Summerville Mayor Harry Harvey’s decision to veto the Summerville City Council’s decision to give $2,500 to the Summerville Youth Wrestling program is causing a stir with many members of the public.

WZQZ News has heard from several area residents who are upset with the mayor and the one city councilman that sided with the mayor when the original vote was taken.  When the council made the decision to give the $2,500 for the wrestling program, they did so against the mayor and city attorney’s advise.  Councilman David Ford voted against the measure that was approved by the rest of the council members.  Mayor Harvey followed through with his promise to veto the measure.

The mayor contends that the donation is illegal because they are giving money to a non-profit, non-governmental group – but the council has been giving the donation for almost 30 years.

Some have compared the donation with the money the council gives the Chattooga County Agricultural Fair, but the fair is a division of county government and the fair council serves by appointment by the county commissioner.  Thus any funding given to the fair is a inter-governmental transfer, and not a non-profit donation, which is allowed by law.

The council made no move to override the mayor’s veto at this week’s meeting.