Procedure for requesting accounting services questioned

Council gave treasurer the task but city manager did it

By Barb Pert Templeton

An Aug. 18 meeting of the Algonac City Council had some council members taking issue with an item in City Manager Artie Bryson’s report where he noted that “as directed” he sent a detailed request for a proposal for accounting services to Woodhill Group.

Councilwoman Wendy Meldrum said the direction to seek that proposal for the services was to have City Treasurer Alysia Bugg create and submit the request, so she wanted that clarified for the record.

“I created it and sent it to them,” Bryson quickly conceded.

“But our motion was for the treasurer to do it. The treasurer says she’s doesn’t know anything about it,” Councilman Michael Bembas said. “Why have we gone around the treasurer and around council. This has happened a couple times and this is one of my frustrations.”

“We really didn’t, I sent it to her,” Bryson replied.

Bembas said officials gave specific instructions and it comes across as the city management doesn’t care what they say they, just do it their way.

“You are kind of running roughshod over city council when you take it on yourself to do that,” Bembas said.

Mayor Pro Tem Dawn Davey said she knows it was mentioned at least three times that this was a task for the treasurer.

Meldrum said yes and she had correspondence with Bryson that she copied the council on and while she can appreciate his initiative in doing it, she still thinks the city treasurer should have been involved.

Mayor Rocky Gillis said he had a procedural question because council can only direct the city manager, he doesn’t know if they can direct the treasurer, because they only have one employee. He said he was going to ask the city attorney to clarify things. Meldrum said she would appreciate that.

“That would be like, for example, me saying city manager I would like you to ask lifeguard four to pick up trash at the pool, I know it’s a different thing but I would like some clarification just on that point,” Gillis said. “I’m not saying it’s right or wrong but I’m not aware of if we can direct individual employees.”

Davey said she can understand that but even so there should have been a sit-down conversation with the treasurer. Bryson commented that she was on vacation.

Bembas said that’s why they gave the item a two-week window, she wasn’t on vacation for two weeks.

“It’s very hard to pass the smell test the way it comes across to us,” Bembas added.

“Well, I just think good, bad or indifferent this was to help out the treasurer and you wait until she comes back from vacation and ask what she needs help with,” Davey added. “She’s not an elected official, this is her career and she’s going to know what she needs, that’s all I’m saying.”

Councilman Ed Carter said he saw the situation as a simple request for a quote being needed, there was a deadline on it and he didn’t see a problem with the city manager seeking one.

“Obviously the treasurer will be involved, a simple request for a quote is not doing business, it’s not doing the audit, it’s not doing any of that,” Carter said. “I see there was a deadline, somebody was gone, it was taken care of and when the quote or consultation comes the treasurer has to be involved in that, I think we’re just kind of searching here.”

“Well, what we voted on did not happen the way we voted on it and that’s the bottom line with that,” Bembas said.

Directing a question to the mayor, Meldrum asked if while he’s talking to the city attorney about this issue could he also ask about the employee policy regarding department heads and administrative employees. Gillis said yes, he would do that as well.