City hopes to give finance director new boss

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October 3, 2012

City hopes to give finance director new boss

Bryant Thigpen Suwannee Democrat The Suwannee Democrat Wed Oct 03, 2012, 02:03 PM EDT

Live Oak — The Live Oak City Council met on Tuesday night, Sept. 25, for a brief meeting at 6 p.m. to hold their final hearing and approval of the 2012-13 proposed budget and approve amendments to an ordinance that would restructure the finance director’s position. 

Amended sections of Ordinance 711 would make it where Finance Director Jan Parkhurst, and any future finance directors, report directly to the city clerk, currently John Gill. The finance director currently reports to the city administrator, who is Bob Farley.

 However, the final reading of Ordinance 1324, which amends the sections in Ordinance 711, won’t become effective until Mayor Sonny Nobles chooses to either sign it or veto it.  

The mayor has three choices he can make: he can sign the ordinance which shows his approval; not sign the ordinance, but it would still go into effect or he can veto the council’s vote. He has until the next council meeting on Oct. 9 to come to a decision.

If he vetoes the council’s vote, it doesn’t necessarily mean the end to the amendments. The council can overturn the mayor’s veto but must do so with at least four votes.  

Nobles told the Democrat Tuesday that he has not made his decision yet but has expressed his displeasure with the move.

 “I have come to the realization and conclusion that putting the finance director under the supervision of the city clerk is not in the best interest and conducive to smooth and efficient operation of the City of Live Oak,” said Nobles. “It makes no logical sense for this to happen. I am confused, to some extent, as to why this move is even being proposed and considered.”

The amendments to the ordinance passed with a 3-2 vote. Councilmen Jacob Grantham, Keith Mixon and Adam Prins voted in favor while council members John Yulee and Bennie Thomas voted against.

"I believe allowing the finance director to be supervised by the city clerk will make her opinion more objective,” Prins told the Democrat. “Before this change, the finance director was subject to supervision by the city administrator who is responsible for recommending how money is appropriated by the council. The finance director should now be able to render a professional fiscal opinion without the stress of disagreeing with her supervisor.” 

The mayor recalled that the city has had issues in the past with the finance director working under the city clerk.  

“Back in the 70s, the responsibilities of finance were removed from the clerk. In 1985 this issue was again addressed and resolved with the passage of Ordinance 711 and has worked well since,” said Nobles.

While that system may have worked in the past, Prins feels confident that it’s the best decision in helping the city to move forward.

 “Our city clerk has a professional background in finance and accounting. This move makes sense for better efficiency at City Hall,” said Prins.

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