App users, tap here to watch video report.
JAMESTOWN – The Jamestown City Council voted to override both of the veto messages from Mayor Eddie Sundquist Monday evening for the 2021 Operating Budget, with one of the overrides resulting in the furlough of Recreation Coordinator Julia Ciesla-Hanley.
The Council originally approved the 2021 City Operating Budget in late November, albeit with numerous amendments to Sundquist’s proposal. Last Monday, Sundquist moved to veto a resolution that called for the elimination (later classified as a temporary furlough) of Ciesla-Hanley’s position.
The veto, however, was rendered moot by an 8-1 vote, with Councilman Brent Sheldon being the sole dissenter.
Council President Tony Dolce commented on the decision following the vote. He explains the override vote is a rarity for the Council.
“Overriding an executive veto is not something that is common in the City,” Dolce said, noting that this is only the third time an override has occurred during his tenure on the City Council. “This is something that is taken very seriously, it’s not something the Council relishes in doing.”
“We are not permanently eliminating this position.”
Ciesla-Hanley issued the following statement on her Facebook page late Monday night:
“Thank you to everyone who wrote emails and letters in support of the Recreation Coordinator position and Parks programming/events/etc,” Ciesla-Hanley said. “I appreciate that more than you all know! I’m disappointed that City Council overrode the veto of the amendment that eliminated the position of Recreation Coordinator. Council Members say it’s only a furlough, but the original amendment was clear. I’ll hope for better things for 2021.”
The Council also unanimously overrode Sundquist’s veto of the Council’s adoption of an appropriation of $436,138.53 in the Capital Improvement Plan for the 2021 budget.
Leave a Reply