Of the glowing report, Goldman said the town had come a long way in its accounting records.
“Overall the town did not expend its budgeted funds,” Goldman said. “You’re right where you need to be.”
After the audit report, council member Jeanette Chandler asked for clarification on how much money the mayor can spend without council approval. Councilman Larry Jochetz asked city secretary Ruby DeLaGarza to retrieve the minutes of a meeting in 1999 that gave the mayor the authority to spend $500 without prior council approval. However, the minutes did not reflect whether that was per expenditure, per day or per week.
“I just want clarification,” Chandler said.
Attorney Donald Kubicek said it was per expenditure.
Chandler said the issue came to a head because of a seminar on investments. Each council member was polled to see if they approved of the mayor and city secretary attending the school, said Councilman Jimmy Blaschke. The council members decided it was in the best interest of the taxpayers to take the course online for $250 each. The mayor overrode the decision. He told the council it was within his discretion to do so.
Blaschke asked why they were polled if the mayor was not going to abide by their decision.
Two hotel rooms were booked for more well over $100 per night for two nights, according to Jochetz. Other expenses include mileage and meals Jochetz said.
“We all need to be on the same page when it comes to saving taxpayer’s money,” Jochetz said. “We talked about not giving employee raises at the budget workshop so this doesn’t set well with me. That’s why were visiting the subject.”
Hernandez said what was being taught at the seminar was important.
However, Blaschke said he thought the seminar was meant for larger municipalities. Hernandez said it contained information for both.
“I have never abused or misused this authority to spend $500,” Mayor George Hernandez said emphatically.
The mayor said if he had to make the decision all over again, he’d do it the same way.
The council voted to limit spending to $500 per day.
In other matters, the council agreed to charge churches residential water rates instead of commercial rates; and voted to proceed with selling an abandoned road to residents. The decision was held up when landowners were told the town could not sell the property. Kubicek said a Texas Municipal League lawyer wrote a decision on selling the property and “got them all wrong.”
“You’ve got no problem doing it,” Kubicek said. “I’ll do the deed.”
The council also assessed a $25 a day user fee for vendors who plug into the electricity at the town square.
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