Ogden mayor brushes off veto override

OGDEN — Mayor Matthew Godfrey said Tuesday he will not comply with the Ogden City Council's override of his veto of three budget line items, calling the council's action "illegal."

Last month, Godfrey vetoed three policy sections inserted by the council into the city's 2010 budget that aimed to have the city maintain two golf courses and the Marshall White Center. There is already a contract in place for the Ogden Weber Community Action Partnership to operate the community center, and it has been doing so for a month now.

On Tuesday night, the City Council voted 5-2 to override the mayor's veto.

"If we let the mayor prevail … we are condoning the mayor's misinterpretation of state code," said Councilwoman Dorrene Jeske, who then recommended that all three vetoes be overturned.

Godfrey said the council should "stick to the existing balance of power."

"These sweeping policy statements … are illegal as outlined in state law. They directly interfere with existing legal contracts," he said, referring to the Marshall White Center's contract with the Ogden Weber Community Action Partnership.

Councilman Brandon Stephenson said the council's decision to override the veto takes the city "down a path that will require the legal system to determine the outcome. City government needs less conflict, not more."

Following the vote, Godfrey said he would not comply with the council's wishes on the matter.

"You can take over every administrative function by making policy," he said.

Rep. Neil Hansen, D-Ogden, was among those who spoke during the public-comment portion of Tuesday's meeting.

"When the mayor says he will not obey the council, he is sadly mistaken," Hansen said. "He should administer the government and not contract out the job he was voted in to do."

Godfrey got the last word, giving examples of how the city had saved taxpayers money by handing over various former city enterprises, such as the Pioneer Days Rodeo and the Union Station, to private entities. He said he would gladly contract with someone to run the Mount Ogden Golf Course, which costs the city $330,000 a year.

"We're not good at marketing," Godfrey said. "It's more cost-effective to use the private sector."

e-mail: jon-webb@hotmail.com