Summerville Mayor vetos contributing to Youth Wrestling Program

At the December 19, 2022, Summerville City Council Special Called Meeting the agenda included item 8 (c) discussion of contributing to the Summerville Youth Wrestling Program.

The Summerville City Council has been contributing to the Summerville Youth Wrestling Program for twenty years.

The amount the city contributes is $2,500.

Discussion was held between Council Members, Mayor, City Attorney, Interim City Manager, and supporters of the wrestling program. Council Member Rickey Hughes made a motion to approve a donation of $2,500 to the Summerville Youth Wrestling Program, and Council Member Joe Money, Jr. seconded the motion. The motion passed 4 to 1, with Council Member David Ford voting in opposition.

Summerville Mayor, Harry Harvey sent a veto letter out two days later.

The letter stated:

December 21, 2022 

December 19, 2022, Special Called Meeting 

Agenda item (c) – Discuss contributing to the Summerville Youth Wrestling Program – VETO 

The Summerville City Council voted to donate $2,500 to the Summerville Youth Wrestling Program, which is in violation of the donation/gratuities policy of public funds. Seat #2, Seat #3, Seat #4, and Seat #5 voted for, and Seat #1 voted in opposition to the donation. The Mayor opposed the donation due to laws limiting the manner in which donations/gratuities of public funds must be handled. 

Based upon consultation with the Interim City Manager and the City Attorney, I, Harry Harvey, as Mayor, exercise my veto. 

This matter will be presented by the City Clerk to the City Council at its next council meeting. 

In witness whereof, the Mayor has executed this veto effective this 21st Day of December 2022. 

Over the last two decades the Summerville Youth Wrestling Program has helped train countless state champions, some of which are now collegiate wrestlers. The Summerville Youth Wrestling Team also has won a team state championship. The funds the city contribute help with entry fees to tournaments, singlets, and wrestling gear for the youth.

Mayor Harry Harvey says that now contributing funds to the youth wrestling program is in violation of the donation/gratuities policy of public funds.

While Councilman David Ford did vote against the funding, he told AllOnGeorgia he supports the Youth Wrestling Program and donated $500 of his personal money to the organization.