A resolution requiring an audit on the mayors travel expenses will be introduced Wednesday at the council meeting. R63 is the introduced legislation and what surprises me is that the city hasn't had a policy like this on the books
My guess is that we have not had a social media/globe prancing mayor like we have now so a policy is very much needed. The mayor isn't above audits and this will put a necessary process in place that will hold him and his staff accountable.
Holy shit!!! I cant believe that this legislation is being sponsored by Mota, Napoli, Affa, and Gerlach. I give you four congrats on doing this. Honestly, I am surprised Binder didn't sign on to the legislation since he is very fiscally responsible and continually talks about accountability.
This is definitely necessary to thwart unnecessary future spending. I will be doing a follow up after council meeting.
I think this audit should include the expense accounts of ALL Mayor's staff since there are others who like to travel for free as well to Taylor Swift concert locations. Yeah, Abe knows. wink wink
Lastly since I don't want to share too much, but maybe a committee should be made to approve any future trips before the mayor goes. Oh wait, and since he says on Facebook why he is there. Maybe a 500 word report on what he learned and how it will be implemented in the city.
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22 comments:
While they are at it, they should perform an audit of the wasted expense to build a new police and fire station.
I no longer live in Allentown but would really like to see it get its act together. Maybe, in time, I will venture back into there to spend money. This DOES sound like a good first step!
This is a great step. The mayor of Allentown does not need to be going on these trips and wasting money. Send people that have more longevity in the city. He has an expiration date.
I am beyond surprised that Napoli put his name on it as a sponsor … maybe a good old bait and switch is going to happen? Support it publicly but secretly tear it down behind closed doors. That is what he and the mayor typically do from what I’ve heard.
How about the wasted money on moving the 10th st station over to 9th st. Where's that post.
Plain and simple Napoli is bad for Allentown! Remember that for the future.
Let’s check on PW Director trips to snow conference each year !! I see how that is paying off from last winter disaster!
If I recall he was the ringleader behind canceling the Curtis Investigation. Him and Daryl "Protect my Son" Hendricks.
Binder will say nothing as his wife got appointed to the housing authority. The grift is on and there is more to come. The others are using this to get what they want from the Fifth Floor. It's all about leverage which works both ways. And none of them really care about optics as we are just revenue streams for them. You want a resolution that has accountability and fiscal responsibility? No elected can have any relative hired by the city or appointed to anything. Make that a law. Go build your resume somewhere else like the rest of society.
Glazier better not fudge the numbers for the mayor either. A right to know on city expenses will find the truth if this happens.
You really don’t need legislation for this. You really just need a competent, independent controller who is willing to do his job.
Glazier is an embarrassment to the city, but I have trouble thinking of an elected official who isn’t.
Glazier should be charged for covering this stuff up. Maybe the trips are paid for by P cards.
The controller office is a waste of space. The city would be better served hiring an outside auditor and a finance director that’s biggest success is doing taxes at HR Block. Yet, we are continually surprised when these frivolous expenses occur?
Did the used car salesman/bedbug furniture salesman do his forensic miscalculations to present at counsil ABE?
The resolution is missing something important - the reason for the travel.
Personally, I would prefer if they'd simply zero out the budget for ANY trips by the mayor, with the provision that the mayor can come to council (and the public) and make a request for funding of any trip. Part of that request, naturally, would be the justification for the trip, and information on whether the training could be attended remotely.
That way, the public knows what the trip is for, how much it will cost, and if there is a way to lower the cost. And they know it AHEAD OF TIME.
In addition to including the above suggestions in the resolution, Council should include the same treatment for their own travel expenses.
I don't think they'll make any changes to improve the resolution, since I think they only want to give the appearance of doing their jobs, while actually doing the minimum to create that appearance.
To that end, I also question why this is simply a resolution. Why not an actual bill with penalties forcing repayment if a personal benefit (like days spent mostly on personal business) is determined and the force of the law behind it?
That's what a serious (and competent) council would do.
Matt Tuerk wasted taxpayer money to go to Spain and the entire conference was simulcasted on the internet? We taxpayers of Allentown got to pay for him to run in the Madrid Marathon. You can't tell me differently.
Check out the videos that were live broadcast. https://citylab.bloomberg.org/
Excellent! Matt definitely shouldn’t be using tax payers money for these trips.
How much money has City Tax PAYERS paid for the active investigations going on from the Whistle Blowers that have reported their misconduct.? Audit SWEEP Program from the 3.6 Million dollars that haven't heard the out come from that. Matt and his administration MONEY grabbing before their end of term.
Also using Tax payers money to pay their worthless lying lawyers for all lawsuits City pending in Citys Corruption. It must be in the Hundreds of Thousands.
Exactly 💯 Audit Sweep DEPT and the Mayors waste of City Tax payers money.. which many are struggling to make ends meet. But Matt and his Administration using for personal enjoyment.
They are all abusing their power and Benefiting from Tax payers ..
Public Works Director also is in with Mayors Corruption. Waste of Tax Payers money.
Never Fear, Frank is on the job, working hard for us. During tonight's council meeting, Frank Kane says it cost the city nothing for Matt to go to Spain. Free Trip courtesy of Bloomberg. We need full disclosure. Who is paying for our City Management to travel, why are they traveling and what's the benefit to us taxpayers? Free $$$ is not free of strings and somebody benefits. Usually not the tax payers of course. Sorry, Frank could not tell us much, as he's having a difficult time navigating the city's IT systems to gather data. Plus he couldn't talk to Mayor Matt or Controller Jeff yet. All very busy on our behalf I'm sure.
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