City of St. Augustine gets independent audit committee

After more than 453 years, the City of St. Augustine is getting an Audit Committee comprised of a majority of "outsiders," e.g., non-employees.

The stunning development took place not under reform Mayor Nancy Shaver, but under her successor, Tracy Upchurch.

Three cheers for Mayor Upchurch and Commissioners Leanna Sophia Amaru Freeman, Roxanne Horvath and John Valdes for agreeing to staggered terms and two of three members -- outsiders -- being chosen by City Commission!

Not really a radical idea, except in St. Augustine, where the same audit firm has had the contract for some 33 years, and sneaky caudillos like WILLIAM POMAR, WILLIAM BARRY HARRISS long reigned (In 2010, without a national search Commissioners chose as City Manager HARRISS' heyboy, JOHN PATRICK REGAN, P.E., as his hapless successor.

An independent audit committee.  What's next?  A whistleblower policy protecting all city employees.  An Ombuds.  An Inspector General.  Checks and balances.  A Charter Review Commission.  Yes we can!

Let the de-Stalinaization continue.

From former Mayor George R. Gardner's St. Augustine Report:

Commission redesigns

City audit committee

The City Commission Monday voted to retain the auditing firm of Masters, Smith and Wisby and redesigned the three-person audit committee to include two members outside city government.

The committee currently includes Chairman Todd Neville (Commission appointee) and Meredith Breidenstein and Reuben Franklin (City Manager appointees).

Commissioners also decided audit committee members will serve two-year staggered terms, and reappointed Neville for one-year to begin the staggered process. Commissioners will appoint two members and the city manager one.

Commissioners accepted the audit committee's recommendation to retain long time city auditor Masters, Smith andWisby because, Neville said, "The auditor is providing that necessary level of professional skepticism and the auditor's independence has been helped by reporting to the audit committee rather than directly to city management."