Pierce County Council member Joyce McDonald made a surprise motion Tuesday that effectively killed an effort to overturn a veto by Executive Pat McCarthy.
McDonald’s motion to indefinitely postpone an override vote signaled the council lacked the five votes necessary to overturn the executive’s veto. Without any discussion, the council unanimously approved McDonald’s motion to postpone.
McDonald said after Tuesday’s meeting she would have voted against a veto override. The other four Republicans said they would have voted in favor.
McDonald said the council has voted to overturn McCarthy vetoes in the past.
“Maybe it’s time to let one go,” she said.
McDonald and the council’s other four Republicans approved the ordinance Sept. 6. The council’s two Democrats, Tim Farrell and Rick Talbert, voted no.
The ordinance would have limited how long interim department directors McCarthy selects can work in those jobs.
McCarthy vetoed the council ordinance Sept. 13, her fourth since she took office in 2009. The council overturned two of the first three.
“Isn’t it amazing?” said McCarthy, a Democrat, after Tuesday’s meeting. “I’m glad that they didn’t take a step into administrative powers.”
The council’s ordinance would have restricted an interim director to 120 days unless extended by the council. It also would have capped an interim director’s salary at 90 percent of what the previous department director was paid, unless the council approved a higher salary.
McCarthy said she vetoed the ordinance because it overstepped the council’s policy-making role and set limits on her job of running the county on a day-to-day basis.
Council Chairman Roger Bush, who put the override vote on Tuesday’s agenda, said he’s concerned the council’s ordinance was struck down.
“I think it was a ‘best practices’ item that would have served our citizens well,” Bush said.
Steve Maynard: 253-597-8647
steve.maynard@thenewstribune.com
blog.thenewstribune.com/polibuzz
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