Mapp Initiatives Final, Barring SRB Veto

Legislation that Mayor-elect Adrian Mapp has called key to his new administration passed Monday, but may still be vetoed by outgoing Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs.

The City Council approved final passage of a salary increase for the title of chief financial officer, as well as creation of the title of "chief of staff" and a salary band to go with it. The city has only had a full-time, in-house CFO for about two years of Robinson-Briggs' eight years in office and is currently relying on a part-time CFO who gives the city five to seven hours per week. The council increased the maximum salary to $125.in 2012 and now has increased it to $155,000.

Regarding the chief of staff, Mapp has a full-time job in another municipality and tried in November to convince the council that he will need someone in City Hall who can handle communications, policy and intergovernmental relations. In November, opponents argued that the city administrator handles day-to-day operations and there is no need to have a chief of staff.

The three ordinances were defeated, 4-3, on Nov. 12 but brought back and passed on first reading at a special meeting on Nov. 26. They  passed, 6-1, on second reading Monday and will take effect in 20 days. Councilman William Reid cast the lone "no" vote, calling creation of the chief of staff "premature."

The remaining hurdle for Mapp, if the mayor vetoes the ordinances within 10 days, is to have the council overturn the veto with five votes.

Although the mayor's position is part-time, Robinson-Briggs claimed she devoted 60 or more hours a week to the job. She defeated Mapp in 2009 to win a second term as the city's first female African-American mayor. But Mapp defeated her in the June primary and beat three challengers won with 70 percent of the vote in the November general election. Despite the clear mandate from the electorate, Mapp faced opposition from a faction favoring the mayor on Nov. 12 and depending who fills his Third Ward council seat when he vacates it to become mayor on Jan. 1, could face further opposition in 2014 for his initiatives.

--Bernice

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