Mount Vernon Voters Resoundingly Approve City Charter Revisions

MOUNT VERNON, NY — More than 90 percent of the voters in Mount Vernon yesterday voted to revise the City Charter.

The four revisions, all of which were approved by at least 90 percent of voters, are:

Comprehensive Plan

Proposal requiring the City Council to adopt a Comprehensive Plan for the City that will be updated and reviewed at least once every ten years, to be prepared by the Planning Department with input and support from the Planning Board, Zoning Board, and applicable City departments and agencies, and with input from the community, for the development and improvement of the City.

Independent Audit

Proposal requiring that an independent annual audit of City government accounts and financial records be performed and completed by a qualified certified public accounting firm following the close of each fiscal year, which shall include separate audits of the accounts of the Urban Renewal Agency, the Industrial Development Agency, and the Board of Water Supply.

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Quarterly Financial Reports

Proposal requiring the City Comptroller to issue quarterly financial reports to the Mayor and the City Council concerning the City's year-to-date and projected fiscal condition, as of March thirty-first, June thirtieth, September thirtieth and December thirty-first of each fiscal year, in relation to the annual budget adopted for that fiscal year and to make such reports available for public review.

Periodic Charter Review

Proposal requiring the establishment of a Charter Commission for the purpose of reviewing the City Charter at least every ten years, funded as may be reasonably necessary for such Commission to conduct its business effectively.

Two of those propositions are aimed directly at the City Comptroller.

Deborah Reynolds is at the center of City Hall dysfunction. Former Mayor Richard Thomas complained publicly about Reynolds' secrecy, refusal to pay bills, and antics at meetings. SEE: Comptroller Leaves City At a Financial Standstill.

When Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard took office in January, the situation didn't get better. In February, the mayor revealed that Reynolds at the end of 2019 had installed an illegal firewall and removed financial records from the city servers. No department has access to the city's finances.

In an audit requested by the mayor, the New York State Comptroller reported in September that Mount Vernon City Council and officials did not have adequate financial information for the effective management of operations and, as a result, the City lost its credit rating.

• The City Comptroller failed to file the required annual financial report (AUD) with our office for fiscal years 2016 through 2019.
• The Council did not take sufficient action to acquire financial information.
• No audited financial statements have been issued since the 2015 fiscal year because City officials have not provided their independent auditors with the necessary financial information.
• City officials did not have financial information available to develop a multiyear or capital plan.
• City officials did not establish policies and procedures to ensure that critical financial information, such as budget-to-actual reports or cash flow reports, is received.

One of their key recommendations was that city officials update and develop policies and procedures to ensure the Council and City officials are provided with accurate and complete financial information.

The state auditors noted that the Comptroller, throughout the audit scope, did not make requests for documentation and/or initiate internal audits in a timely manner in accordance with the City Charter. "Despite the Charter requiring an annual audit be completed and submitted by June 30 of the following year, the only action the Comptroller took during our audit period was requesting the Department of Public Works’ gasoline records dating back to Jan. 1, 2018, on Feb. 27, 2020," the auditors said.

Reynolds has also refused to disclose how much taxpayer money she has paid personal lawyer Jay Hashmall to defend her in a series of lawsuits.

Comptroller is an elected position in Mount Vernon and Reynolds has two years to go in this term.