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Show W. Bountiful voters facei issue of mayor's duties j GARY R. BLODGETT WEST BOUNTIFUL - What's the most important political issue facing the mayoral candidates of West Bountiful this election? No, it isn't the development of city park, the tight city budget or even the management of the city-owned city-owned golf course. ( It's the issue surrounding the mayor's duties and responsibilities - especially since West Bountiful is the only community in south Davis County without a city administrator to handle the day-to-day problems. This issue will face three candidates can-didates for mayor in the West Bountiful Boun-tiful Municipal Election next Tuesday. Tues-day. Candidates are incumbent city councilman Bruce A. Talbot and newcomers Carl M; Johnson and Keith D. Salmon. Speaking on the issue, Talbot said he has spent four years on the city council and fully realizes the duties and responsibilities of a mayor in a community where there is no city administrator. "I've seen what mayor (Jerry) Thompson has gone through, and all the work and time that is involved," in-volved," said Talbot "And I'm willing to devote this time to carrying carry-ing out the administrative responsibilities." respon-sibilities." He said he will make time in his daily schedule to meet with citizens on a regular daily schedule and through a monthly newsletter. "Responsive, open government will improve harmony within our city and enhance our community image," he said. Talbot noted that West Bountiful has been without a city administrator ad-ministrator and city planner, utilizing utiliz-ing the mayor as an administrator, for the past several years. "There is no need to change this procedure or to hire an additional administrator," he said. Keith Salmon has a different view. Salmon said he would like West Bountiful to have a part-time administrator, ad-ministrator, hired from outside the city, to take care of pressing needsT "The mayor should be involved ill. all city matters, but a part-time administrator ad-ministrator could look at these matters differently and without Bias. "This would alleviate the possi; bility of every issue being a politic cal issue. It would streamline the-, city government and permit the; mayor and council to study all; issues from a non-partisan point of view, and leave the mayor and: council to do their own-; .homework." He stressed that it would be too., costly (to the city) to hire a full-time; administrator and provide a fullf, time! professional staff at this time. , "The city must take one step at a; 'time, with the first step being to hirer a part-time administrator," he said.! "Ar the samerUmercity officials; should accept more input from the public and volunteerism from its residents." Meanwhile, he noted, an open-door open-door policy should be in effect whereby all city residents can feel comfortable about talking to any. council member. Johnson said he is in favor of a full-time city administrator, air; though probably not in the first year or two. "We may have to start with a part-time administrator and work into eventually having a full-time administrator" He noted that an administrator would provide a healthy balance of power and influence within city government "The mayor should oversee all aspects of city government but not be expected to handle all of the day-to-day details connected with problems prob-lems in government," he said, "However, I would want to move slowly in the appointment oj a full-time full-time administrates-, doing so only as the budget and demand dictates." "What's most important about having a city administrator is the fact that there is better balance of government, and an administrator allows the mayor and council to . better do the job to which they were elected." |
