The Finance Committee has now met twice regarding my order to flesh out the problems highlighted in the recent Department of Revenue Audit Report, as well as, a full discussion of the proposed recommendations.
The Committee has meet with the City Auditor, Assessors, Tax Collector, Personnel Director and Treasurer.
Our next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 21, 2008 and will focus on the City Treasurer and the numerous problems in his office. There will be many areas of questions regarding his followup for past promises he has made to the City Council. In addition to the Audit report, I will certainly be inquiring of the Treasurer as to his mulitple promises to resolve the medicare accounts and the proper crediting of employee's statements.
At the conclusion of these hearings, I will be offering a large package of findings, as well as, procedural and structural changes that need to be made to city government and certain offices to make them more transparent and accountable to the taxpayers. I will keep the citizens fully updated thorughout this process.
On June 2, the Finance Committee will also be discussing the proposed $9.4 million bond request to make improvements to Holyoke High School. That night we will also be getting a report from the Retirement Board regarding the unfunded pension liability issue and the overall health of the city retirement fund. It should be an excellent meeting and I will followup with Bloggers on Holyoke First with a full report.
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