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Malden council orders exploration of increased financial access and reporting for council and finance committee
Summary
The City Council approved an order directing the council president to work with the chief financial officer, finance chair and city finance team to evaluate options for read‑only access to financial software and for regular financial reports shared with the finance committee and interested officials.
The Malden City Council on May 20 approved an order directing the council president to work with the chief financial officer, the finance chair and city finance staff to evaluate options for providing the council and other officials increased access and oversight of the city’s financial data.
The item, introduced by Council President Patrick O’Malley, asked the administration to examine possible measures including read‑only access to the city’s financial software and production of regular financial reports for the finance committee and other interested officials. O’Malley said the step is intended to help the council and appointed officials stay informed during challenging budget seasons.
Councilor Zach McDonald offered a friendly amendment to explicitly add the finance chair to the order; McDonald said the finance chair should be part of the work with the CFO. The amendment was accepted and carried by voice vote. Councilors also asked that the city’s information‑technology staff be involved after Councilor Wenzel raised cybersecurity concerns and suggested including IT Director Anthony Rodriguez in planning.
O’Malley said read‑only access was one option but that producing regular, standardized financial reports may be more practical. Several councilors expressed support for increased transparency and requested that the finance committee be the primary funnel for the information, with other officials allowed access as appropriate.
The council adopted the amended order by roll call following the friendly amendment and recorded no objections. The measures direct the council president to consult with the chief financial officer, controller Chuck Ranaghan, the finance chair and the treasurer and report back with recommended options.
Ending: Councilors asked the city to return with a proposed approach that addresses cybersecurity, training, and clarity about which officials or committees would receive generated reports.
