Sedona Council conflicts color Vice Mayor appointment

By Carl Jackson

SEDONA, AZ (November 26, 2009) - What does a Vice Mayor do, and why does anyone want the position, anyway?

For some city councilors, the title is the "bone" that is thrown for a long and distinguished career on the city council.  For others, it's to pick up the work slack at ribbon cuttings and other events when the Mayor is unavailable.  For still others, a Mayor and Vice Mayor combo is the opportunity to create a unified "bully pulpit" to espouse common views and sway public opinion. 

Officially, the Vice Mayor's primary role is to serve in the Mayor's absence, running city council meetings and work sessions.

After this week's Sedona City Council meeting, however, one might add a new job function to that list:  diplomat.

With the recent departure of Vice Mayor John Bradshaw, at the November 24, 2009 Sedona City Council meeting, council members voted unanimously to appoint Councilor Cliff Hamilton as Vice Mayor.

It didn't start out unanimously, and it required Hamilton professing profusely to be the Vice Mayor for the 'entire council,' not just the Mayor, and to help build a bridge between warring factions, most likely the ideological war over lights on 89A and a National Scenic Area designation, occurring between Mayor Rob Adams and Councilor Nancy Scagnelli.

The last item of the evening, the agenda was both to discuss the interview process for filling Bradshaw's open seat and to pick a Vice Mayor.

Hamilton started the Vice Mayor discussion by asking the Mayor what the duties of the Vice Mayor are?

Said Mayor Adams, "If you want my perspective...personally I think I have to have a good working relationship with the Vice Mayor.  The [Vice Mayor is] my backup and I expect to be working with them more closely than the other councilors.  I think the Vice Mayor should serve as the liaison on larger, regional governmental meetings, as well as sharing the duties that the Mayor has.  I can tell you that I'm overwhelmed.  I'm on over 15 committees and commissions, and I can't handle it.  If I was working, I'd have real trouble...With [Vice Mayor John Bradshaw], I'd meet with him for breakfast every few weeks to discuss things but he had his business, and his family and children and it didn't work out.  I do know that I need to shed some of these assignments.  Whoever we put in the Vice Mayor position I hope is going to be able to put in the time and make the commitment to show up at all these events that I've been doing."

Said City lawyer Mike Goimarac, "The Vice Mayor substitutes when the Mayor is not available...I can't think of any independent duties that the Vice Mayor has."

According to Mayor Adams, the total time commitment for the Vice Mayor should be 20 hours per week.

Said Councilor Mark DiNunzio, "It seems that the external role of Mayor has grown.  I wonder if the council needs to address that it some way.  With the Mayor working 50 hours a week and the Vice Mayor working 20 hours a week, that's pretty heavy.  Even if we spread it out over all the council members who haven't been putting in that kind of time, it's still going to be a heavy load."

Mayor Adams then fired the first salvo, "Obviously there are some personality issues that need to be considered.  I really need someone to step up that is willing to work with me. That's my plea.  I will say this that [I nominate] Cliff [Hamilton].  Cliff shows up to more events and assignments than anyone else on council.  He would be a comfortable fit for me.  Cliff, will you be able to take that on?"

Said Hamilton, "I think we're all among friends and I think I can speak frankly.  I'll only take this on with the support of the council.  This wouldn't be a political pairing.  To quote Desiderata [a poem by Max Ehrmann about attaining happiness in life], 'In so far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all people.'"

Said Adams, "This is selfish on my part.  I'm trying to make my life easier."

Councilor Pud Colquitt then fired the second salvo and nominated Scagnelli saying, "She has served the city well for 3 1/2 years, but I nominate her only if she is willing.  She has served her constituents and the city very well."

Said Scagnelli, "I don't have a problem with the commitment per se.  I think the Mayor has made it clear, however, that he has a problem."

Said Adams to Scagnelli, "I have to admit that our relationship has been strained and difficult." 

Scagnelli replied, "So Cliff is the only one you can work with?  Who else can you work with? Anybody?"

Said Adams, "I think I can work with Councilor Surber and Councilor DiNunzio. I'm being totally honest here."

Said  Surber, "I don't have the time to do it...I just don't like it framed that you can't work with somebody."

Said DiNunzio, "Well, I don't have the depth of experience to seriously consider myself as Vice Mayor.  I'm willing to be more active in the community.  I'm really concerned about the longer term concern of the workload.  I could go either way but I'm willing to go with the Mayor on who he wants as Vice Mayor.  I think he should have that option."

Said Adams, "This is not a political move.  This will not give me or Cliff any more power on this council. It's clear we only have one vote."

Said Scagnelli, "I have no deep down burning desire to be Vice Mayor.  I will say in my defense that [Mayor Adams] has not tried to work with me.  I've been on a lot of committees and I've never had a problem working with any one."

Said Adams, "I would be more than happy to work on our relationship."

Said Hamilton, "I'd also see this as an opportunity to build some bridges or open some channels as a facilitator.  It is important to me that I'm not the Mayor's Vice Mayor, I'm the council's Vice Mayor."

Said Adams, "I didn't ask you to be my Vice Mayor."

Colquitt reiterated DiNunzio's position that at a later date the Vice Mayor's duties need to be better defined to reduce the work load for members of council.

Said Colquitt, "With the increasing workload, no one's going to have the time to serve on council, and we're going to end up with people on council all with grey hair.  And I don't think that's healthy."

Said Scagnelli, "Again, it's not a burning desire for me. I'm willing to bow out."

With that, the council voted 6-0 to appoint Councilor Hamilton as Vice Mayor.