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Show UTAH STATE 46V EAST SALT LAKE PRESS ASSN. 300 SO. CITY, UTAH 84111 Rool Rt o1 O S SULK RAT( RAIO Pf ftUMt MO 4 LAVTOM MM UTAH yjj 544-913- number twenty-tw- volume eighty o By DONETA GATHERUM LAYTON According to Layton City's ordinance, removal from office can only be done by the majority of council members with the concurrence of the mayor or by the mayor with the concurrence of the majority of council members. I did not concur with the majority of the council when Randall Heaps was suspended. I consider his an illegal act. I would con- sider going along with the suspension of Randall if it were suspension with pay, stated Mayor Lewis G. Shields of Layton at a press conference held Monday evening at 6:30 p.m. THE MEETING that was scheduled by the Mayor Monday morning was to follow a closed meeting in which council members were to make some decisions concerning the future of Randall Heaps and a possible replacement for him. No decision was made in the closed 6 p.m. meeting. Mayor Shields explained the lack of action on the part of the council by stating, As of now (6:30 p.m. Monday), I have received no information from the Davis County Attorney, I think it is of him. He wouldnt give me the respect of letting me jcnow what the charges were and when they would be filed. THE MAYOR called a special, short-minde- d open council meeting for Wednesday, Sept. 12 at 6 p.m. for the purpose of considering a motion to suspend Randall Heaps with pay and to ask him to work as a consultant for the city to help maintain continuity in the record keeping process. The Mayor will recommend hiring u qualified CPA for the city in the absence of Mr. Heaps. A prepared statement present by Ms. Harris said in part, During the last month the Davis County Attorney has made Layton City and its Council a whipping boy to disguise the attorneys own inaction. The case against Randall Heaps has been mishandled, not by members of the City Council, but by Loren Martin himself. Instead of reviewing the facts of his investigation and making a firm decision, Mr. Martin has instead leaked information to the press bit by bit in an effort to make the Council do his job. HIS SUGGESTION (Mr. Martin) that the state auditors office be called in to review our job descriptions-and salaries fails to mention that only this summer the City wagers were analyzed by an agency of the State government with the finding that salaries were as much as 8.3 percent below the market range. Mr. Martin claims that the City Council is involved in a power struggle for personal gain. Such SUNSET - Members of the Sunset City Council approved the payment of a $16,008 yearly note that the city owed for the purchase of the new fire truck. The budgeted item will be paid for over a period of five years. This action was taken last Tuesday evening at the regular meeting of the Sunset City council. THE COUNCIL discussed resurfacing the parking lot in South Park. Cost estimate for the project was $6,234. Mayor Norman Sant was given the responsibility of contacting the LDS Church to see if the church would pay half of the cost for the project. When a decision is made by the church then the project will be given out for bid. Mayor Pro Tern Eugene Kidd informed the council that a citizens group from Clinton had talked to Mayor Sant about hiring a crossing guard to assist children in crossing the railroad tracks en route to school. Mr. Kidd said he and -- KAYSVILLE Dean Steele, city recorder explained the American Red Cross utility assistance program with the Kaysville city council members last week. -- - THE RED Cross is asking city officials for support from their city in this program. It affords the people of the community the option of donating to assist with utility bills for those who need help, providing the city participates and pays the admission fee into the program. Mr. Steele stated that one family had applied for assistance, but could not receive help because Kaysville city is not a member of the program. Administrative fee for the city would be $300 a year. All the funds donated by the citizens to assist with utility help is matched by state funds. The program is operated by the state. 25c Voice - 3 (USPS 1492-6000- ) 546-473- 5 Of Davis County WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1984 14 Pages statements may get publicity for Mr. Martin who is currently running for the County Attorneys seat in the upcoming election, but the statements are not true. IF RANDALL Heaps is tried in a court of law and found guilty of criminal misconduct, I will be the first to move that he be fired. Until that occurs, however, I will not participate in a witch hunt brought on by one disgruntled employee against an employee who has dedicated his last 18 years to the city. Ms. Harris later identified the disgruntled employee, as Pat Jamison, Executive Secretary and City Treasurer. Mayor Shields was asked why it took him so long to decide the councils action in removing Randall Heaps from office was illegal. The Mayor replied he wasnt aware this was the law until the day after the removal meeting was held. He said he held off using the veto power hoping the county attorney would make a move. Finally, acting on the legal advise of City Attorney, Bruce Barton, Mayor Shields decided to oppose the council acting believing the city would be libel for several expensive law suits if Mr. Heaps did not receive his pay during the period of suspension. Continued on pg. 2 Mayor Sant felt it was the responsibility of Clinton to provide a crossing guard since the children crossing the tracks were all from Clinton. Police Chief Archie Searle, said the crossing is within Sunset Citys boundaries but the children who cross the tracks are all from Clinton. The Police Chief also felt a crossing guard was the responsibility of Clinton City. Mr. Kidd said Mayor Sant would meet with the parents and convey the feelings of the council. THE COUNCIL approved the purchase of a new animal control vehicle. Six bids were submitted to the city. The council accepted the low bid from Rocky Mountain for an Isuzu. The cost for the truck which is equipped with power steering, a long bed and mirrors was $5,348. Clinton City will pay half of the costs because the animal control officer works in both communities. The price includes a trade in. dmg FOLLOWING discussion, the council asked Mr. Steele to check further into the full operating procedure of the program, so as to provide them with solid input of the program and give a report at the next council meeting. The council members approved an additional provision in the city ordinance on theft of electric power as well as the tampering with elec7 trical power devices. The provision was adopted by the council as an additional step so those tampering or stealing electric power can be fully prosecuted under criminal charges. JOHN THACKER, city administrator explained to the council the procedure of the amendment to the resolution on disconnection of services within the city. Several changes have been made. Connections fees were changed from $10 to $20 as the $10 fee was not sufficient for city costs. He explained that returned checks is an increasing 293-Tit- le Being a mayor means the ability to try your style at almost anything, including elephant racing. The mayors of Fruit Heights, Dean Brand, left, and Gerald Purdy, Kaysville's chief executive, went at it in all earnest, last week, as part of the racing team that saw four pairs go at it, to the evident delight of Kaysville elementary school youngsters. Tom Kolmel was circus chairman while Steven Humphrey, Kaysville JC Prethe extravaganza. sident, TO THE RACES ed CoiMl Files Asks Audit Study hed By TOM BUSSELBERG s North County Editor - In a FARMINGTON announcement, Monday afternoon. County Attorney Loren Martin announced filing of charges against Randall Heaps, Layton City Recorder while also indicating the city council should enact a state auditor study into budgeting and salaries. two-prong- ARRAIGNMENT has been set emfor Mr. Heaps, ployee of the city, for Monday at 10 a.m. in the Clearfield division, 4th Circuit Court, on six charges: five counts of third degree felony and a sixth of official neglect and misconduct. Penalty for the felony charges could range from years prison term and up to $5,000 fine for each count, Mr. Martin explaind in a press conference. The neglect and misconduct charge said further that between May, 1978, and August, 1984, he did, as recorder, while Layton had employed a treasurer, did sign all checks of Layton City contrary to state 0-- 5 law. HE TOOK the action after the city council last Friday imposed a Monday deadline for Mr. Martin to take some sort of action, but said made recommendations over the last couple of weeks to the city council but found them unable to respond. That apparent inability to respond led him to ask the council to initiate a state auditor investigation. At present, were seeing the think council as ineffective. theres been an intentional effort so they couldnt do so (act). 1 HE SAID further that some didnt want a city manager-typ- e operation imposed, referring to city employees, saying there's been control by key employees or department heads adding its very difficult to say who is the power" in Layton city hall. Saying the county attorney-sherif- f invess office three-mont- h tigation found some use of city offices for personal business, Mr. Martin said that could be judged as criminal conduct or something prohibited by the council. THE SATES fiscal proceedures act isnt being followed, the attorney said further, noting that even after Pat Jamison was named treasurer, she has never signed a check although state law dictates that as the treasurer's that must be separate from the recorders office. Instead. Mr. Heaps continued signing problem for the city. The response time has been increased from 24 hours to 36 hours. FOLLOWING discussion on the changes, Mayor Purdy suggested the council study the proposed revision before any action is taken. The council and the Mayor have been studying and considering the adoption of a resolution consenting to the ihclusing of the city of Kaysville, Davis County, within the boundaries of the Davis County Solid Waste Management and Energy Recovery Special Service District of Davis County. MAYOR PURDY entertained a motion to approve the resolution as presented and this was passed unanimously by the council. Following a previous workshop of the Kaysville City Council, John Thacker finalized a design and plan and presented the concept of the land and water conservation fund assistance project to the council for their recommen duty-someth- ing checks (with the mayor, as required by law) although at times Councilwoman Ann Harris would sign checks as deputy treasurer. Commenting on the situation, Ms. Jamison, a city employee, said, All I want to see is the job done right. have nothing to gain from Randalls (Mr. Heaps') dismissal. long-tim- e 1 ALTHOUGH the problem" with city financial proceedures was raised, Mr. Martin called that unrelated to Mr. Heaps," indicating an obligation to report the problem to the people. He spoke of a department one he refused to d while the size name-th- at of the county attorneys office had a larger expendables or budget. He referred to a "struggle" bea division tween the council-a- nd members-and five those among city employees all consuming and said he was told by Police Chief LaMar Chard, Its not the one-thir- money (alleged misuse of funds previously raised as a concern) whether we as that's at stake-i- ts department heads or the council will run the city. TO THAT, Mr. Martin said, our system of government says the elected people (council) run the Continued on pg. 2 dation. THIS IS IN regard to the developing of a park in Kaysville on the property of the city that was donated by Mrs. Emily Barnes. The Mayor authorized Mr. Thacker and City Councilwoman Carol Page to proceed with the application process. THE CITY council set up a workshop meeting to discuss alternatives of dealing with the water problems existing in the gutter on 2nd North Street, causing a moss and hazard condition as well as the water that flows across streets from basement overflow and springs in certain areas of the city. City Recorder Dean Steele asked the council to notify residents to cut shrubs, grass, etc. that is grown over the city water meters and therefore causing difficulty for the city to locate and read the water meters. This is the responsibility of the residents to keep the area clean where the water meter is located. |