ABOVE: Former Alderwoman Brenda Brown addresses Danville City Council at Tues Sept 15th meeting.
It was towards the end of this past Tuesday evening’s (Sept 15) Danville City Council meeting that Corporation Counsel Leon Parker gave a preview of what consulted Chicago area law firm Klein, Thorpe, and Jenkins might place in their final statement about the City of Danville’s Treasurer position.
For the past several months, there has been talk from some Council members about changing the Treasurer position from elected to appointed, in order to avoid the election of an individual that may not be qualified for the position. Although there has been full support behind the performance of Chris Heeren as Danville Treasurer, some see this as a move of protection for Danville’s future.
Corporation Counsel Parker stated Tuesday night that individual attorney Lance Malina has stated that if Danville were to make this change, it would have to be done by a voters’ referendum, and not through a City Council ordinance. (The Council, at this point, would still have adequate time to place such a referendum on the ballot for next February 23rd’s primary, or next April 6th’s Consolidated Election.)
Former Danville Alderwoman Brenda Brown has been adamant, speaking to the Council yet again this past Tuesday; that this change should not be made, and that the Danville Treasurer should always remain an elected position. Brown said it was at least a step in the right direction for the law firm spokesperson to say that it would have to be a via referendum change.
AUDIO: Number one, I’m not surprised of the response that the attorneys or attorney that they spoke with said that the Council could not do it through an ordinance. I knew that for a fact that you could not. I think I even stated that during one of my comments.
But Brown also said she is very concerned about the other point from Malina that Corporation Counsel Parker related to the City Council. And that was Malina’s opinion that the 1987 Consent Decree that changed Danville’s government from commissioner based to alderman based DOES NOT hold Danville to permanently having to have two at-large elected positions; which are currently the mayor and treasurer. Brown feels that if that requirement is taken away, then other items in the consent decree could be taken away; creating a slippery slope that could take Danville back to its pre-1987 days. Brown says she has indeed heard parties expressing interest in filing a lawsuit to try and stop that slippery slope, should the change to an appointed treasurer position be made.
AUDIO: Number two, that all is in the consent decree. You cannot come and pull out, and put in what you want, to satisfy your need; whoever is trying to, you know, make all these changes with this. I think it’s best if they leave things as they are, and that Council not even proceed with the referendum. Just continue with the form of government that we have. It’s worked these many years; and it will continue to work, if we quit trying to run things selfishly.
The next full Danville City Council meeting will be Tuesday, September 29th.
