During the past few days, Salt Lake County officials have made a series of leadership moves they say will improve fiscal controls and cut politics.

First, Darrin Casper, the County Council's only fiscal analyst since the form of government change in 2001, has been named chief financial officer (CFO) under Mayor Peter Corroon.

Well-respected and considered a straight shooter, Casper will provide sound financial advice for the county, according to Chief Administrative Officer Doug Willmore.

"No voodoo economics here," Willmore joked.

Casper, who will continue to make $112,000 in his new position, said Tuesday he is honored and excited to be on Corroon's team.

"My financial analysis won't be altered by any political influence," he said. "It is what it is. I'm going to be completely independent and will always do what is best for the citizens."

Casper moves into the chair previously held by Linda Hamilton, who replaced John Patterson this month as the county's public works director. Patterson left the post to become chief administrative officer in Ogden.

Hamilton, a former South Ogden city manager and Salt Lake City executive, will make $109,000, commensurate with all county department-head salaries. She made $95,000 as CFO.

Days into the job, Hamilton tossed Associate Public Works Director Jason Godfrey.

"He was really John Patterson's guy," she said about her predecessor's at-will hire. "I want somebody who will more clearly reflect my principles."

Godfrey, brother of Ogden Mayor Matthew Godfrey, first served as interim fleet manager when Nick Morgan was placed on administrative leave during the spring. Despite being criticized for a brazen management style, Jason Godfrey later was tapped to be public works' No. 2 under Patterson, who worked for the Ogden mayor before landing in Salt Lake County in January.

Meantime, Hamilton has named Phil Bernal, Corroon's diversity-affairs director, to replace Godfrey as her new associate director. Bernal's salary will jump from $50,000 to $75,000, the same amount Godfrey earned.

Replacements for Casper and Bernal have yet to be named.

djensen@sltrib.com

In other county business:

The County Council passed a conflict-of-interest ordinance that calls for council members to recuse themselves from voting when a direct financial or personal interest exists.

Council members postponed for a week voting on new rules that outline campaign-finance reform as well as language prohibiting former county employees from lobbying the county for a year.

Sanitation officials agreed to study further a "green" waste program that would provide curbside service to haul grass and tree clippings to the county landfill. Council members expressed concern about the scope and cost of the program, particularly since it would slice into sanitation's multimillion-dollar reserve.

Deputies in the district attorney's office will review a proposal to streamline how the county's 4,000-member work force chooses its employee representatives, as well as the process for selecting wages, benefits and standards for workplace conditions. Compared loosely to collective bargaining, Councilman Joe Hatch's proposal aims to give "primacy" to the group with the most employees. It will return to the County Council for debate in two weeks.