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Show WEEKLY REFLEX 1979 DAVIS NEWS JOURNAL, OCTOBER 18, n on before the county commission changed her status Aug. 9, - FARMINGTON The Davis County Merit Council may decide Thursday night if the former county librarian was covered under merit protection before her dismissal. 9. commission action would MR. COLTON argued that Miss Layton was covered Colton, attorney for exlibrarian Jeanne Layton and Rodney Page, county attor- have priority over any action taken by the merit council. Mr. Page called two witnesses in his behalf: Ludeen under the merit system and said, It is our position that Miss Layton is clearly entitled to protection of the merit system and that the last minute attempt, (Aug. 9, with the request for her resignation made Aug. 21) to exclude her from the protection of the act is illegal, improper and ney, will be notified. And the press will probably be given a chance to ask questions Friday, he added. At issue is whether Miss Layton, who was fired by the Davis County Library Board Sept. 18, was covered by the Davis County Merit System and entitled to its protection at the time of her firing. Gibbons, county auditor, from Bountiful and Earl King, county personnel director, also from Bountiful. BOTH SAID they had dealt with Miss Layton on Budgetary and personnel matters, void. the same as with other department heads. It was noted the library is the fourth largest county department. During Mr. Kings tes- In addition, even if the exclusion were proper, because Miss Layton was made Head of a Department on Aug. 9, the terms of the IN question is whether she was covered timony he was asked by Merit Davis County ordinance itself 7;; the other hand, BUT ON Mr. Page argued Miss Layton did not have such protection before or after the Aug. 9 action. He said she was exempt, leaving no reason for the merit council to hold a hearing. He added that the county Mr. Colton were definitely speaking on opposite sides of the argument. Duffin of Bountiful said Tuesday morning the council had set a Thursday evening session to review materials in the case. At that time Albert ALSO give her the right upon her discharge to return to the position she held prior to Aug. specifically removing her from merit protection. In a public hearing last Thursday where the county commission chambers were packed with spectators, County Attorney Page and COUNCIL Chairman Robert MERIT Board Member Mary Ellen Leatham then questioned whether any library employees, of which there are about 30, were covered by the merit system Board Member Ernest Little, of Kaysville, why Miss Layton had been included in merit protection under an original draft prepared last year but was excluded in the final copy. ordinance. To that, Mr. Page said initially he wasnt sure but later said he felt they were. THE COUNTY commission and I met with representatives of the library board in relation to a requested raise for Miss Layton, Mr. King said. The commission asked to meet with the county attorney to determine whether the library was under the (county) personnel department. The attorney (then County Attorney Milton Hess) said she served at the pleasure of the (library) board and was not pertinent to the merit system. election was the right to replace any government employee under his jurisdic- tion without cause and without regard to the merits. ' Many years ago it became apparent to students of government this was not a When it appeared her position was not applicable to the merit system, Mr. King continued, the change was made. And the Aug. 9 commission action was only meant as a clarification, he added. good way to run government it led to inefficiency, graft, corruption and incompetence. POLITICAL jobs were in many cases handed out for every reason except merit and competence. Civil service legislation came into being at the federal level and ten years ago the Utah State Legislature enacted a merit system to be applied to all counties withover 130 employees. Davis County implemented such a system by ordinance on Aug. inued. added that according to state law, the commissions county authority is limited to the appointment of members of the library board. It is the library board which shall be MR. COLTON ini 'jffiiHiiiiiifi! o " Z h, i i sj responsible yy y y-- 4 -- ' 'mrnmmmm. " TV' mjt t . I ' - & HE CONTINUED, wti 'aii,iiia.iiiii A. ' A WystAv JUST At'U Iv 'A is t&SvAT w A&'WAA FOR KICKS 99 The law provides that the library bGard may select a librarian and that she essentially , 'vAAWfAsSrSAtA exclusive authority to establish libraries and boards. The law is very specific and says the library board may have control to construct a library or lease space, for the expenditure of funds and care of the library only with approval of the county com' mission. - , the for maintenance and care of the library and shall establish policies for its operation. But Mr. Page disagreed, I think we have to saying, recognize that the library is a creature of statute. The county commission is given m ?. , : t s V" A At L : " - 4 ' '- -I , Officials believe vandals who struck Laytons E. M. Whitesides School were out just for kicks as they broke everything from typewriters to a drinking fountain. As of Tuesday morning Layton Police had no suspects but were following up on several leads. A reward was being offered for information leading to arrest of suspects in the case. decision has been left in the meeting Miss Layton said later, I felt very positive about the meeting. I was very impressed with the members of the merit council. Weve been repeatedly told there air, as noted by Darwin C. Hansen, the councils lawyer. Whatever decision the council makes is renewable. We have to decide whether they have the right (to make a decision) above the commission and then go from there. IN RESPONDING to the would be no opportunity for a hearing and now the merit council is making its own Iiva Credit Unions For Employees? politicsthespoilssystemwas generally operative. It was understood one of the benefits to the winner of a public The purpose of such legislation was to protect honest, hardworking public employees from the whim and caprice of elected officials and to guarantee them freedom from discharge or demotion except for certain specified causes, he cont- V county commission. Whether the merit council can even make a binding 'mmiw IN ARGUING for Miss " 4 AND IF the library board acted independently of the it would be commission completely insulated from the people and the only way the library board can spend one penny is with the power of the Layton, Attorney Colton said, In the old days of American 22, 1978. t c? Jutsri- - iUL&hi By TOM BUSSELBERG a becomes the director. She is under direct control of the The county commission. library board is only an extension of the county commission. And heads of departments are excluded from merit protection by state statute, Mr. Page added. - FARMINGTON Davis County employees may soon be able to have a second credit union of which they can do business. MANY OF the county done have employees business with the Davis County Employees Credit Union and now the Utah State Employees Credit Union is making a pitch for their er county employees employees to be members of both credit unions and take of whatever advantages benefits each has to offer. Mr. Kent then outlined services offered by the state credit credit services that the Davis Accident Being Investigated - including WE ARE not soliciting employees to join our credit union instead of their own Car-Tra- in Railroad ofLAYTON ficials are still investigating a n accident that killed a Layton woman here early last Friday morning. union, interest paid on shares and dividends paid quarterly. some BUT WE do have county credit union, he emphasized. But we are offering them 'advantages ot a second credit union with bound on a narrow street that crosses the tracks, grb which to do business. car-trai- KILLED WHEN her auto was struck broadside by a train on the Union Pacific tracks at about North 700 Street was Mary Imaizumi, of 1146 West Weaver Lane, Lay-toRailroad officials said the crossing is marked by a stop sign with two flashing red lights attached. They said the lights were apparently working at the time of the 6:40 a.m. accident. There are at the crossing, no cross-bar- s according to investigators. LAYTON POLICE Officer Tyler Blackner said the woman should have been familiar with the crossing where King Street meets the Union Pacific tracks at about 700 North Street. He said the driver, alone in the vehicle, apparently tried to beat the train to the crossing. which was traveling about 50 miles per hour, was southbound The train, Probable Water Fee Increase - ALSO CONCERNED are members of the Davis County Flood Control Committee who emphasized that many cities use their storm drainage fees d funds to match for flood control. ll The county collects a levy for flood control and pays half the cost of city flood control projects if the prepsed projects meet proper specifications. MR. COLE told the com- FARMINGTON An increase in fees for providing storm water drainage to housing and commercial developments in the unincorporated area of Davis County is under consideration by the County Commission. county-offere- two-mi- COMMISSIONERS took the proposed increase under advisement while Albert Cole, deputy county planner, compiles a schedule of fees used by other cities and how they compare with Davis Countys fees. Commission Chairman Glen Flint said he is con- cemed that county fees are not keeping pace with those charged by municipalities. mission that at the present time West Point has the highest storm drain fee of t $400 a lot. The average for ci- ties in Davis County is $200 per lot while Bountiful charges the least, only $60 per lot. grb towards Salt Lake City. OFFICER Blackner said the victim was apparently on her way to work at Hill Air Force Base at the time of the accident. The car was ripped in half by impact and the rear portion of the vehicle slammed into a power pole while the front end of the car was carried about 30 feet beyond the intersection. Davis County Paramedics gave emergency treatment at the scene and she was pronounced dead on arrival at Health News. . . Let Marshal Dillon Answer You! After I hurt my back years ago, my doctor suggested that I uear a lift in my shoe. I havent and I have never had any back trouble. But, am curious as to why he might have suggested Q. this. A. Recently, I read the confollowing article what cerning happened to a couple of leading TV ' performers who neglected following the same type of advice as was given to ' you. Perhaps you can learn from their ex- periences and be saved from a possibly serious developing back or disc problem. Davis North Medical Center in Layton, according to the investigating officer. HE SAID the car was east- - . talratt Aivanded By GARY R. BLODGETT - It ANTELOPE ISLAND took some negotiations with the low bidder and elimination of some phases of the proposed project, but a contract has been awarded for construction of a marina on the north end of Antelope Island in conjunction with Great Salt Lake State Park. UTAH DIVISION of Parks and Recreation officials said the contract has been awarded to Van Straveren Construction Company of West Jordan for $756,895. The same firm was apparent low bidder when bids were originally opened Aug. 28. At that time, the bid was for $1,339,637. PARKS AND Recreation officials sinte then have negotiated with the contractor and eliminated some items from the proposed project to bring it (total cost) down to the present figure and more in line with the $700,000 estimate. The largest item trimmed from the project was a six-fo- extruded aluminum that would have l provided deep water against a vertical surface for boats operating inside the breakwater. This single was estimated to cost more than shore-al- $400,000. OFFICIALS explained that by reducing the concrete boat ramp from 60 feet to 20 feet, the price was reduced another $54,776, and laying two inches THOUSANDS III DAMAGE would like is for county union. Fop Melons Island Darina The Layton Police Department estimates damage to the E.M. Whitesides Elementary School, last week, totalled in damage. Vandals hit the school the $10,000-$12,00- 0 night of Oct. 9, destroying television sets, typewriters, overhead projectors and classroom door windows. County Credit Union doesnt What we he said. offer, business. Robert D. Kent, treasurer-managof the State Credit Union, told Davis County Commissioners last week that his organization is not trying to drum up business or to take business away from the instead of three inches of asphalt in the parking lot resulted in an additional saving of $22,266. Another $95,500 was saved by reshaping the breakwater, officials said. LOS ANGELES ORIGINAL bidding on the marina was far above park officials estimates and nearly twice the amount budgeted by the Park Division. There was also some conflict between bidders stemming from the costs inthe volved in shoring p marina. As a result, the marina was reduced to 400 slips and the shore-al- l 800-sli- vastly redesigned. throughout the winter, weather permitting, according to park officials. MEANWHILE, PLANS are for ahead going improvements on the 2,000-acr- e state park with plans for improved access to the park with an exit from Interstate Highway 15 onto Antelope Drive (Syracuse Road). At the park, picnic areas will be improved and expanded as funds become available, swimming beaches are continually being developed, and there are plans for a new visitors center and office complex. THE REMOTE areas of the island are to be developed only for hiking and backpacking, according to park officials. for the Negotiations purchase of the entire island as a state monument is still in court litigation. Owners of the property have been unwilling to sell or trade the island the state and suit Rto filed in court. dream that the Marshal Dillon, of television's Gunsmoke had anything ailing him, but actually he's suffered from an acute back condition for some time. Arness had his right leg smashed when he was wounded at Anzio in the Second World War and ended up with one leg a half-incshorter than the other. Doctors ordered him to wear a lift in his shoe, or he would eventually suffer the penalty from the beating his spine would take in adjusting to the constant imbalance. He ignored the orders and the warning and now is paying the price. Arness is now a steady visitor to a chiropractor who treats him so that he can keep riding tall in the he-ma- -- h THEN THERE was a rebidding on the project with the revised specifications, it was explained. Construction on the marina is expected to begin soon and is scheduled for completion late next summer. Work is to continue Big men seem to have more with their problems spines. Take Jim Arness, for instance. Y oud never 800-sli- p has been Gunsmoke saddle. Clint Walker, the star of one time television's Cheyenne series who has been busy with various film roles, is also under considerable treatment for a back ailment The former cowboy star took a spill from a motorcycle some years ago and has had ' the back trouble ever since, but all the same insisted in doing his own riding in the western series. Now, he too is paying for his stubborn streak in ignoring his bark and continuing to work. Walker admits a big man can have more problems with his back, because "theres so much more body to carry around. A spinal examination by your chiropractor may save you years of pain and discomfort. Why not call and We accept Group, Auto, and Industrial Insurance NO CHARGE FOR CONSULTATION Now Open All Day Saturday ESMIC GKEUTBI 220 North 95 East, Kaysville 376-349- 5 |