Post by pavel on Apr 11, 2016 19:31:51 GMT -6
A week after the Hearne City Council voted 4-1 to take a citizen petition seeking an audit of city finances to court, legal action came in the form of a lawsuit against the former mayor who led the initiative.
Former Mayor Milton Johnson, Councilwoman Shirley Harris and council candidates Rodrick Jackson and Martha Castilleja gathered more than 500 signatures to demand an initiative election be placed on the May 7 ballot. The petition sought to have residents vote on hiring a forensic auditor, which would be selected by the Robertson County District Attorney, to examine how Hearne handles its finances. That measure missed the deadline to appear on the ballot, but the possibility of a special election being ordered in November was reason enough for the City Council to decide to pursue litigation.
On Wednesday, the city sued Johnson, calling the ballot initiative an "improper attempt to delegate and assign administrative duties and fiscal responsibilities" to an office holder who does not have the authority to conduct an audit, and an attempt to circumvent the city charter by removing the powers of the City Council and city manager.
The proposed ordinance the petition called to be placed on the ballot would have asked if the city should be forced to spend up to $120,000 on the forensic audit -- the lawsuit says voters may not attempt to create or challenge ordinances levying taxes or appropriating money, and points out that since 1964 the city charter has mandated a certified public accountant conduct an annual audit on city finances.
Read more: www.theeagle.com/news/local/hearne-city-council-taking-legal-action-over-citizen-finance-petition/article_51f009da-1ae5-5e86-8bc8-0edcb4731ec1.html
Former Mayor Milton Johnson, Councilwoman Shirley Harris and council candidates Rodrick Jackson and Martha Castilleja gathered more than 500 signatures to demand an initiative election be placed on the May 7 ballot. The petition sought to have residents vote on hiring a forensic auditor, which would be selected by the Robertson County District Attorney, to examine how Hearne handles its finances. That measure missed the deadline to appear on the ballot, but the possibility of a special election being ordered in November was reason enough for the City Council to decide to pursue litigation.
On Wednesday, the city sued Johnson, calling the ballot initiative an "improper attempt to delegate and assign administrative duties and fiscal responsibilities" to an office holder who does not have the authority to conduct an audit, and an attempt to circumvent the city charter by removing the powers of the City Council and city manager.
The proposed ordinance the petition called to be placed on the ballot would have asked if the city should be forced to spend up to $120,000 on the forensic audit -- the lawsuit says voters may not attempt to create or challenge ordinances levying taxes or appropriating money, and points out that since 1964 the city charter has mandated a certified public accountant conduct an annual audit on city finances.
Read more: www.theeagle.com/news/local/hearne-city-council-taking-legal-action-over-citizen-finance-petition/article_51f009da-1ae5-5e86-8bc8-0edcb4731ec1.html