Show 12 l SALT LAKERS rao Ai QUIT POSTS ON WATER BOARD Stays Action I b On Resignations Resentment followed Thursday Thursday Thursday Thurs Thurs- day in the wake of surprise resignation resignation resignation res res- ignation of two directors of the them m metropolitan water district resentment that internal differences differences differences dif dif- had been permitted to smolder and finally break out and bring about conditions that resulted in disruption of the im important important important im- im civic body I I Immediate effect of resignations resignations Hons submitted to Mayor Ab Jenkins Jenkins Jen Jen- kins by Herbert S. S Auerbach and P P. Pf P.J. J. J Purcell board members since creation of the district in 1935 was deferment by city commissioners commissioners commissioners com com- missioners of consideration of the theIl Il letters of resignation until after the commission and water board have b have ve met in a projected joint sesSi session ses ses- Si sion ion n. n contemplated next week Mayor Mayor Expresses Regret Mayor Jenkins presenting the letters at Thursdays Thursday's commission meeting expressed regret the directors di directors directors di- di rectors had seen fit to resign and th that t he hoped they would reconsider reconsider reconsider recon recon- sider and remain in office at least until both boards have had opportunity opportunity t to discuss matters lI Meanwhile other directors ex expressed expressed expressed ex- ex pressed regret at the resignations a and d one who refused to be quoted indicated apparent resentment when he asserted he believed all of of ofus us would like to quit except that we feel obligated to fill a civic iv c duty Although Although the resignations were a surprise in some it has been known for some time that board sessions have been stormy and that there have been sharp differences between City Commissioner Commissioner Commis Commis- George D. D Keyser ex officio officio cio i director and other members Jenkins Seeks Peace Mayor Jenkins already had noted in asking for a joint meeting meet meet- i ing g that there had been personal differences c centering e n t e r i n g around C Commissioner Keyser and that he wanted to iron them out Both Mr Purcell and Mr Auerbach Auerbach Auerbach Auer Auer- bach said in their letters they felt they had fulfilled duties and now could uld be relieved of them inasmuch inasmuch inasmuch inas inas- much as the board has completed arrangements for participation in inthe inthe the Uie Deer creek reclamation B I Continued on Page Pace Seven K- K Column One Onel two wo Directors of S. S L. L Water B Board ard Send end Mayor Resignations ns I I Continued from Page One eci and for construction of the toe Salt fealt alt Lake aqueduct The resignations came only 24 Flours hours o rs after the city commission met et in the office of Mayor J Jenkins Jen- Jen en- en kins to air its views on relations rela rela- ti s with the water board Upshot Up Up- shot t. t of the meeting was a prop proposal proposal pro pro- p sal to add Commissioner Oscar V McConkie to the water board and nd to have a membership of five the board instead of the seven- seven j n board as it existed with Mr Purcell r eIl and Mr Auerbach as Members embers That would entail re- re val of another citizen member r. r J Introducing the letters at the Commission meeting Mayor Jendi Jenkins Jenkins Jen Jen- kins di s said I I am sorry they came rID t this time I had hoped we weld would Wild ld get together and I would I still like those two men to attend a joint meeting possibly next Wednesday or Thursday Is it your suggestion that our action be deferred asked Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner Com Com- missioner McConkie Mayor Jenkins indicated he so desired and on motion motion of Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner Com Com- missioner McConkie commissioners commission commission- ers voted to defer consideration until after a joint meeting Commissioner Keyser made no comment at the meeting He handed this written statement to reporters however Mr Auerbach and Mr Purcell have worked hard to get a real water supply for Salt Lake City They and other members of the board are arc to be congratulated on the results Blair Richardson chairman of the water board declined con com i ment on the resignations and on proposals to have a man five-man board George W W. Snyder a director said he had hoped the reports of resignations were not true and I hope Mr Purcell and Mr Auerbach Auerbach Auer- Auer bach ach will reconsider They have been loyal and hard working members J. J A. A Nelson a director said the resignations came as a surprise to o him The remaining director S. S A A. Kennedy was out of the city Both Avoid Comment Mr Auerbach declined comment comment com- com ment and Mr Purcell left the city ity after mailing his resignation Wednesday night Only indirect mention of the situation that finally came to a ahead ahead ahead head was included in the nations Mr Purcell's letter Jetter said in part What the board has been able to o do in this direction obtaining water from the Deer creek project project ct in in spite of opposition from froma a source from which it was most certainly entitled to support speaks peaks for itself The remark apparently referred to o differences between Commissioner Commissioner Commis- Commis ioner Keyser and other directors Possible revamping of the water board which is appointed by y the mayor with consent of a majority of the commission was d i s c u s s e d by Wednesday morning in the office of Mayor Jenkins Two steps were discussed at athe atthe atthe the he session To strengthen city representation representation tation on the water board by naming Commissioner Oscar scar W. W McConkie head of the de department of f public affairs and finance an anex anex ex x officio director in addition to Commissioner Keyser who heads the he city water department Reducing total membership of the lie board to five including the two wo commissioners Mayor Jenkins said he had le leal legal legal le- le gal al advice such steps would be within commission powers The state tate law enabling creation of water districts permits the city commission to remove directors without cause Such action would mean re removal removal removal re- re moval of one more director in addition to the two who resigned The board had a total membership membership member- member ship hip of seven when Mr Purcell and Mr Auerbach were members We met informally to discuss our views on the water board situation Mayor Jenkins said of Wednesdays Wednesday's meeting Commissioner McConkie and andI I did most of the talking We felt elt we should take some action and I suggested that Commissioner Commissioner Commis- Commis ioner McConkie be appointed to the he board One answer might be e to remove Commissioner Keyser Keyser Keyser Key Key- ser from the board but I would prefer to have him remain and add Commissioner McConkie to the he directorate The other commissioners except except except ex ex- ex- ex for Mr McConkie seemed in n accord to do dp this Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner Commis Commis- McConkie said he would not wish the appointment but I told him the rest of us could appoint appoint ap- ap point him arbitrarily and outvote him lim on such a move Mayor Jenkins was to submit the resignations to the commission commission commission commis commis- sion at its regular meeting Thurs Thurs- day |