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Mount Vernon board approves budget transfer for Charter Review legal services; mayor raises process concerns
Summary
The board authorized a transfer from contingency to pay outside counsel for the Charter Revision Commission but the mayor and others raised concerns that the commission lacks an agreed internal process for contracting and spending.
The Board of Estimate and Contract on May 20 approved a budget transfer from the contingency fund to the City Council's outside contracted services line to cover legal services for the Charter Revision Commission.
Comptroller Morton presented the request as coming from the Charter Revision Commission chair; the transfer will support drafting ballot language and related legal materials after the commission determines what will go before voters in November. The comptroller said the commission's current budget for the year was largely spent and the transfer was needed so work could proceed.
Mayor Patterson Howard voiced concern that the Charter Revision Commission appears not to have a clear internal process for entering contracts or requesting money. "If they're gonna continue to request money, they have to have a clear process," the mayor said, adding that the commission had been asked to provide rules of engagement. The mayor also said the comptroller's office will monitor expenditures and that chair communications indicated there is a rules document under development.
The board voted by roll call to approve the transfer; the transcript records Comptroller Morton, Council President Brown and Mayor Patterson Howard voting "Aye." The transfer authorizes drawing funds from contingency to cover outside legal costs but the board did not set a new spending ceiling in the meeting. Staff said they will monitor the commission's drawdown and request additional transfers if needed.
