Published: May 12, 2008 02:38 pm            

It’s not perfect, but it deserves your vote

I have been skeptical about the proposed new charter since I read the first rough draft. I think the committee which authored the version you and I will vote on Tuesday overstepped its mandate.

Instead of offering up a list of changes we all could vote up or down on the merit of each change, the committee saw fit to pile it all together and hope voters would give it a big thumbs up. I disagree with this approach and it is almost enough to make me cast a no vote. Almost.

The reason I will vote yes for this new charter is that the citizens who worked on it have tried to satisfy cynics like me and have earnestly tried to modernize the way this city does business.

They didn’t grab the gold ring on this carousel ride, but they tried.

I think the new charter will make it easier for city councilors to interfere with city employees. The committee says that’s not so, but the language is fairly clear in Article 2, Section 2.01 reads, in part, “Neither the City Council nor any of its members shall in any manner control or demand the appointment or removal of any City administrative officer or employee whom the City Manager or any subordinate of the City Manager is empowered to appoint, except the City Attorney under the provisions of 4.03(a). However, the Council may express its views and fully and freely discuss with the City Manager anything pertaining to appointment and removal of such officers and employees.”

Also, “City employees shall use their chain of command for work-related situations and problems, but they have the same rights as any other citizen to communicate with Council members and will not be punished for doing so.”

Proponents say this will prevent employees who act as whistle blowers from being fired for speaking out. Looked at another way, these provisions codify what some councilors have already been doing: Taking free license to meddle in day to day operations of city departments and employees.

In addition, the new charter gives the council seemingly unbridled investigatory power with little or no oversight. Section 2.08 says, “The City Council may make investigations into the affairs of the City and the conduct of any City department, division, or other organizational unit.” It’s not clear what limits are in place to ensure this section isn’t used by unscrupulous persons as a weapon of intimidation.

So, in the end, does the good outweigh the bad? Just barely.

Changes are needed and, frankly, this might be the best we can expect given that so many divergent interests were involved in creating from whole cloth this new document. I will vote yes and I sincerely hope the new charter wins voter approval. Not because it is a perfect solution, rather because it is a good start toward better government for this city.

Matt Lane is the editor of the McAlester News-Capital. Send him hate mail or encouragement to: Editor, P.O. Box 987, McAlester, OK, 74501. Call him at 421-2022 or e-mail to editor@mcalesternews.com.

        

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