The Springfield Mayor presents his best case to the State Supreme Court today on whether it’s the city council or the mayor that can remove a police commissioner.
That issue has been debated for more than 2 years. And now the SJC will hear the case.
Specifically, the high court will be asked whether the city council can remove a police commissioner, appointed by the mayor in favor of a five-person board.
The city council, back in 2018, passed an ordinance to do that.
The mayor has basically ignored the ordinance since the council passed the measure and he vetoed it nearly 3 years ago.
The brief says that the mayor has broad but not endless power to appoint department heads and that the council action seeks to circumvent his authority.
The high court usually decides cases within 90 days.