of any executive powers.

One other council-appointed member also favors the change but believes a special election should be held to allow residents to weigh in on the issue.

The two mayor-appointed committee members recommended leaving city government as it is. The remaining committee member, who is a city employee, abstained from voting, noting a conflict of interest.

Committee members included a special note in written report outlining its findings emphasizing that while there might appear to be an "apparent bias in the outcome of recommendations based on who appointed whom" the outcome was "entirely coincidental."

"I think everyone was open-minded," said Kim Struthers, a committee member. "It did kind of polarize, but I honestly believe everyone went in with an open mind."

Mayor Howard Johnson and city council members formed the committee in early July after a heated town meeting in which removing the mayor's administrative powers was discussed. Since that time, the committee logged more than 250 hours, meeting every Wednesday for two and a half months.

"In the private sector, (our efforts) would have cost about $25,000," said Ron Smith, the committee's chairman. "But we did it for free because we love Lehi."

The committee also met with officials from five different cities, each with different forms of government, to decide which was most appropriate to recommend for Lehi.

The majority said changing the form of government would be beneficial because it would help with "continuity" in city employment. Among other things, it would also free up time for the mayor to be more flexible in dealing with legislators and lobbying for money for the city, said committee member Vern Keeslar.

According to Michelle Stallings, a committee member opposed to the change, fears the shift would take accountability away from the city manager because he would be appointed by city council rather than the mayor. The mayor represents the people, Stallings said.

Johnson did not say much during the meeting, which had fewer than 30 onlookers. But he did ask committee members why they thought city residents were "incapable of making the decision themselves" through a public vote.

Mike Barron, a Lehi resident who attended the meeting, echoed Johnson's remark.

"I appreciate the hours (the committee) put in," Barron said. "But they don't speak for me."

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