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Commission tables updated finance director job description after charter concerns
Summary
Commissioners raised objections that the proposed changes would remove supervisory powers set out in the city charter. The commission voted to table the updated finance director job description for review by the city attorney and the legislative committee.
The Benton Harbor City Commission voted to table a proposed update to the finance director job description after several commissioners said the revisions conflicted with the City Charter.
The proposed job description, recommended by the personnel and finance committee, had removed or narrowed language describing the finance director’s supervisory responsibilities. Commissioner Clark Griffin and others argued the charter identifies the finance director as head of the Finance Department with direct supervision of financial affairs, including tax collection and control of city funds. “The Director of Finance shall have direct supervision over the Department of Finance and the Administration of the Financial Affairs of the City,” the clerk read from the charter during the discussion.
Commissioners said striking supervisory language could limit departmental control and create ambiguity about who oversees tax collection and departmental deputies. Commissioner Griffin said the proposed change would be “offensive to the charter.” Concerned commissioners asked whether the personnel and finance committee had the authority to make that revision without legislative and legal review.
Mayor Pro Tem Burton Seats moved to table the item and send it to the legislative committee and the city attorney for a legal opinion. The motion carried. Commissioners asked the city attorney to report back on whether the proposed language would require charter amendment or could be reconciled administratively. The commission did not approve the updated job description at the meeting.
Commissioners and staff also discussed practical matters for recruiting: the draft listed qualifications such as a master’s degree in accounting, finance, business or public administration. Personnel committee members said the job description was updated in part to attract qualified applicants for an open finance director post, but several commissioners requested clearer supervision language consistent with the charter before recruitment continues.
The city clerk confirmed the personnel and finance committee had reviewed a draft prior to the full commission meeting; commissioners requested the attorney’s written opinion and legislative review before any final action.
