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Cleveland board delays filling city clerk vacancy amid segregation-of-duties concerns
Summary
A proposed consolidation of the city clerk and assistant clerk positions was discussed and tentatively accepted by the candidate, but the board postponed advertising and formal approval until concerns about segregation of duties and audit objections are resolved.
The Cleveland Board of Aldermen on July 7 discussed options to fill an upcoming city clerk vacancy and deferred a final hiring decision pending answers about internal controls.
Mayor Roberson said the planned retirement will create a vacancy and proposed two options: combine the City Clerk and Assistant City Clerk/Accounting Clerk into one position and offer the combined job to Assistant City Clerk Dana Aksamit (who had said she accepted the offer pending board approval), or pursue a separate arrangement pending further responses. The mayor suggested an hourly rate of "$20.00 to $22.50" for the combined role.
City Clerk Tasneam Nawaz objected to combining duties, stressing segregation-of-duties principles and audit risks. Nawaz said that one-person accounting arrangements can be vulnerable, stating, "the person receiving the money making the deposit should not be the same person entering the funds in the accounting program." She noted that having two positions reduces fraud risk and helps with audit findings.
Board members discussed backup and training options, noting candidates willing to help maintain records. Alderman Muller recommended hiring a part-time or occasional assistant clerk to provide backup. After discussion the board "decided to postpone the publication of advertisement until Mayor finds out segregation of duties questions," leaving the final filling of the vacancy for a future meeting once the mayor reports back.
No formal hiring motion was recorded at the July 7 meeting, and the board did not set a firm timetable for posting the position.
