Council president steps to plate in mayor's absence

Archive for Thursday, June 10, 2010

The City of Bonner Springs has made a proclamation in honor of National Garden Club Week, June 7-13, which was presented by Bonner Springs City Council president Jeff Harrington to members of the Bonner Springs Garden Club. During the week, floral arrangements by club members will be displayed at the Bonner Springs Nursing and Rehab Center where daffodils were planted in honor of the club’s “Golden Anniversary” this year. Daffodils were also planted at Nettleton Manor. The club meets the third Tuesdays and has programs related to flower gardening along with field trips to surrounding gardens. For more information about the club, contact Sheila Miller at (913) 422-5191 or Darrell Donahue at (913) 441-3128. Pictured are: (from left) Judy Berning, Elizabeth Hatfield, Donna Schneck, Roger Miller, Sheila Miller, Sharon Berning, Doranne Tewell, Merle Schneck, Frances Haynes, Donna Schif, and Jeff Harrington.

By Melissa Treolo

June 10, 2010

As Mayor Clausie Smith’s new right-hand man, Bonner Springs City Council President Jeff Harrington says he’s doing just fine.

Smith is recuperating from a stroke he suffered a little more than two weeks ago, and city ordinance dictates the council president take over mayoral duties that can’t be filled by the mayor themselves. Harrington is also general manager of his family’s business, Alden-Harrington Funeral Home, and he said working in a family business has made his added responsibilities easy to fit into his schedule.

“Everything’s going fine,” Harrington said. “I’m really fortunate it’s a family-owned and operated business and we’re able to accommodate everything pretty well.”

As acting mayor, Harrington has thus far mostly read proclamations, including one at the Memorial Day Service on Monday, May 31. This week he has several engagements, including a ribbon cutting, Friday night’s Kaw Valley Relay for Life event and tonight’s kickoff to the City Band concert series, where he will serve as announcer.

“I just know out of a courtesy to Mayor Smith … I will do everything I can do to assist him and make the time he’s away recuperating and whatever he might need when he returns as easy as possible for him,” Harrington said.

This isn’t the first time he has been called to assist the mayor, Harrington said.

“I’ve helped on rare occasion when (Smith) couldn’t be there, was out of town or on vacation,” Harrington said. “But it’s been a rare occasion, and he’s always been so good at covering everything, and I’ve helped him when necessary before and happy to do so again.”

So far, Harrington said, the balancing act between mayor and businessman has been a breeze, especially with his business’ close proximity to City Hall, just down the street. But he said he, like everyone else in Bonner, is eager to give the duties back to the man himself.

“I know everybody in Bonner hopes that Clausie has a speedy recovery and wish him nothing but the best and look forward to him coming back,” he said.

Smith is still recovering at St. Luke’s South in Overland Park and is expected to remain there through the week. No definite date of his release has yet been announced.