SNOHOMISH — The city of Snohomish abandoned the strong-mayor form of government 45 years ago. This November, voters will decide whether to bring it back.
Proposition 2 recommends replacing the current council-manager form of government with the council-mayor form. In July, a petition with the 218 required signatures pushed the measure through to the Nov. 8 ballot.
Right now, people in Snohomish only vote to select City Council members. The council picks a mayor from among its members. It also hires the city manager who is responsible for day-to-day operations. The job pays $146,067 a year.
“Ninety-three percent of all cities in Washington that are our size and smaller are of a strong-mayor form. If it works for them, it’s going to work for us,” said John Kartak, a committee member supporting the measure.
Former city Councilwoman Ann Averill, who served as mayor from 1985-1987, said there is no compelling reason for change.
“I think the city is doing well,” she said. “The people decided 45 years ago. It was the people’s choice.”
Kartak argued the strong-mayor form of government would return control to those who call Snohomish home.
The City Council’s role in hiring the city manager insulates City Hall, Kartak said. He believes the city’s top executive should be elected by voters.
“Now the council controls the executive, that puts the council in charge of City Hall. We want the people to be in charge of City Hall,” Kartak said.
Additional authority would be granted to the mayor through veto power if Prop. 2 passes.
This makes some wary, including Mayor Karen Guzak.
In the past, the strong-mayor form of government was voted out because the mayor continually made decisions arbitrarily, she said. If the change is made, there would be fewer checks and balances for the mayor to navigate.
That would be “going back to the crony mayor attitude,” she said.
On the other side, Kartak said a mayor with veto power would serve as a safety net if the City Council makes a poor decision.
Averill is looking for someone with the experience to run a city. Snohomish has that in Larry Bauman, the current manager who has served in that role for 14 years, she said.
Kartak hopes for someone who not only knows the community, but is part of it.
Bauman lives in Shoreline in north King County. Kartak believes executive officials should pay sales tax and property taxes in the city they serve.
“We feel like his loyalties are divided,” he said.
Averill argued Bauman has demonstrated the expertise to manage the city, an enterprise with a $30 million annual budget.
“It’s technical, municipal work. It’s not a cozy little town as far as budget goes,” she said.
Without that type of experience, Averill isn’t convinced the job can be done well. And a mayor cannot be fired, she said. People would have to wait until the end of the four-year term to make a change. City managers can be replaced by vote of the council.
Guzak points to the achievements the city has made during the past 45 years. There are more parks, safer roads and an improved sewer system, she said. “We think we have an effective government for a wonderful, thriving city,” she said.
Caitlin Tompkins: 425-339-3192; ctompkins@heraldnet.com.
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