By Pat Peterson Reporter
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Published: Tue, February 26, 2008 - 5:41 pm
Last Updated: Mon, July 28, 2008 - 8:53 pm
Pat Peterson
"It was a surprise, a total surprise," says city councilman Cecil Christianberry. "We really don't know how to react, we didn't know what legal ground we were one and today we're still in a cloud, I don't know where we stand."
In a letter presented to the city council, Mayor Kant explained why he votoed the payraise. Kant says the salary increase should have been the same 14 percent given to other city employees, not the 257 percent increase he was offered. But the story doesn't end there. The city council has since voted to "override" Kant's veto.
"In part of checks and balances, you have to be able to respond to things to vetos," says councilman Bob Gentle.
As it stands now, the mayor is also the head of the utilities department, a dual salary that could be eliminated later this year.
"There's more to it than just a payraise for the mayor," says Christianberry. "It's actually a paycut for that mayor's position."
Mayor Kant could not be reached for comment. Kant's assistant says he's out of town for the week. Meanwhile, the city attorney has contacted the State Attorney General to see whether or not the mayor's veto is legal.
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Thank you Mr. Kant for being honest. I really like that fact that he vetoed this and said they should get the same 14% as everyone else. I think that is very fair. I wish I was in a position that I could give myself a 257% increase in my pay. I will personally be voting for the new people running for the city council and trying to get rid of these folks. Mr. Kant will always have my vote.