But in an odd twist resulting from a petition drive and a judge's order, the group that put Syracuse's Referendum 1 on the ballot opposes the measure.

Referendum 1 would adopt the ordinance approved 4-1 by the City Council last October to switch to a city-manager government, with the appointed manager replacing the elected mayor as the city's chief executive.

The manager would report to the council and mayor, rather than just the mayor, as the city's administrator has done in the past.

Displeasure over some of Mayor Fred Panucci's decisions prompted the move, but his supporters warned the council against changing the government form without consulting voters.

Spurned by the council, Panucci's backers gathered petitions and secured a judge's order requiring the council to put the matter on the ballot. But those supporters now oppose the referendum.

On the other side, Troy Barber, president of the pro-referendum group Citizens for Syracuse, contends the council was wrong to refuse a public vote in the first place, but right about the need to change the city's government.

"I want to pass out a boss of Kleenex and have all of us dry our eyes from last winter and, now that we're over that, look at what's best for our city. It's easy. It's simple."

Syracuse, with a population that has soared past 20,000, should join the majority of Davis County cities, which have city-manager governments, Barber said.

It allows better checks and balances, he argues.

"When you just answer to one man, a lot can go on there that is not checked with the public," Barber said. "It's important we have six people making decisions for our future rather than one."

But De Lore Thurgood, a former mayor and a petition sponsor, said now is the wrong time to change the city's government.

Not only did voters re-elect Panucci two years ago with the understanding he would act as the city's chief executive, he said, but also the bad blood between the mayor and most council members clouds the issue and would make a transition difficult.

Panucci is midway through his second term as Syracuse's mayor.

Moreover, Thurgood said, the mayor should act as chief executive.

"We should have someone we elect who we can pick up the phone when there are problems and rake over the coals," Thurgood said. "I just don't think you have the control [otherwise]."

kmoulton@sltrib.com