[Amended 5-9-2022 by Ord. No. 44-2022]
The City Auditor shall have financial oversight of the City of Reading finances and shall have those powers and duties prescribed by law, Charter or ordinance and include but not be limited to the following.
In addition, no City Auditor, whether elected or appointed, shall have the use of a City-owned or leased vehicle, or a City-owned gas card. All expenses associated with required travel for official business, shall be reimbursed to the Council member via the Standard Mileage Rate set by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and/or reimbursed by following § 5-809 Purchasing Policy and Procedure, Section 12 Petty Cash procedures.
A. Section 503(a) through (l) of the Charter, Responsibilities.
Editor's Note: Section 503(a) through (l) of the Charter provides:
§ 503. Responsibilities. The City Auditor shall:
(a) Have financial oversight of City finances, independent of the executive and legislative branches and shall review all expenditures of the Mayor, City Council, and City boards, commissions and agencies.
(b) Review the annual budget before approval by City Council, and make nonbinding recommendations to City Council for consideration.
(c) Be present or represented at all Council meetings.
(d) Perform specific audits of City finances from time to time as determined by the City Auditor or City Council.
(e) Report to Council on the progress of the implementation of any recommendations as found in the annual audit and management letter.
(f) Assist in all audits conducted by independent auditors.
(g) Assure the accurate and timely completion and submittal of audit reports along with appropriate follow-up recommendations.
(h) Furnish to City Council, the Mayor, the Managing Director, and others, as appropriate, periodic reports of audits conducted.
(i) Interpret and communicate audit policies and procedures to all City management and staff.
(j) Direct internal financial security and loss investigation activities.
(k) Prepare an annual budget for the office of City Auditor and operate the office of City Auditor within approved budget limitations.
(l) Issue any subpoenas in order to fulfill the duties and responsibilities of the office of City Auditor.
B. Section 911(d) of the Charter, Capital projects approved.
Editor's Note: Section 911(d) of the Charter provides:
(d) Capital projects approved. Proposed capital projects in the capital programs must be considered on their own individual merits by the Finance Manager, the City Auditor and the proposer of the project. The procedures to approve the individual capital projects are:
(1) Preliminary feasibility study. The capital project preliminary feasibility study shall include:
(i) A clear general summary of its purpose and justification.
(ii) The cost estimates and time schedule for the capital project including the cost of the post-project-completion audit.
(iii) The method of financing and sources upon which this capital project is reliant.
(iv) The annual cost of operating and maintaining the project to be constructed or acquired. The Council approval of capital projects in this preliminary feasibility study will require a simple majority vote in order to move on to a final approval and funding acceptance.
(2) Final proposal and financing. The final capital project proposal and financing shall include:
(i) A clear general summary of its purpose and justification.
(ii) The cost estimates and time schedule for the capital project including the cost of the post-project-completion audit.
(iii) The method of financing and sources upon which this capital project is reliant.
(iv) The annual cost of operating and maintaining the project to be constructed or acquired.
(v) This final capital project proposal will be published and made available for the public to review (Use Notice and Hearing Notice, § 912). Capital project replaces capital program. The final Council approval of capital projects will require five votes to approve.
(3) Capital project reporting.
(a) Current projects. All capital projects in process must be reported on a quarterly basis and provide an update on cost, completion date and estimated revised operating costs. This information is to be supplied by the Finance Manager and the Project Manager to the City Council in such a form that it is available to the public.
(b) Extended projects. If commencement of a capital project does not begin by end of the fiscal year following the year in which final approval is obtained, the project must go through § 911(d)(1) and (2).
C. Conduct audits of petty cash funds as appropriate.
D. Shall sit as Chair of the City of Reading Audit Committee, as per § 5-903, Boards and commissions/councils, Subsection V. [Added 5-14-2012 by Ord. No. 52-2012]