MAHONING COUNTY Policy entails scrutiny of council's spending

Officials will keep a closer watch on travel, credit cards and cell phones.
By ROGER G. SMITH
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The finance committee will review any city council member's spending of more than $50 to increase accountability, the chairman says.
Richard Atkinson, R-3rd, introduced the policy Wednesday.
Atkinson held up copies of a Vindicator stories concerning questionable spending practices in Columbiana County government.
Youngstown's council has spending rules in place, but more oversight is needed to maintain public confidence, he said.
The perception of impropriety "is what we're trying to get away from," Atkinson said.
The committee will review and pre-approve any spending of more than $50, from travel to miscellaneous items, he said.
Council spending on items such as travel already must be pre-arranged by Arlene Thompson, the city clerk, or be reimbursed.
Nonetheless, Atkinson said council needs to keep a closer eye on travel, use of city credit cards and cell phones.
Deciding on use of funds
Council will decide a schedule of which annual conferences will be paid using city money. Council members who want to attend other conferences can ask the finance committee to approve the extra travel or pay for the trip themselves, he said.
The finance committee also will reinforce rules already in place, such as:
* Leaving all travel arrangements to the city clerk.
* Turning in receipts within three to five days after returning from a trip.
* Turning in city credit cards to the clerk immediately up returning from a trip. If cards aren't turned in within three to five days, the council member will be given a reminder. If the card still isn't returned, the city will cancel the card, Atkinson said.
Some council members have been lax in following those rules in the past, he said.
Council also will cut down its spending on cell phones, Atkinson said.
Thompson is compiling a year's worth of cell phone bills and figuring out a monthly average, he said. Council members will have to pay the difference if their bill exceeds the monthly cap, he said.
Questions raised
A couple of council members questioned the finance committee's move.
Artis Gillam Sr., D-1st, said his city cell phone is used to provide service for residents. He shouldn't be held to an artificial spending limit if the phone is being used to talk with constituents, Gillam said.
Clarence Boles, D-6th, said he understands cutting spending because of tight budgets. But Boles said there should be some trust in public officials.
Boles said he doesn't want to see regulations the size of a phone book on what is and isn't allowed.
"This can get out of hand," he said.
rgsmith@vindy.com