All seven council members voted to override Mayor Lutz's veto of the borough's 2015 budget at a special Columbia Borough Council meeting Wednesday night. Surprisingly, the mayor supported an override of the veto before a vote was taken.
"I would suggest you override my veto, so that we can get on with the budget. The purpose of my veto is to have the discussion that we're having here now," Lutz said, citing the need for transparency in the budget process. He suggested that council have separate budget meetings in which residents can comment, because the borough "owes it to the taxpayers." Lutz also pointed out changes made to the budget without his input as another example of why increased transparency is needed.
"I would suggest you override my veto, so that we can get on with the budget. The purpose of my veto is to have the discussion that we're having here now," Lutz said, citing the need for transparency in the budget process. He suggested that council have separate budget meetings in which residents can comment, because the borough "owes it to the taxpayers." Lutz also pointed out changes made to the budget without his input as another example of why increased transparency is needed.
[A clarification: A previous post on this site stated that the mayor arrived at the December meeting of the whole, wearing a jacket with a police logo. After tonight's meeting, the mayor informed us that he purchased the jacket and did not receive it free of charge.]
[More meeting details to follow.]
He knew he was beat!!!
ReplyDeleteNo one implied that the mayor received the jacket for free. It was simply stated that he was wearing it. If someone said that I was wearing a coat with a turkey hill logo on, that doesn't automatically mean that I got the coat free of charge. Personally I think the mayor was too defensive.
ReplyDeleteCan anyone buy one of those jackets? Where and how much?
DeleteRegarding the mayor's statements about "transparency" : Mayor Lutz was present at a meeting of the whole on July 28, 2014 when the budget for 2015 was discussed. It was not listed on the agenda for that evening, but it became a topic. Borough manager, Sam Sulkosky stated that the first priority is to balance the budget. Georgiana Schreck stated that 2015 should be a "wait and see year in terms of budget purchases". There was even talk of possible income from the borough farm. Also financial shortfalls were mentioned. The mayor was present and heard this discussion. While it was not on the agenda, this meeting was public and residents were free to speak. The mayor was also present at the meeting of the whole on August 25, 2014. On the agenda that evening was 2015 proposed capital plan and 2015 proposed general fund budget and capital fund budget. This meeting was also public and residents were free to speak. On the agenda for meeting of the whole October 27, 2014 was 2015 budget discussion. While these meetings were not to exclusively discuss the budget, the opportunity was there on more then one occasion.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the information.
DeleteSounds like he knew he was wrong and was trying to save face without admitting it. What a joke.
ReplyDeleteLets listen to District Atty Steadman & get rid of this rediculous way of running police dept. Have the county commisioners & a county police chief run police for the county.
ReplyDeleteit would certainly save our little Boro MILLIONS OF DOLLARS PER YEAR! yes millions per year.
ReplyDeleteA major portion of the more than 2.6 million budgeted in 2014 at least. Never know what was really spent.
ReplyDelete