By Mary K. Reinhart | The Republic | azcentral.com
Debate over whether Glendale City Council members should end, or at least trim, their five-figure discretionary funds digressed into arguments over past spending cuts, exposing a widening rift as the council girds for a grueling budget season.
The council, during a workshop Dec. 3 decided to keep their discretionary funds for now, with $32,000 flowing every year to each of the six council members. The money can be spent on everything from postage stamps to neighborhood construction projects.
But the issue brought forth enough heat that Mayor Jerry Weiers gaveled council members Norma Alvarez and Yvonne Knaack into silence and City Attorney Michael Bailey interrupted the bickering with a warning that it had detoured outside the scope of the posted public meeting.
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Public comments aimed at Weiers and Martinez