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Health & Fitness

Let's Get to Work

With the election behind us and opportunities ahead of us, we now have to develop sound ideas and strategies and execute accordingly.  The recent election proves once again that ideas matter and that voters will take an interest when the issues are justified.  And the issues of the past election were certainly that.  Allow me to provide just one example.

After the City Council meeting this past Monday night, Tim Killingsworth provided me with a copy of the City Travel Policy (Resolution No. 2002-19) entitled:  A Resolution to Adopt a Travel Policy for the City of Kennesaw and to Repeal Conflicting Provisions.  It was adopted on December 16th, 2002 and to anyone's knowledge has not been updated since.

What we find lacking in the documentation includes:

1.  Per Diem rates for meals and hotels.  Despite my disagreement with Tim, I will not acquiesce on his point that per diems cost the taxpayer more money.  That statement flies in the face of logic.
2.  Guidelines for entertainment of constituents.  This needs to be very tightly defined or every meeting in Kennesaw could be constructed as meeting with a constituent.  This needs more discussion, however, what begins to strengthen the process is documentation.  See next point.
3.  Documentation - and we don't mean the receipt.  Who, what, when, where and why of the meeting not just a receipt.  It is one thing to provide the receipt but you must SUBSTANTIATE to purpose of the meeting.  
4.  Prudent Man principle - Based upon "reasonable standard".  The document states that a "prudent person would exercise if traveling on personal business and expending personal funds."  The problem is that politicians are doing the traveling and not treating it as their own.  Otherwise, we would not be having this discussion.
5.  City issued credit cards that has the monthly bill going to the City.  How about this:  You have a City issued credit card with your personal name on it for which you are responsible to pay each month.  You must submit receipts, you must substantiate the expenditure and the expenditure must be within the guidelines of entertainment (whatever those might be).  The City cuts you a check and you pay the bill.

We also note a very interesting line on page 3 of the document:  "No alcoholic beverages may be included in the request for reimbursement or charged to the City's account."  I'll leave that one hanging on its own for you to decide if it has been violated.

This is a very easy idea for the new Council to implement.  So let's get to work guys.  Put the oars in the water and start pulling.

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