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Columbia Missourian

Mayor Funkhouser upset after Kansas City Council alters volunteer ordinance

By The Associated Press
August 7, 2009 | 9:25 a.m. CDT

KANSAS CITY — The feud between the Kansas City Council and Mayor Mark Funkhouser over his wife's role in the mayor's office might not be over.

On Thursday, the city council changed a city law to limit family members of city employees or elected officials from volunteering for more than 10 hours a month.

The change came after a judge ruled last week that a previous ordinance allowing only infrequent volunteering by family members of elected officials was unconstitutional

The ordinances are aimed at restricting the time Funkhouser's wife, Gloria Squitiro, can volunteer in his office. Critics had complained that she was disruptive and exerted too much influence. And last month, the council agreed to pay $550,000 to settle a discrimination lawsuit against Squitiro.

After Thursday's council vote, Funkhouser said the new ordinance was a violation of civil rights but stopped short of saying he would file another court challenge.