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Washington council approves audit contract, budget amendment and policy updates in unanimous votes
Summary
In a single-session series of motions March 3, the council approved a FY2025 audit contract not to exceed $78,020, adopted a budget amendment to cover tax and tags for two city vehicles, updated purchasing and personnel policies, allowed commemorative Social District cups, and authorized staff to proceed with two surplus property closings.
The Washington City Council unanimously approved a set of routine and administrative actions at its March 3 meeting, including a professional-services contract, a budget amendment to cover vehicle tax and registration fees, and several policy updates intended to streamline municipal operations.
On finance, council approved a contract with Martin Starnes and Associates, CPA, PA of Hickory, N.C., to perform the fiscal year 2025 audit for a cost not to exceed $78,020. Meeting background states the contract covers auditing up to six major grant programs at $3,500 each, though the city historically has fewer such audits; the final cost will depend on the number of grant program audits required.
The council also adopted a budget ordinance amendment appropriating fund balance in fund 086 to cover tax and tag fees for a recently purchased ambulance and a street sweeper after prior budgeted funds were used to cover increased acquisition costs. The meeting record does not specify the dollar amount of the appropriation.
On policy matters, council adopted revisions to the Purchasing Policy to update procurement thresholds and make minor corrections, and approved two changes to Personnel Policy: allowing exempt employees to automatically carry over accrued compensatory time through the end of the fiscal year and delegating authority to department heads to negotiate starting salaries up to 10% above minimum without City Manager approval (offers 10% or greater above minimum will continue to require City Manager approval).
Council also approved an exemption to the Social District Ordinance to permit commemorative cups for special events; City Manager Jonathan Russell said the exemption will not alter the social district’s parameters, only the cup used at events. Finally, after staff reported that surplus properties on Keysville Road and 6th Street had completed the upset bid process with no competing offers, council by consensus authorized staff to move forward with closings.
Most motions were made and seconded by councilmembers recorded in the minutes (for example, the audit contract motion was made by Councilmember William Pitt and seconded by Mayor Pro tem Anthony Tyre). Recorded roll-call votes for formal motions in the minutes show all members present voting yes.
