Oct 22, 2005 By Patty Yauger 3 min read

CONNELLSVILLE – Connellsville City Council has agreed to delay upgrading the city accounting procedures until the city has secured an accurate inventory list that will become a part of the overall system. The panel nixed a proposal by Mayor Judy Reed to hire Case-Sabatini, a Pittsburgh-area accounting firm, immediately to assist the administrative office staff to produce more accurate statements, and instead opted to put the project on hold until all departments have accounted for its equipment. The cost of the service, according to Reed would be $3,000.

Councilman Bruce Jaynes, director of accounts and finance, said it would be advisable to wait until the final listing of city-owned property is completed so that a second charge would not be levied by an accounting service.

Reed said the auditor has expressed concerns about the city’s accounting procedures, and with new requirements to be implemented in the upcoming year, it would be beneficial for the city to begin the process.

“It’s business that must be taken care of,” she said.

Reed said that with the current system, a check written from a city account is not immediately reflected in financial reports, which does not give an accurate record of city funds.

“You don’t have a true reading of just what is in the treasury,” she said. “With this (upgraded system), it would be reflected.”

The immediate action, said Jaynes, would not bring the accounting procedures into compliance with 2006 regulations.

For an additional $1,800, the firm would upgrade profit and loss, liability and assets and revenues and expenditure procedures, he added, but the work cannot be completed until an inventory list is completed.

“I’d rather see us wait to have it all done at the same time,” he said.

Reed’s proposal was defeated with Jaynes, along with council members Brad Geyer, Chris Wagner and Charles Matthews voting against the measure.

Turning to other unrelated matters, council:

– Recognized city resident Nancy C. Jones on her election as state Veterans of Foreign Wars Ladies Auxiliary president.

– Proclaimed Oct. 16-22 as National Business Women’s Week.

– Agreed to close certain streets for the annual Halloween parade Tuesday sponsored by the New Haven Hose Company. The parade will begin at 7 p.m.

– Agreed to close certain streets for the Nov. 11 Veterans Day Parade. The parade will begin at 10:45 a.m. A program will follow at the war memorial.

– Purchased a 2003 Ford Taurus from Henry Motor Sales at a cost of $9,000. The vehicle will be used by the police department. The purchase is funded with a state grant received by the department.

– Agreed to accept sealed bids for the sale of a 1999 Chevrolet Lumina police vehicle.

– Authorized the VFW Walter E. Brown Post 21 Ladies Auxiliary to conduct its Buddy Poppy campaign Nov. 10-12.

– Exonerated from the city real estate tax the following city-owned properties: the Senior Citizen Center located on Fayette Street, the Connellsville Community Center on Fairview Avenue, Lot 9 on Hill Street, the West Peach Street and North Arch Street parking lots, the community center parking lot on South Cottage Avenue and the salt storage building at 129 W. Fairview Ave.

– Contracted with Onyx Waste Service for city trash collection through October 2008.