One of the changes, amending the date for reading water meters and sending out bills for city customers, is expected to go into effect after city attorney Darryl Hicks revises the existing ordinance. The board also discussed changing the rules regarding the use of compensatory time off for city employees and was promptly vetoed by Mayor Roy White after the aldermen approved it. Board of Aldermen President Jim Schuchmann recommended changing the current city policy. Employees with comp time still owed them at the end of the year are now required to use those hours in the first quarter of the following year. Schuchmann proposed allowing employees to spread the comp time out over the first three quarters of 2008. "If we enforce this (the existing) policy, it could result in a serious manpower shortage at city hall," said Schuchmann. Wright City employees have approximately 260 comp man-hours left over from 2008 according to city officials. That number includes about 151 hours for the police department. The administration staff is carrying 42 hours, the public works department has 31 hours and the parks department has 36, according to officials. But after the motion unanimously passed 3-0, with Ward 1 Alderman Dave Walter absent from the meeting, White said he did not believe the new rule was in the best interests of the city. "I'm going to veto this," said White. "I feel it puts a burden on the city and I'm not in favor of it." According to Richard Sheets, deputy director of the Missouri Municipal League, White's veto was not illegal. "The state statute grants the mayor the power to veto ordinances," said Sheets. "State law doesn't even mention motions. "Whether a mayor can veto a motion depends on rules of order established by the board," Sheets added. "Rules of order can be in writing or established over time by traditional practices." The new billing policy for water and sewer customers could be approved by the board as early as the Feb. 26 meeting, meaning it will be in effect when March bills are sent out. The city will change the date when water meters are read, moving it up 10 days from the 15th to the fifth of each month. The city also intends to enforce stricter provisions on when bills are due and considered delinquent as well as when service will be terminated. In January, city officials said, moving the meter reading date from the 15th to the fifth would have allowed shutoff on Feb. 13, instead of the current date of March 13. "We're trying to tighten the entire process up and have a more efficient system," said Schuchmann. "Some landlords felt the current delinquency date was too far out to be effective. "That should result in us reducing the (delinquent) amount owed," added Schuchmann, "while also allowing us not to have to increase the amount we charge for service deposits." "Delinquencies do extend too far," added Ward 2 Alderman Richard Denkler. "Hopefully by doing this we can reduce the number of delinquencies we have."