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Council presses for legal review of p-cards after coding concerns, approves current p-cards
Summary
Council approved p-cards and transfers after debate about prior coding and whether law department review is applied; members requested the established review pathway and confirmation that legal staff vet purchases going forward.
Councilmembers on Monday pressed budget staff and administration for clearer procedures after recurring concerns about p-card coding and whether legal review occurs before council voting.
Councilwoman Kale Smith said this was at least the second p-card issue noted publicly and asked who reviews p-card purchases for legal compliance. Budget staff (Pete McDonough and Peter McDevitt) said finance reviews coding and usage but acknowledged the law department or council legal adviser should be part of the review pathway for items that raise legal questions.
"I don't want council to be in this situation again where we're on the news hearing about something that we knew nothing about," a councilmember said, asking for a clear chain of review. The chair said she would locate and re-share a previously established process that routes p-card questions through the law department before finalization.
After discussion, council voted to approve invoices, interdepartmental transfers and p-cards, and requested formal confirmation from the law department that the reviewed pathway is in place and functioning.
Staff agreed to confirm routing and provide documentation to council members.
