From Deseret News archives:
Syracuse mayor decries vote to change city government
The move transforms the office of mayor into a largely ceremonial role. Until the council's 4-1 vote Tuesday, the mayor's roles included that of chief executive and required the city administrator to report directly to him. Under the new form, the city administrator becomes city manager and reports to the City Council as the city's chief executive.
"It's not that big of a change," said council member Daniel Hammon.
But it is to Panucci, who was re-elected in 2005 with a 69 percent margin, and who is frustrated by the move.
"I didn't run to be a ceremonial head," Panucci said. "I ran to make a difference in Syracuse."
The council's decision means city administrator Ken Hubler will become the new city manager. Hubler took the city administrator's post about two months ago after Mike Moyes, who held the job for 20 years, resigned.
Panucci said it was "spooky" for the council to give that much authority to someone who's been in the city a short time.
Although public comments went both ways during the council meeting, most favored the status quo. But Hammon said the council-mayor form of government was outdated.
Council member Lurlen Knight said changing the way things work would spread accountability to more people, and he cited an issue in the city's construction of the 20-acre Jensen Nature Park, which was recently completed and, at $7.9 million, was the largest project in the city's history. The city paid $211,000 for landscaping and sprinkler systems and didn't go out to bid for it.
"If I don't know what's going on with the budget, it bothers me," Knight said.
Panucci acknowledged the mistake, and said it happened because there were administrative changes at the end of the project.
"Should we have gone to bid? Yes, we should have," he said.
Panucci said the landscaping company honored labor rates from previous projects and did good work.
While the council agreed the park is something to be proud of, Knight said, city matters have gone awry and need to be corrected. But Panucci said that the form of government shouldn't be the correction.
In an interview, Panucci said Syracuse, with a population of 23,000, is the fastest-growing city in Davis County and has been progressive and fiscally sound. "Now they want to change things," he said.
Council member Wallace Peterson, who cast the lone dissenting vote, said he supports Panucci, and residents' phone calls and e-mails sent to Peterson also supported Panucci by a ratio of 20 to 1.
"I'm not saying there are some things that could not be better," Peterson said. "Personally, I feel that he's done a great job."
Council member Dean Steel, who made the motion for the change in government, said the new structure gives Panucci the chance to do what he does best: lobby for the city and provide a vision for it.
E-mail: jdougherty@desnews.com
