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Resident criticizes council spending decisions, cites software contract and land purchase
Summary
During citizen input, Gary Venable criticized council spending choices and referenced past votes approving a mural, land purchase, a mass-notification system and a software contract awarded without an RFP; he disputed claims that a single salary change caused a tax increase.
During the citizen-input portion of the Aug. 4 meeting, resident Gary Venable criticized recent council spending decisions and questioned the rationale for certain purchases and contracts.
Venable listed council-approved items including a mural for $6,594.37, a land purchase for $79,500 on Baker Street, a $4,900 mass-notification system, and a software contract he said was awarded without bids or an RFP with start-up costs of roughly $69,115 and annual fees of $15,925. He disputed suggestions that a single salary reduction explained recent tax changes and urged the council to recognize the effect of prior votes on spending trends.
"Let's quit pretending that a single person's salary forced a tax increase," Venable said, adding that council votes on purchases demonstrate discretionary spending choices. Council members listened but did not immediately respond to the list of items cited.
