The first line of the News Journal‘s story on last night’s council meeting has George Smiley stating he’s “at war.” The war is not against decency and ethics, but against brand-new council president Tom Kovach.
Council President Tom Kovach, who took office Jan. 25, has refused to sign the deed-restrictions into law because of how they were passed. In response, two council members at Tuesday’s meeting of the executive committee introduced two changes to council rules that would limit Kovach’s powers. One succeeded and the other was tabled.
Councilman Jea Street, who thinks Kovach should sign the restrictions into law, went as far to suggest that Kovach consider stepping down less than a month into his term.
“You’re just the president – you’re one of us,” Street said. “You need to sign it and do your job. If you’re not willing to do that, you need to resign now.”
Kovach said after the meeting he would not resign.
The anti-Kovach contingent also includes Smiley, Penrose Hollins and Joe Reda.
Hollins successfully got the council to pass a rules change Tuesday that would have the council vice president sign any bill passed by the council into law within five days if the president refuses to sign it. The measure passed by an 8-5 vote, but will not apply to the deed-restrictions measure, which remains unsigned and in limbo.
The council members who voted for the measure were Smiley, Street, Reda, Hollins, Kilpatrick, Cartier, Powers and Sheldon. Right now I just want to kick out the whole lot of them. What a bunch of clowns.