Colton First asks for audit of city's finances

After reading this story all I can say is it sure sounds like a lot of double talk going on. I agree with Mr. Lawrence and others that an audit seems a way to settle any questions. However; knowing what's needed and what can be afforded does present a problem. In order not to repeat the problems of the past, you must understand what happened and again an audit would help there. Some would say just move on from here, but remember that phrase about being doomed to repeat it. I believe the new Finance Director Ms Johnson would want to clear all this up so she can have a clean start, and again an audit would do that. I understand the city has done audits on entities, other than its self, in the past that were unclear as to why. I hope they could find the money somewhere for a forensic audit and settle this once and for all.

They can ask the employees to give up another percent or two to fund it............

15 years of Kelly Chastain and Deirdre Bennett running the show. What did you think was going to happen? Richard De La Rosa isn't any better. Foxes watching the chickens. Colton loses.

Check under the mattreses of the city officials

restucture the entire city government start with eliminating 3 council seats and the assistant city manager position. hire a professional city manager. Eliminate one of two police chief secretaries, and assistant to the assistant city manager position and you are off to a great start.

I agree a forensic audit needs to be done that is made publice. Smoke = Fire. They need to fire the Mayor, City Manager, Asst. City Manager, and Fiscal Director. What about all that money they spent on the projects, and land deals we have been reading about what happened??

Redlands needs this done since it will not publish this years budget. Why isn't it being published as has been the norm?????

No audit is needed. All this drama is about nothing. Fact is the numbers are down for every city, big time and equally as much as Coltons.

Matter of fact, they should be commended that they narrowed it down as to how the deficit came about. The triple flip, car dealers leaving and oil tanks in another city, well, those equal close to 5 Mil so what's the problem.

To answer Bennets question, yes u can transfer funds from the utility fund as a loan as long as there is an approved re-payment plan.

They need to address it now and the cuts, furloughs, etc...will be required.This is not a secret plot by Parrish or anyone else so cut the drama.

BerdooWatch wrote:

No audit is needed. All this drama is about nothing. Fact is the numbers are down for every city, big time and equally as much as Coltons.
Matter of fact, they should be commended that they narrowed it down as to how the deficit came about. The triple flip, car dealers leaving and oil tanks in another city, well, those equal close to 5 Mil so what's the problem.
To answer Bennets question, yes u can transfer funds from the utility fund as a loan as long as there is an approved re-payment plan.
They need to address it now and the cuts, furloughs, etc...will be required.This is not a secret plot by Parrish or anyone else so cut the drama.

Better start watching Colton instead of Berdoo. They should be commended for figuring out two years after the fact that they had big problems?? Geez, even the locals that do their homework knew the city was in trouble long ago.

By the way, the money was never in the utility fund to loan to the city. By the time the utility paid it's operating expenses and reserves, there was no money left to transfer to the city from the electric fund. Therefore there was no money to loan back from the city to the utility.

No plot, just some bumbling arrogant people that got caught in covering up their own misdeeds. No drama involved, just facts.

Of course Bennett is going to agree to anything and everything Colton First suggests.Ever see her Facebook? Not only did Colton First help get her elected,her Facebook friend list reads like a whose who of Colton First members including Ron Lawrence,Grossich and Steven Cade.
http://www.facebook.com/deirdrebennett
She has already mentioned publicly that she is looking at her Facebook during meetings-I wonder if these folks are the one's sending her messages during time meant to be spent paying attention to taxpayer business ?

"Mr. Observer", If you attend any of the council meeting, and Observe, you'll see that none of the people you refer to have a laptop, blackberry or other communication device with them while Bennett is at the dias. Nice try again. Can please address the issue of the need or lack of need for a forensic audit? You know, your opinion of the topic.

Eye on the city wrote:

"Mr. Observer", If you attend any of the council meeting, and Observe, you'll see that none of the people you refer to have a laptop, blackberry or other communication device with them while Bennett is at the dias. Nice try again. Can please address the issue of the need or lack of need for a forensic audit? You know, your opinion of the topic.

My comment is on topic.
Bennett is the only CM who not only has all the major Colton First members on her Facebook friends list ,but,is also the only CM on many of the aforementioned Colton First members friends list.She is also the only one ,according to the article,who supports a forensic audit which,as someone points out,may cost one or two employees their jobs if done at this time.I must commend CM DelaRosa,who despite his record of agreeing with Colton First ,
"said he can't support spending thousands on an audit when the city is faced with a fiscal crisis" .And neither can I.
PS:i didn't see the tag "moderator" under your name.Since you obviously like posting here,why don't you register your name "Eye On The City" with topix? It's free???

Eye on the city wrote:

"Mr. Observer", If you attend any of the council meeting, and Observe, you'll see that none of the people you refer to have a laptop, blackberry or other communication device with them while Bennett is at the dias...

So you are saying
that she is NOT messaging about issues dealing with City Business
but is rather dealing with personal messages while on taxpayer time when she is on her Facebook while sitting on the dais?

Thanks for asking, even Topix can't fix the problem after a few attempts, so I get around he system. It's more difficult but the post gets on. Just a little creative manuvers and I can post but unable to "replay" as I used to.

Mr Observer wrote:

Of course Bennett is going to agree to anything and everything Colton First suggests.Ever see her Facebook? Not only did Colton First help get her elected,her Facebook friend list reads like a whose who of Colton First members including Ron Lawrence,Grossich and Steven Cade.
http://www.facebook.com/deirdrebennett
She has already mentioned publicly that she is looking at her Facebook during meetings-I wonder if these folks are the one's sending her messages during time meant to be spent paying attention to taxpayer business ?

Gee, I thought this topic was about a potential audit of the city?? Anyway, thanks Observer for the compliment that Colton First helped Deirdre Bennett get elected. Holding Mitchell accountable for his previous actions was long overdue and Colton First is proud to have helped rid the city of that problem.

Bennett has more questions and does more research than any council member on the dais.I wonder what CM Alex Perez is doing up there. He brings nothing to the table and sits there like a bump on a log. CM Perez sits there all night offering nothing until it is time to push the voting button the way Chastain, et al want him to. But hey... I guess he's "having fun."

Don't see any Colton First members with communication devices, but Patricia Pierce was observed texting people on the dais at the last council meeting. You may want to mention that to her.

Never thought about looking at Facebook pages. In checking out Mark Nuaimi's page it is Interesting to note Mark Nuaimi's facebook page friends include Sue Patane, owner of SLP Communications in Redlands, Kelly Chastain's fundraising/campaign manager. This is another of the many conflicts of "the conflict king." Thanks again for bringing up another item showing the links between Nuaimi and people in involved in fundraising and donating to certain Colton politicians backing Nuaimi's agenda. Again, you've been a great help!!

Now maybe you can get back on the topic at hand!!