Compromise offered in Syracuse

SYRACUSE — During a special meeting Thursday, the Syracuse City Council agreed to make an overture to a group of residents that is suing the council.

One of the litigants, Larry Shingleton, said his group may drop its lawsuit if the council satisfies its request.

Thursday, after the council convened for a closed meeting and reconvened in an open meeting to talk to litigants, councilman Danny Hammon said he wants the city to return the title of CEO to Mayor Fred Panucci and restore the mayor's power to sign contracts.

On Oct. 10, the council voted 4-1 to give the title of CEO to then-city-administrator Ken Hubler and elevate Hubler's title to city manager.

The move, the supporting council members said, allowed for more oversight into city affairs because Hubler became responsible not only to Panucci but to the rest of the council.

Panucci opposed the change and so did councilman Wally Peterson. Other council members don't consider the change major.

The council and mayor decided in February to fire Hubler, who had only been on the job six months, and search for a new city manager.

Within two weeks of the Oct. 10 ordinance, former Mayor DeLore Thurgood and five residents sponsored a referendum petition to put the change to a vote.

In the meantime, four of the petitioners have repeatedly asked the council to rescind the Oct. 10 ordinance and brought a lawsuit against the city on Friday for not rescinding the ordinance.

During a hearing in 2nd District Court Tuesday in front of Judge Thomas Kay, the residents argued that the Utah Constitution says ordinances that are challenged by referendum petitions should be put on hold until a vote can be taken.

Godfrey argued the city ordinance could take effect until the election but the judge said he would need more proof to back up that argument. The judge also said the city and residents should work out their differences and not try to solve them in court.

For an hour of Thursday's meeting, the council and plaintiffs butted heads over a solution and discussed ramifications of SB41, sponsored by Utah Sen. Carlene Walker, R-Cottonwood Heights, which would bar city councils from making changes to forms of government until 2008 until a task force could analyze the issue.