According to the agenda for the June 16 Common Council meeting which was distributed by the City Clerk’s office yesterday, Alderman Ed Russo has sponsored an ordinance which would completely eliminate chapter 28 of the city code. That chapter is what created and defined the powers and duties of the Golf Course Commission.
The measure is on the agenda for the purpose of introduction. Per the city’s charter, a subsequent public hearing must be scheduled before the issue is voted on.
Earlier in the week, the Golf Commission submitted a statement to city officials asserting that they would not comply with a resolution passed by the council requesting that they remove certain fees. The statement cited chapter 28, section 3 of the code and maintained that the council does not have legal authority to direct them to modify their rules or fees.
Corporation Counsel Gerard DeCusatis said yesterday that if the commission were to be abolished, and without any further legislature enacted, that golf course operations would revert to being overseen by the Recreation Department. As with any other city department, executive and legislative functions would fall under the mayor and council’s authority accordingly.
Russo, who sponsored the ordinance and is the council’s liaison to the golf course, did not respond to a request for comment in time for this article.
