Voters will be asked for the second time in four years whether they want to switch to a full-time mayor and a new mayor/council form of government that includes a full-time chief administrative officer instead of a city manager.
The City Council on Tuesday voted 6-1 to accept a report from a citizen committee recommending the changes, and the council agreed to put the matter on the November ballot. Council member Dave Plouzek cast the no vote.West Jordan residents voted down the idea in May 1989.
Council member Kathy Hilton was on the council when the concept came up in 1989. She and the rest of the council opposed it then, but now she has changed her mind.
"I think we're a large enough city that we need full-time representation," Hilton said.
A part-time mayor who works another job cannot attend daytime meetings with other government officials and is at a loss when it comes to lobbying on West Jordan's behalf, Hilton said.
She also has become convinced that having a full-time elected mayor run the city with the help of an appointed chief administrative officer would a better, more democratic system.
Critics say such an arrangement would put too much power in the hands of one person, but Hilton disagrees.
"A full-time mayor is directly responsible to the people," she said. "It would be a more democratic form of government. It would make it more responsible and responsive."
If a full-time mayor exercised too much power or ran government poorly, residents could vote that person out of office.
Hilton also does not think creating the position would greatly affect city operating costs.
West Jordan had budgeted money for a city manager and assistant city manager. Similar funds could be allocated for a full-time mayor and chief administrative officer without much extra cost.
Currently, the part-time mayor's salary is $14,400 per year. The city manager's salary is $54,000. The city previously budgeted $50,000 yearly for the assistant city manager but this week allocated the funds for another employee position now that former assistant city manager James Reams has been hired to be city manager.
Hilton said there has not been any discussion so far as to how much a full-time mayor and chief administrative officer would be paid, but she believes the cost would be in line with previously budgeted personnel costs.
However, Plouzek is not convinced the city needs a change. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it," he said.
"I personally feel our government is working well. Yes, we all need more time, but I don't think it's going to run more efficiently if we have a full-time mayor and another form of government."
Plouzek said it would not be good to concentrate power in the hands of a full-time mayor and that person's hand-picked chief administrative officer - whom Plouzek said could not be removed unless the mayor was voted out of office.
Right now, the mayor must ask for council consensus before taking action, but under a mayor/-council government, the mayor could veto items, shift budget dollars and make certain decisions without council approval, Plouzek said. A two-thirds majority vote on the council would be needed to override a full-time mayor.
"I think it takes government away from the people," Plouzek said.
He also fears costs would escalate because a full-time mayor would want extra staff.