Clinton Mayor Mark Vulich says the numbers don’t add up, so he’s vetoed a resolution that would establish a committee to work out a deal between the city and the Clinton Humane Society.
Humane Society managers said they were worried that without city assistance, the shelter would go bankrupt and be forced to close.
In November 2012, the Humane Society asked the city for $120,000. Mayor Vulich vowed then to veto any efforts by the city council to allocate the funds.
The mayor’s office circulated a memo Monday, February 4, 2013 that confirmed the mayor’s veto.
“Before wasting staff time on a committee that may ultimately produce no results, I feel it is important to look at what is actually on the table,” the veto memo said.
Mayor Vulich cited his disagreement with the amount needed to fund the shelter and an animal control officer as the primary reason for his veto. There is a discrepancy of between about $60,000 and $90,000, depending on which numbers are used.
Vulich also said he thinks the city administrator or city attorney should represent the city in any negotiations that involve finances.
“All I can do is sign the resolution, not sign the resolution (and the resolution goes into effect 14 days after the Council meeting) or veto the resolution,” the memo said.
