A wave of public comment at the Nov. 17 Fort Thomas City Council meeting urged an independent forensic review of city finances and stronger human‑resources procedures following a recent audit and several disputed administrative actions.

Charles Hoffman and other speakers asked council to pause discretionary spending until the city produces the cost and scope for a forensic audit, resolves a recent firefighter labor dispute and allows a newly hired finance director time to advise council. "We should verify that we are in compliance," Hoffman said, asking for specific milestones that would justify resuming nonessential spending.

Sharon Maxine and other residents urged external oversight, saying internal control failures have persisted for years. "Someone completely independent must handle the request, the fairness, and due process," one commenter said, arguing that the city administration and council were both part of past oversight gaps and therefore conflicted if they supervise the audit.

Speakers identified a set of alleged governance issues: an executive‑order appointment that bypassed required council approvals for some boards, a missed five‑year comprehensive plan review (cited under KRS 100.197), and a February payment described in testimony as a $277,000 pension‑related payment made without prior council approval. Residents asked the council to send parallel requests to the state auditor and to solicit clean private bids, post letters and maintain public updates.

Council members said the city has already prepared RFPs for audit work; staff said the Kentucky Office of the State Auditor reviewed the city's public accounts and provided that, on the materials they were given, it did not identify fraud and therefore declined to open an investigation. Several council members said they want to pursue either a state audit if accepted or the cleanest private bid and to post RFPs and timelines publicly.

On human resources, commenters criticized a consensual‑relationship agreement involving city staff that they say appears to conflict with municipal ordinance O 12 20 16; the mayor and city administrator told the audience that the agreement was intended to avoid a direct supervisory relationship and that the matter was discussed in executive session. Residents pushed for a third‑party HR investigation and for council to ensure training from the Kentucky Department for Local Government and Kentucky League of Cities.

Next steps: City staff reported RFPs for forensic audit and HR consultant work are being posted; council requested the administration gather communications and internal documents about prior notifications so council can confirm who knew what and when. No formal audit contract was awarded at the meeting.