The words on a license plate frame might best sum up Mayor George Stewart's first month in office: "Get in, sit down, shut up, hold on."
It hasn't taken Stewart long to make his presence felt in Provo. The changes that typically come with a new administration have put some city employees on edge. No one knows what to expect next.Three department heads have stepped down because of Stewart's policies or philos
ophies. And speaking of philosophy, Stewart fired the shot heard 'round the state when he said he favors closing the municipal golf course and swimming pool on Sundays. He's contemplating tearing down dilapidated, but historic, Brigham Young Academy. At his urging, the City Council voted to spend $400,000 for a smidgen of land at the mouth of Rock Canyon to prevent a housing development. Stewart wants to spend $1 million trimming trees, $6 million fixing roads and another $1 million to repair sidewalks.
That pretty much sums up January. One month down, 47 to go.
Stewart said he was told when he took office that some issues would take the full four-year term to resolve. But with Stewart in the driver's seat, four months or four weeks are sometimes too long to wait.
"I love being in charge. I like making decisions. I don't mind taking the heat for the decisions I make," he said.
City workers have described Stewart as a "dictator" and a "loose cannon." In some circles outside the city he has picked up the moniker "King George."
Stewart describes his style as "proactive."
"I appreciate being kept informed, and I will give people all the rope they need to be successful or otherwise," he said.
As evidence, Stewart points to recent decisions to sever direct ties with America's Freedom Festival at Provo and to cut the Provo City Library Board loose.
On the Freedom Festival: "It's like a child has grown up and is capable of being on its own."
As for the library, Stewart says a panel of nine citizens can do a better job running it than the mayor or chief administrative officer can. The board, rather than the mayor, will select a new library director to replace Howard Downey, who resigned. Downey and Stewart disagreed on whether the library needed a branch system. Stewart said it's not one of his priorities.
While giving up some responsibilities, Stewart has taken on others. He appointed himself to replace Gary Golightly as economic development director.
"I think it's a good dual role for now," Stewart said.
Beyond that, Stewart said, he doesn't foresee any more changes at the administrative level.
Stewart is pushing to extend to pay scales of four top jobs - chief administrative officer, city attorney, water resources director and energy director. All four have maxed out and can't receive raises other than cost-of-living increases.
Some within city government suggest there's more to the proposal than a desire to pay the four better. They say it's the first step to replacing them with Stewart's own people at higher salaries. All department directors work at the mayor's discretion.
Stewart scoffs at the notion.
"I'm doing it so I can keep who I have," he said.
He gave all his department directors lengthy to-do lists and said he doesn't mind them disagreeing with him.
"I'm not into control," he said.