Bluffdale residents want referendum on manager

By Jared Page
Deseret Morning News
Published: Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2006 10:24 p.m. MDT
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BLUFFDALE — Supporters of Mayor Claudia Anderson in the 2005 election are hoping her power will be restored in '07.

Eighteen Bluffdale residents have filed applications with the city to circulate referendum petitions in an effort to reverse recent action by the City Council that stripped the mayor of her administrative powers and handed them to the newly created office of city manager.

Citizens pushing the referendum say the council's decision was unjustified and diminishes the significance of votes cast for Anderson less than a year ago.

"We, as citizens, have never really been given an in-depth explanation as to why (the City Council has) changed the form of government," said Jody Tuft, a 15-year Bluffdale resident. "I'm uncomfortable with a change in government without (the City Council) giving me a satisfactory explanation as to why it is necessary."

The citizens contend voters should have a say in such a decision, and they've enlisted the help of Rep. David Hogue, R-Riverton, in hopes of getting that opportunity.

Though he doesn't represent Bluffdale, Hogue said a group of concerned citizens recruited him as a consultant because he has experience with the referendum process. Hogue was a proponent of a 2004 zoning-ordinance referendum in Riverton.

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"The people are saying, 'Look, we voted for Claudia Anderson because we were not happy with what we'd had in that past,'" Hogue said. "Now the people are being told (by the City Council), 'Well, we don't want her in charge of anything.' ... This is something (residents) should have a vote on."

City Council members have said the idea of shifting administrative power to a city manager surfaced after working for several months to repair rifts between Anderson and city staff. At least 10 staff members have quit or been fired since the mayor took office in January.

The City Council unanimously passed an ordinance Sept. 26 to create the position of city manager and transfer to it all administrative powers held by the mayor. Then, also by unanimous vote, the council named administrative services director Brent Bluth as the new city manager.

The City Council amended the latter ordinance Tuesday night to comply with the mayor's legal right to vote for the appointment of a city manager.

In Bluffdale's form of government, the mayor only votes in the case of a tie, unless that vote is for the appointment or termination of a city manager, said Todd Weiler, city attorney.

"The method that was employed by the City Council (on Sept. 26) did not give the mayor a vote on the city manager," Weiler said.

Anderson was given that opportunity Tuesday and cast the lone vote against giving the job to Bluth, whom she had fired in early September.

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