MARBLE ROCK - The City Council this week overrode a veto by Mayor Doug Merfeld of a resolution giving the council power to dismiss public employees.

Members of the council approved the resolution Aug. 4. In his veto, dated nine days later, Merfeld said the measure was not in the citizens' best interests and stated the mayor is the city's chief elected official in charge of day-to-day operations.

The latest wrangling comes as residents delivered a petition asking for better behavior.

The council and mayor received a letter signed by 130 residents asking them to address problems with city appointments, excess expenses, negative publicity, a lack of respect toward employees, a lack of cooperation and personality conflicts.

"We do not expect you to always agree with each other, but we do expect you to thoughtfully listen to each other and consider what was said," the letter stated.

"The people of Marble Rock want things to change," said Brian Chambers, one of four who wrote the letter.

Among suggestions on how to fix perceived problems in Marble Rock city government were mediation, apologies and a vote for impeachment.

Councilman Max Handley offered one solution.

"I will resign from office if you will," he told Mayor Merfeld.

On the issue of the resolution, however, Merfeld said the proposal is "nothing more than a way to strip power from the mayor for no good reason whatsoever except to give certain members of the council more power."

The council approved the resolution at the same meeting members voted to rehire Paul Guthart, a municipal maintenance worker Mayor Merfeld fired in July.

Merfeld objected to the override Tuesday.

"It's good business to have some authority over our employees," he said.

Councilman Handley said though the mayor is responsible for supervising employees, many companies have a personnel department to help deal with disciplinary matters.

Councilman Steve Wells added if Merfeld has concerns about an employee, he can bring issues to the council's personnel committee.

The override passed on a 4-1 vote. Handley, Wells, Don Hutzell and Jerry Engelhardt voted yes. Council member Tracy Merfeld voted no.

The council also tabled a motion to appoint Susan Nelson to the park board. Nelson's term expired in June 2007.

At a council meeting in August 2007, then-mayor J.R. Ackley asked the council to reappoint Nelson. The recommendation was rejected. A month later Nelson withdrew her name from consideration.

In December 2007 at Ackley's final council meeting, he renewed his request. The council tabled the appointment.

A month later, Councilman Handley made a motion to add Nelson's appointment to the agenda. Mayor Merfeld declared the motion out of order.

On Tuesday Councilman Wells said members of the park board expressed interest in having Nelson return. City Attorney Mark Walk, however, suggested the action could be challenged in court.

Wells called for a vote on Nelson's appointment, but Handley said the issue wasn't worth ending up in court. Councilman Engelhardt suggested tabling the issue.

Contact Mary Pieper

at mary.pieper@globegazette.com.