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Freeport Mayor Nixes Measure Eliminating City's Legal Department

City of Freeport, IL

Freeport’s mayor and council are at odds over the city’s legal department. Mayor Jim Gitz on Monday vetoed a council measure to end the department and outsource its services.

Mayor Gitz says the Council did not give a good explanation of why the measure was a good idea, or even why it was needed.   According to the Freeport Journal-Standard, Gitz also says the ordinance was being used to interfere with the work of the mayor.  

Council members say the proposal to end the department and to contract out legal services is a cost-cutting measure.  They say putting the services out to bid would eliminate some personnel costs and be a more efficient use of the city’s resources.  

But in his veto message, the mayor says the ordinance did not lay out what the actual cost of outsourcing might be.  He says it was – quote – “improper and premature.”

Council members say they hope differences with the mayor on the issue can be resolved.

The Council passed the measure April 4 by a vote of 6-1.  The Council could vote to override the mayor’s veto at its next meeting May 2. 

Guy Stephens produces news stories for the station, and coordinates our online events calendar, PSAs and Arts Calendar announcements. In each of these ways, Guy helps keep our listening community informed about what's going on, whether on a national or local level. Guy's degrees are in music, and he spent a number of years as a classical host on WNIU. In fact, after nearly 20 years with Northern Public Radio, the best description of his job may be "other duties as required."