HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-14-15 Wilkinson Public Comment Analysis of Community Involvement ProcessesFrom:Chris Mehl
To:Agenda
Subject:Fwd: Analysis of Community Involvement Processes
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2015 9:58:52 PM
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From: Jeanne Wilkinson <jmwilkinson4@msn.com>Date: June 14, 2015 at 9:10:55 PM MDTTo: "jkrauss@bozeman.net" <jkrauss@bozeman.net>,"ctaylor@bozeman.net" <ctaylor@bozeman.net>, "cmehl@bozeman.net"<cmehl@bozeman.net>, "candrus@bozeman.net"<candrus@bozeman.net>, "ipomeroy@bozeman.net"<ipomeroy@bozeman.net>Subject: Analysis of Community Involvement Processes
To the Bozeman City Commissioners:
It was with incredulity that I read the Commission Memo entitled, Analysis of
Community Involvement Processes authored by: City Manager, Chris Kukulski;
Community Development Director, Wendy Thomas; Economic Development
Director, Brit Fontenot; Administrative Services Director, Anna Rosenberry; and
Director of Parks & Recreation, Mitch Overton. In particular, I was dismayed to
hear these City employees recommend disbanding the Audit Committee, and
near-disbandment of the Historic Preservation Advisory Board.
The Historic Preservation Advisory Board is a long-standing group of citizens who
have accomplished remarkable good that the city, its residents, and visitors
enjoy today such as, downtown and the historic neighborhoods. This board in
particular is crucial to the integrity of what makes Bozeman attractive and why
it keeps rating as one of the most livable cities. Advisory boards were created
to be part of the infrastructure of City government. If there are challenges with
how this board functions, then address the challenges. It would be
unconscionable to accept the City staff recommended change to virtually
disband the Historic Preservation Advisory Board.
As a Certified Public Accountant and former Director of Internal Audit at MSU, I
can tell you the importance of maintaining independent Audit Committees in
government. The Audit Committee must be comprised of members
independent of the City to prevent management interference with audits or
suppression of audit findings In the wake of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act which
requires independent audit committees for publicly traded companies due to
widespread failures of auditor independence and corporate governance, this is
no time for City government to abolish this important function.
Sincerely, Jeanne Wilkinson and Family415 South 3rd Ave.406-580-7484