Editor’s note: This story has been corrected from an earlier version.
CALUMET CITY | The City Council later this month is likely to vote to overrule Mayor Michelle Markiewicz Qualkinbush's attempt to veto the council's spending plan for city government.
Qualkinbush used the City Council meeting last week to present the veto notices that state she is rejecting the $30.8 million appropriations ordinance the council approved at a meeting held at the end of June.
She previously declared her intent to veto the appropriations ordinance.
With the advice of their attorneys, the council did nothing with Qualkinbush's statements, being told that they were not required to act on them until their next meeting, scheduled for July 22.
At that meeting, Fourth Ward Alderman Brian Wilson said the veto override will take place, adding it will be a quick process to allow the council's spending plan for city government to finally take effect.
"I don't see why anyone would change their vote," Wilson said, of his colleagues. "If they did, they'd have to answer to their constituents."
Qualkinbush was unavailable for comment immediately following the meeting, although she previously made it known that she objected to the way council members cut positions from the city payroll.
While she agrees some jobs need to be cut in order to present a balanced budget for municipal government, Qualkinbush said she would have wanted across-the-board cuts for every city department.
The mayor said she thinks the council selectively chose jobs for elimination, and specifically noted her secretary, who was targeted to be cut. Aldermen said they tried to make cuts to every city department, and they describe their budget as a $1 million cut from the last fiscal year and a $3.2 million cut compared to three years ago.
A lawsuit is pending in U.S. District Court in Chicago that says four aldermen, including Wilson, demoted former Public Works Commissioner Jay Embrey because he was a political ally of Qualkinbush - a move that aldermen say was motivated by cost-cutting desires.
