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Show Provo Officials Face Dismissal for Gift of Turkeys to Employes 1 PROVO A Christmas gift of turkeys to employes of the Provo city utilities department Tuesday had backfired, with the three-man .utilities board and the superintendent superin-tendent under threat of being asked for their resignations unless the matter was cleared up by Tuesday at 5 p. m. The fireworks started In city commission meeting Monday night when the mayor was asked If other city employes were to receive re-ceive Easter eggs on Luster, as the utilities employes had all received re-ceived turkeys for Christmas. Both Mayor Mark Anderson and Commissioner Maurice Harding stated they had no knowledge oil the gifts, while Commissioner J. J. McGuire said he had htnrd a rumor. A check of city records In the auditor's office Tuesday morning showed that a total of $206.13 was spent for 51 turkeys. T birds were purchased by Ray S. Tanner. 'and a utilities check for the amount wa made out on Decern- I ber 24. A city check reimbursing j the utilities department, following j the usual procedure, was made out on December 30, after the bill na'l been okehed by the city commission commis-sion along with a group of others on the list. J. Hamilton Calder and Clarence bers and Superintendent R. C. Adams If the money for the birds was not back in the electric fund by closing time Tuesday. Defending action by the board, Mr. Calder stated it was done on recommendation of Mr. Adams as something followed for years un- drr his previous set-up in other city utility systems. The action was tak -n without thought as to any sen jus consequences and the turkeys were given the employes in recognition of their services and loyalty o the department dur'ng the past year, he said. H. Harmon, jnembers of the utilities utili-ties board, said the board- and superintendent su-perintendent had slated a meeting at 11 a. m. and indicated it would be an executive ession. However, How-ever, they would not say where the meeting was to be held, and reporters were unable to locate the bbrad at 11:30 a. m. Mr. Calder also reported that another meeting was scheduled with the city commission com-mission at 5:30 p. m. and that he expected the matter would then be cleared up. Panned by Board He said the bill for the turkeys had been passed unanimously by the board, was in its minutes and a matter of public record, but said he did not know if It had been passed by the city commission. Absolving utility employes from any blame in the turkey matter. Mayor Anderson Issued a statement state-ment Tuesday as follows: "We are proud of our utility employes. They are doing an excellent job. However, How-ever, they are no more deserving of a Christmas turkey paid for from city funds than other city employes are. The electric fund is separate, but it is no different from other city money. It Is unthinkable un-thinkable that we would purchase Christmas turkeys from any city fund. An error has been made and It will be corrected." In Monday's meeting, when the matter came up, the mayor was Informed that citizens were asking ask-ing whether the birds had been paid for out of city funds. The mayor declared he had no knowledge knowl-edge of the facts, but that If such were the case, "we'll have a new board and a new superintendent If the money is not returned right now." Chairman Summoned Other commissioners suggested the matter be investigated Tuesday, Tues-day, but Mayor Anderson refused to let it rest and Immediately called Mr. Calder, utilities board chairman, to the commission meeting meet-ing to discuss "a matter regarding regard-ing the utilities department that was important and urgent." Asked for the facts by the mayor, Mr. Calder admitted utility employes em-ployes had been given the turkeys, explaining that it was done after "careful consideration and in form of a bonus." Characterizing the action as "the worst kind of a blunder in such a set-up as a public utilities department," de-partment," the mayor said the board evidently had a poor political po-litical sense, and told Mr. Calder he would ask for the resignation of the three utilities board mem- |
