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Oakland mayor's Washington trip triggers board dispute; invoices ultimately approved
Summary
Mayor said he attended meetings in Washington at the senator's invitation; some aldermen objected to reimbursement without prior board approval. After lengthy debate the board approved the invoices placed on the agenda.
A dispute over an out-of-town trip by Oakland’s mayor dominated a significant portion of the Aug. 21 Board of Aldermen meeting and exposed differences among board members about travel authorization and reimbursement.
The mayor said he attended meetings in Washington, D.C., at the invitation of U.S. Sen. Bill Hagerty and also met with Congressman Kustoff’s office. He described the trip as official business related to regional development and said he had notified and consulted the town manager and town attorney before attending. The mayor said he was the only elected official invited to a meeting that included other regional development stakeholders.
Several aldermen said the mayor should have brought the trip to the board in advance and strongly objected to approving reimbursements for travel they characterized as undertaken without board permission. One alderman said the mayor had acted “behind the board’s back” and said they would not approve the expense. The mayor said he had contacted the town manager and town attorney and that the town manager has the authority to authorize travel in unusual circumstances.
Council discussion covered who has the authority to approve travel and what the town’s charter and established procedures require. Town staff and the mayor’s supporters said the town manager may authorize travel expenses in some circumstances and that the mayor sought guidance before going. The town attorney was cited in the discussion as advising that the manager had authority to approve the trip in an unusual circumstance.
Board members also discussed details the mayor provided: he said six people were invited to the Washington meeting, he was the only elected official invited, the meetings covered federal investment and infrastructure discussions, and he declined an offered White House tour in order to return promptly. The mayor said he tried to limit cost by renting a car and arranging a discounted hotel rate.
Several aldermen continued to object, saying the invitation could have been handled through nearer offices (for example, regional offices in Memphis) and that travel should come before the board. The disagreement became heated at times. The transcript records that some aldermen said they would vote against reimbursing the mayor, while others defended the meeting as timely official business.
Despite the dispute, a motion to approve the invoices on the consent/disbursement list — which included two invoices discussed during the meeting — was made and seconded. The board voted in favor of paying the invoices and then adjourned; the transcript shows the final motion to approve invoices was carried by voice vote.
