New Morristown City Councilmembers Gene Brooks and Bob Garrett and long-time member Kay Senter will be sworn in today to 4-year terms. Following the swearing-in ceremony, the Mayor and Council will get to work, starting with a presentation from city staff on the financial position of the city.
The city budget is in flux with numerous proposals on the table for generating additional revenue and in some cases making spending cuts.
There has been continuing talk in the public and at council meetings about the status of current City Administrator Jim Crumley.
One proposal that is under consideration is a plan to rein in Crumley---at least a little bit. Currently, Crumley apparently has authority to spend as much as $10,000 in appropriated funds in whatever manner he sees fit.
While this may sound harmless--after all it's just $10,000--the reality is that Crumley or any city administrator with such authority could substantially alter the original budgetary spending plan as passed by the council through a series of multiple $10,000 transactions.
This is where the council needs to stand up for accountability. There should be checks and balances in city government. The council should stand up and accept its role as the "check" on the city administrator's spending of city dollars.
I would expect car allowances and the power given or assumed by Crumley to give and increase car allowances for city employees will come up today or in future budget hearings.
Charging apartment residents/owners garbage fees will be a topic at some point.
And there is a lot more as the city tries to get its spending and debt under control.
It should be an interesting meeting.
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