Chattanooga: Council moves closer to filling auditor post

An independent auditor who could step in from time to time and examine the mayor’s office could be a way of fulfilling the City Charter requirement for the post, council members agreed Tuesday.

During the City Council’s Budget, Finance and Personnel Committee meeting Tuesday, Councilman Dan Page suggested the council set up a joint auditor position with the mayor’s office immediately. He said the separate auditor then could audit the executive branch when needed.

“It sounds like it could satisfy the charter,” Interim City Attorney Mike McMahan said.

Questions about the City Charter came to light last April when Councilman Leamon Pierce found that it called for the City Council to fill the position of internal auditor. The council was operating until that point with the position of management analyst, not auditor.

The city had an auditor, but the position reported to the mayor’s office, not the council.

The discussion started Tuesday with Councilman Leamon Pierce handing out a two-page letter calling for an independent auditor position to be created immediately. Mr. Pierce said the issue had been going on for too long.

“How long are we going to drag this issue out?” he asked.

Councilman Russell Gilbert Jr. first brought up the idea of outsourcing for the internal auditor position. Mr. Page later expanded on the suggestion.

In other business, the City Council voted 9-0 to approve almost $5 million in sewer mapping and modeling work that would help alleviate any arising problems in sewer lines.