Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
City Council overturns mayor's veto on trash contractor pay increase after heated debate
Summary
Jacksonville City Council voted to override the mayor's veto of ordinance 2024-800, approving a pay increase for contractor Meridian despite objections from the mayor's office and an opinion from the Office of General Counsel that raised separation-of-powers concerns.
The Jacksonville City Council voted 14-4 on Tuesday to adopt ordinance 2024-800 notwithstanding the mayor's veto, approving a pay increase for solid-waste contractor Meridian and prompting warnings from the mayor's Office of General Counsel about separation-of-powers and potential litigation.
Why it matters: Council members who supported the override said the measure is aimed at preserving trash collection service and protecting workers amid a tight labor market; opponents and city legal staff warned the council could be undermining the charter'mandated division of legislative and executive authority and that the city may face lawsuits if the mayor refuses to sign.
The council president opened debate after the mayor returned the ordinance with a veto message. Michael Fackler of the Office of General Counsel explained the legal posture to the council and said the charter requires a two-thirds vote of members present to overturn a veto; with 18 members present that meant 12 votes were required. The council…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
