A clean audit for Claremont

By GLYNIS HART
[email protected]
CLAREMONT — An independent auditor’s review of the city’s financial statements concluded the city’s in good financial shape and the books are being kept responsibly. 

Finance Director Mary Walker said the city brought in just $19,000 more in revenue than the previous year. “It was a pretty tight margin,” she said. 

Walker said the city’s fund balance, which is at 15 percent, meets policy goals. The fund balance at the end of fiscal year 2018 was $621,000 higher than originally budgeted for; total expenditures were $602,000 less than planned for. 

The city’s total budget is around $23 million a year. 

Walker said this year didn’t require a second audit, which is triggered when the city expends more than $750,000 in federal grants. The city’s actual expenditure of federal grants for FY 2018 was $384,000. 

However, Walker said a second audit is a good thing for the taxpayers. “It means we’re bringing in federal money, that we don’t take from local taxpayers. We’ll probably have a second audit next year.” 

 

Food truck policy moved to legal counsel

At the Wednesday night city council meeting, the food truck policy inched forward. The city began discussing a food truck policy last summer; Mayor Charlene Lovett told the council members they all have a template based on the food truck policy of the City of Lebanon. 

“The policy committee decided we like the policy of Lebanon, but there would need to be a few modifications,” said Lovett. “I’m seeking the council’s permission to send this all to legal counsel so they can draft an ordinance.”

The draft ordinance would next go to city administration for department heads to review, before coming back to the city council for approval. 

Councilor Nick Koloski had a few questions about the policy, such as whether it would apply to mobile or stationary food trucks and whether it would identify certain locations in the city that could be used by food trucks. Lovett said yes to all the above. 

City Economic Development Director Nancy Merrill commented, “I think Councilor Koloski’s concerns were everybody’s concerns. I look forward to working with you [council] on a draft of this.”