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Committee declines to act on council president’s $368.17 retroactive travel request
Summary
Council President Monique Johns asked the committee to approve a $368.17 reimbursement for an additional stop during a previously approved conference trip; members questioned retroactive approval and documentation, the motion received no second and could not be acted on.
Council President Monique Johns requested $368.17 from her council budget to cover an unanticipated additional stop during a previously approved trip to a legislative conference. She said the stop had been on her calendar, involved an appearance and meetings with out-of-state officials and that she participated in the conference events.
Councilman Smiley objected to retroactive travel approvals, saying the council’s rules require prior authorization for out-of-state travel and that retroactive requests set a problematic precedent: "If it was that important, I think you should pay it out of pocket." Councilman Hollins and other members pressed for clearer rules and documentation; Johns said she had submitted receipts and mileage. The chair noted there was no second to the motion, so the committee could not act on the request at that meeting.
The committee did not approve the additional reimbursement; members asked staff to clarify travel-approval rules going forward.
