2002-02-13 CC Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

February 10,2002 To: Council City Administrator and Staff Steve McDonald, Auditor James Hoeft, City Attorney From: Tim Swedberg, Mayor RE: February 7 Meeting Summary and Thoughts on Financial Management I Administration The Council Workshop was called to order at 6:30 PM. In attendance: Council Member Linda Broussard-Vickers Council Member Mari Nelson Mayor Tim Swedberg Auditor Steve McDonald, Abdo, Abdo, Eick, & Meyers City Administrator Kim Moore-Sykes City Clerk-Treasurer Teresa Bender City Accounting Clerk Kris Sweeney Centerville resident Cindy Hobscheid Council Member Mary Capra joined the meeting at 7:50 PM My thanks to everyone that attended the workshop on accounting procedures, practices, and financial management at City Hall on February 7. The meeting occurred because of the concerns I raised in my memo to Council and City Administrator dated January 26, 2002 and the concerns expressed by Council Members over the past year. I was stunned that the bank balances were never reconciled each month and left to the auditor~to fix at the end ofthe year. I could never have imagined that month-end closings - the basic step for accurate accounting -- were not done and had not been done for a lengthy period of time. I wanted to hear the professional opinion of Auditor Steve McDonald concerning what he viewed as the problems and I wanted to hear the perspective of staff about accounting issues. February 7, 2002 Workshop Notes I began the workshop with an explanation of my total frustration with the inaccuracies in the accounts of the City. Council Member Nelson also echoed her frustrations. In my opinion, account errors, timeliness of reports, or delays in fulfilling requests for information are long-standing. Quality control and oversight are weak at best and nonexistent more often than not.