City of New Market Faces Audit Challenges

Monday night, the New Market Board of Mayor and Aldermen met for their regular meeting.

With all members present, the meeting was called to order by Mayor Beau Tucker, and the minutes from the last meeting were gone over and approved by the board.  New Market’s monthly financial records were also gone over and approved.  Alderman Moose Solomon called attention to the fact that the record showed that the city had a $431 profit, and explained the fact that they did not have too much money to work with.

In old business, the first on the agenda was bank accounts.  Some of the council had not signed the accounts, and the floor was open to the discussion.  Chris Fair asked if there was an ordinance that all city council were required to be authorized signatures.  Tucker stated  that council members could, but it was not his belief that it was necessary that all members become signees.  City Attorney Doug Drennon recalled that some time ago, there was a ordinance passed requiring two signers.  Fair stated that the reason he asked this was “we passed this ordinance on September 11, 2017 to change banks from BB&T to First Tennessee, and yet it’s one month shy of one year and we still have not changed the bank accounts. I don’t understand why, and there’s no ordinance, if city council members do not want to sign it, what’s the hold up? Why doesn’t the city administrator move forward if it’s not required that we have more than two signatures?”.  There was contention regarding who was responsible for performing the duties of town administrator, with Mayor Tucker stating that he was elected as city mayor, and it was not his job to be a city administrator.  Fair stated that as mayor, in the absence of a city administrator, it was Tucker’s job to perform such duties.  After more deliberation, it was decided to continue the discussion at next month’s meeting, if the accounts haven’t been transferred.

In other old business, the board evaluated the statuses of business licences that were in the town, including both brick and mortar and service businesses.  Alderman Fair tried to bring up an issue he had with the state audits, but since it was not on the agenda it couldn’t be added to old business.

The new business portion of the meeting kicked off with the suggestion that New Market join in with a lawsuit already filed for Jefferson County to recoup the damages done to Quarry Road done by heavy machinery, or to file their own separate suit.  The motion to move forward at the the suggestion of the city attorney was made by Frank Solomon and then second by M. Solomon, and the motion was passed unanimously by the board. There were discussions on new police ticketing software.  The contract for the new software raised some concern for City Attorney Drinnon, and he suggested some changes in the wording, including some of the things the city would be responsible for and what the software company were responsible for.  Contingent on the software company agreeing to the changes, the first reading of the contract was passed and the board voted to move forward to a second reading of the contract.  With the new software came the issue of court costs needing to be increased by $15 per ticket, which was also passed.

Also in new business, the recent death of New Market City Judge Gene Rogers left a vacancy that needed to be filled.  Mayor Tucker suggested Ed Steiner to fill the position.  During discussion about the position, Alderman Fair suggested that it may be in the town’s best interest to appoint someone who was familiar with state laws, and suggested Keith Repass, since he has had experience in city courts.  The statement was made that it may be beneficial to have a New Market Resident serve in the position.  F. Solomon made the motion for Steiner to be named New Market City Judge, seconded by M. Solomon.  The vote was 3 to 1, with Fair voting neigh, and the motion was passed.

The mines approached Frank Solomon about fixing up the baseball fields, including replacing the lights and fixing the scoreboards as a community service project.  The fields would have signs stating that they were sponsored, but there would be no cost to the city.  F. Solomon moved that the city allowed them to do so, seconded by M. Solomon, and passed unanimously.

To wrap things up, Alderman Fair brought the issue of audits back on to the floor.  Stating concerns about the fact that he was unaware of what had and had not been done about the auditor’s findings.  Also brought up was the fact that they had not filed a 2017 audit, which was in fact due back in December.  The first point that was made was the fact that there was more that a three day gap between a receipt of a check and the point when the check would be deposited in to the city’s bank account.  The concern raised by Fair was that indeed it could be a level 3 misdemeanor according to state law.  Mayor Tucker addressed this, stating that it was not a common practice, and the last audit on record happened before either one of them were in office.  Fair stated that he wanted know what, if anything, was being done about making sure it wasn’t happening.  While the issue was still in the middle of debate, though, Alderman F. Solomon made a motion to adjourn, that was seconded by M. Solomon, and the meeting was called to an end by Mayor Tucker.

The New Market Board of Mayor and Aldermen has regular monthly meetings on the second Monday of every month at New Market City Hall.  The meetings begin at 7:00 p.m.