Council approves $1.63 million in claims, multiple contracts and a budget amendment

At its meeting, the Charlotte City Council approved a package of business items that included claims, service agreements, contracts and a budget amendment.

The manager asked the council to move two claims from consent to business; those items included printing and mailing related to summer tax bills and a release of fire escrow funds of $16,025 pending inspection. He said the total expenditures for the disbursement list increased to $1,628,676.17; the council approved the claims by voice vote.

Council approved a contract with ENG for inspection services covering added road miles at a contract amount of $76,520. The council also approved Resolution 2026-41 (accounting methodology for emergency services and vehicle special assessment fund) and exercised a contract extension with the city's audit firm per the original contract.

Facing a vacancy in the finance director position and urgent audit-preparation needs, council approved a service agreement with the Woodhill Group to provide finance and audit-prep support. The manager described the engagement as likely to exceed the budgeted amount for a finance director and said the work would be front-loaded for audit prep, with an expectation that Woodhill would phase down as staff is trained.

Council approved a short-term administrative consulting agreement with Great Lakes Municipal Consulting LLC (about 100 hours through July 17) to assist with the transition. The council also approved a budget amendment (Resolution 2026-42) that uses fund reserves to cover an estimated $45,000 adjustment in the economic development fund and additional recycling fund personnel costs; that amendment passed on roll-call with the members recorded as voting 'Yes.'

Several nominations to the parks and library boards were approved: Abigail Maladona and Cindy Miller to the parks board (terms expiring 2029) and Gloria Wilson to the library board (term expiring 2029).