The issue of what to do with the future of the Danville City Treasurer position came up during Tuesday (Aug 18th) evening’s Danville City Council meeting, but made absolutely no progress. Although the pay for an elected treasurer after next spring’s consolidated election has already been increased from $65,000 to $90,000; the question of should the position be appointed to protect someone not qualified from being elected to the job still hovers overhead with no final answer lurking around the corner.
Alderwoman and mayoral candidate Tricia Teague stated that since the consent decree that created the change to the alderman form of government stated the treasurer position should be elected; then there are only two logical ways to change it. One would be to go back to court to change the decree, while the other would be to have the people vote for a change. Teague says the solution of having the council do it by ordinance can only bring trouble.
AUDIO: I think that there’s danger, yes. Because I think that it’s going to open us up to a lawsuit. Even if we deem that we’re allowed to make this change on our own, someone might disagree; and we open ourselves up to a lawsuit anyway. So, we might as well be cautious in our approach to doing this.
Alderman and mayoral candidate Doug Ahrens maintains his opinion that the position should be appointed as a protector for the city; and that if it can be determined that everything in the 1987 consent decree was met, the city should be able to choose how to move forward.
AUDIO: My understanding, within the legal parameters; this City Council, under this form of government, does have the authority to make that change. If that changes by special counsel’s review of the things, then my position will change.
Former Alderwoman Brenda Brown once again states her case for the treasurer position to remain an elected one.
Former Alderwoman Brenda Brown once again addressed the council on the issue; and she stated afterwards that anyone implying that the item in the consent decree about the treasurer position being elected was simply a late throw-in, as Ahrens stated Tuesday evening, is simply wrong.
AUDIO: I was at the very first meeting, when they were wanting to change the form of government. There were public meetings. It was not thrown in. And I’ve heard that several times from the public; and that is so untrue.
Mayor Rickey Williams, Jr; who is running for reelection; stated that overthinking is the last thing the council needs to do right now. His words were, “We must be careful with our logic.”
AUDIO: You know the aldermen have requested that we get an additional opinion, and I think that that’s the right step for us to take as a city; just be sure that whatever the aldermen choose to do, that we make sure that it’s within their lawful authority.
Danville Corporation Counsel Leon Parker stated that Chicago area law firm Klein, Thorpe, & Jenkins is being consulted for their opinion.
