Internal Auditor - NOT!

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I did think there was a slight chance that the City Commission would see the light but the idea of funding an Internal Auditor went down in flames. As this was a workshop meeting, there was no vote but the only commissioner who wanted one and who has been listening to the people was Scott Maxwell.

There were so many "good" reasons for not funding this position: the expense of it, it is a luxury, level of need, not convinced, the money could be better spent somewhere more important, the last one we had was almost useless, most cities do not have an IA (Stanton said that one), can't afford it, if we have one it should be a full-time person who is invested in the city's success. The real argument and the one that was not stated was, "I don't want some silly person butting into my business."

I like the last argument the best. Any professional takes his job seriously and in fact, it would be best, in this case, not to be part of the city manager "network," the very reason why an IA reports to the Commission--to have everything on the table in an open and most transparent way. An Internal Auditor investigates suspected fraud, waste and abuse and he is objective and gives advice on financial matters and procedures. It is a backup for truth.

The Internal Auditor doesn't have to live here per the Charter and he doesn't have to be full-time. What is more important than scrutinizing our revenues and expenditures? We just burned through $12 MILLION DOLLARS for gosh sakes in the last few years. Poof! Ask one Commissioner where the money went. We spend like drunken sailors and there is no reason to have an internal auditor? I can guarantee you that if we put a vote to the people on whether this position should be eliminated from our Charter, it would be the highest vote recorded in the history of this city to keep it and what's more, we would tell you to fund it.

Last night the city manager said, when talking to the Commission, "We should have a discussion on changing our form of government to a strong mayor because it is perceived that the Mayor runs the city...at some point we should have that discussion." Why should we discuss anything so bizarre? You want another Lois Frankel in power? You can get rid of an elected official by the vote of all the electorate who bother to show up at the polls and you can terminate a city manager in a heartbeat by a majority vote of 5 people. It is quicker and easier to terminate a city manager before he/she does too much damage than allowing an elected official stay in power for two years--my argument against longer terms.

Stanton further stated that the citizens just don't trust city hall. A truer statement could not have been said--right about now, we don't trust anyone and want an internal auditor more than ever and not spending $60,000 to convert a softball field to a soccer field. In the realm of importance, commissioner, an IA is much more important to us.

The Charter says that the appointive officers shall be the city manager, city attorney, internal auditor, city clerk, police chief, fire chief, and such other officers as may be provided for by ordinance. Any of the above officers which are, or may become, under civil service shall be subject to civil service regulations. All of the appointive officers under the charter, except the city manager, city attorney, and internal auditor shall be appointed by the city manager and all appointive officers shall hold office subject to provisions of law.

It was mentioned last night that the Internal Auditor position is in the Charter and therefore we must have it. It is in the Charter, but as Elaine Humphrey's said at a previous meeting, the Commission did not have to fund it. (There is always a way around anything--take special assessments as an example). A Commissioner mentioned that the Police Chief and Fire Chief also had to live in our city and that certain changes to our Charter needed to occur. No they don't. They are moot and who knows if some day we might have our own police and fire departments once again, another dream of the CM.

So, what's up Doc? Our strong City Manager won once again. It took hours of discussion to get her desired result with a full staff to support her as well as our elected officials under the voodoo dust. "No independent anybody will be walking around the halls of city hall, not on my watch." And that's the way it is folks.