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RSS'No' vote on city manager will harm Decatur
Search By Issue On Feb. 5, Decatur voters will go to the polls and decide whether to retain the city manager form of government.
If a majority votes "no," the city will revert to the city commissioner form of government, which the city used up until 1957. Under this form, four council members and a mayor are elected at large. The four council members run for specific commission seats, such as commissioner of accounts and finances, commissioner of public health and safety, commissioner of streets and public improvements, or commissioner of public property.
It's also important voters understand what the Feb. 5 vote is not about. At this point, it is not about whether Decatur should have a strong mayor/
alderman form of government.
The city commissioner form of government was not the original intent of ChangeDecatur, the group that is trying to change the form of city government. ChangeDecatur wanted two questions on the Feb. 5 ballot - one on whether to retain the city manager and the second on whether to adopt the strong mayor/alderman form of government.
The Illinois Court of Appeals threw the second question off the ballot, and the state Supreme Court refused to hear an emergency appeal from ChangeDecatur. The group has appealed the appeals court decision through the usual channels, but it's unlikely any decision on that issue will be rendered before Feb. 5. A higher court decision on ChangeDecatur's appeal could alter the situation in any number of ways.
For now, ChangeDecatur leaders are saying that although they don't like the city commissioner form of government, a no vote on Feb. 5 would be a step toward the strong mayor/alderman form of government that they desire.
It's a long step and a dangerous one for the city and taxpayers.
To get ChangeDecatur's desired result, voters would have to vote to do away with the city manager form of government on Feb. 5.
That result would require the city council to appoint a special committee to set up the new city commissioner form of government. The city commissioner form would move into place after the April 2009 general city election. It's possible that a strong mayor/alderman question could be placed on that ballot. If that happens - and the strong mayor form is approved - then the city commissioners will have to set up another committee to change the form of government again. The new form would presumably be in place after the next general city election - in 2011.
The result of this scenario will be chaos and confusion in city government for at least three years, and probably longer. It's hard to imagine that two successive "lame duck" governments will be willing to do much more than keep the doors open. Every city issue - water supply, public safety, improved roads and streets, infrastructure needs, more space for the police department and others - will sit unattended for three years.
There is also a cost to the taxpayers. Rewriting city procedures for changes in form of government will be expensive - especially if you have to do it twice. The other changes that will to take place at city hall also will cost taxpayers.
Voters should understand that a "no" vote Feb. 5 is not a vote for a strong mayor/alderman system. It's a vote for an antiquated city commissioner form of government that will put city government into a state of chaos for years.
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