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East Point council moves forward with emergency procurement; unpaid consultant to perform rapid budget review
Summary
At a June 3 special call, East Point council confirmed an emergency procurement to support reconciliation, cash‑flow analysis and utility‑fund review and accepted an in‑kind offer from Mr. Ed Wall of Piper Sandler to review the proposed 2025–26 budget and prior years as a supplement to ongoing work with Plant Moran.
The East Point City Council on June 3 confirmed it would proceed with an emergency procurement to support a reconciliation cash‑flow analysis, reserve verification and a utility‑fund review and accepted an in‑kind offer for a rapid budget review from Mr. Ed Wall of Piper Sandler.
Mayor Chapman told the council Mr. Ed Wall "agreed to do a review of our budget at no cost to us" and said he would provide his analysis by the end of the week. The mayor said she would be the point of contact and would bring back Mr. Wall’s report to the full council.
Council members said the item on the special‑call agenda served as a second look after extensive discussion at the prior regular meeting. One member noted the item was listed "just for a second look" and that the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) was another potential resource; the mayor said GMA had recommended the mayor contact Mr. Wall.
City Attorney Wiggins described Mr. Wall as a longtime government finance consultant associated with Piper Sandler and said the engagement would be a professional service. Wiggins advised that, because the mayor indicated Mr. Wall was not charging for the scope as submitted, the city should document the engagement in writing.
City Manager Jones said staff had also engaged Plant Moran under the emergency procurement and had a meeting scheduled with that firm to obtain cost estimates; he recommended staff continue both tracks concurrently under the previously approved emergency procurement authorization. Mayor Chapman and other council members agreed to proceed with both the Plant Moran work and the in‑kind review from Mr. Wall.
Council members asked to consolidate questions and suggested sending any additional scope items to the mayor so she could forward them to Mr. Wall. The mayor said Mr. Wall indicated an "initial" review could take about 45 minutes to an hour based on materials provided, and additional questions might extend that time.
The council and staff repeatedly characterized Mr. Wall’s engagement as a supplement to — not a replacement for — the forensic analysis and other contracted work already under way. The mayor said she would return to council with Mr. Wall’s findings and any changes to scope or cost.
What happens next: staff will proceed with the emergency procurement tasks already authorized, hold the scheduled meeting with Plant Moran to determine costs, and accept Mr. Wall’s in‑kind review as a supplement; council members were asked to submit any additional questions to the mayor promptly so they can be consolidated and transmitted to the reviewer.
