[00:00:03]
OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO START THIS MEETING. SORRY FOR THE DELAY. SOME TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES,
[Roll Call: Council President Napoli]
BUT WE'LL KICK THIS OFF. SO THIS SPECIAL MEETING SCHEDULED FOR TODAY, AUGUST 25TH.IT'S TO INTERVIEW AND ACT ON OUR CONTROLLER CANDIDATES TO FILL A VACANCY.
[Interview Process: 1. Candidates were chosen at random and will be interviewed as follows: Evette D'Amore Jasmine Salgado Patrick Palmer 2. Candidate Presentation – 10 Minutes Based on your professional experience and qualifications, please explain why you would be a strong City Controller and how your experience would bring value to the City. 3. Closing Statement – 2 Minutes Why should City Council appoint you as City Controller? 4. Following the interviews, each Councilperson will complete and sign a ballot indicating their choice for City Controller. The City Clerk will read the selected candidate from each ballot aloud. The voting process will continue until a candidate receives a majority of votes. 4. Each Councilperson can ask one follow up question to each candidate and the candidate has two minutes to reply. 5. Public Comment will be taken before Council makes the choice on the first ballot. COUNCIL RULES - RULE XX - FILLING OF VACANCIES - COUNCIL, CONTROLLER AND MAYOR Vacancies shall be filled according to the requirements of the charter – sections 207, 304 and 405. When a vacancy occurs in the office of Council, Controller or the Mayor, City Council shall immediately advertise the vacancy in a local newspaper, on the City’s website and notify the political party of the person who left office that Council will be accepting applications to fill the vacant position. Applications shall consist of a resume and a statement stating the reasons the applicant will bring value to the City as a Councilperson, Mayor or City Controller. Applications shall be received no later than fourteen days after the effective date of the vacancy. The applications shall be reviewed by the President or Acting President of Council to make sure the applicant is qualified pursuant to the charter and applicable state law. The replacement must be a qualified voter of the same party as the person vacating the seat at least 30 days prior to the vacancy. After review, Council shall have a public meeting to review the resumes and statements of the applicants and interview each of the candidates. The candidates shall be chosen in a random fashion for interviews. After the interviews, Council shall vote on the candidates to fill the vacancy at a public meeting. Each councilperson will fill out and sign a ballot indicating their choice to fill the position. The ballots shall be given to the City Clerk who shall read aloud the name of the candidate selected by each councilperson. The process continues until a candidate earns a majority of votes. (26631 10/7/92; 25142 2/2/83; 26631 10/7/92; 28809 11/2/2011; 29619 3/14/2018) SECTION 405. Vacancy. A. If the office of the City Controller becomes vacant for any reason, Council shall appoint an interim City Controller, of the same political party, who shall serve until the next Municipal Election. B. A vacancy in the office of the City Controller shall be filled at the next Municipal Election, in the manner provided by law. The person elected shall hold the qualifications for the office of the City Controller and shall serve the remaining portion of the vacated term. ]
BEFORE WE START, I JUST WANT TO TAKE A SOME MOMENT, A MOMENT HERE TO EXPLAIN WHERE WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF FILLING THIS VACANCY IN THE OFFICE OF CITY CONTROLLER. HOW WE GOT HERE AND WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? FIRST, THE CITY CONTROLLER PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN ALLENTOWN GOVERNMENT.THE CONTROLLER PROVIDES INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT OF CITY FINANCES, REVIEWS EXPENDITURES ACROSS CITY GOVERNMENT, REVIEWS THE ANNUAL BUDGET, AND MAY MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
THEY ATTEND COUNCIL MEETINGS AND PERFORM AUDITS, AMONG OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES.
COUNCIL PUBLICLY ADVERTISED A VACANCY IN THE NEWSPAPER.
CITY WEBSITE. LINKEDIN THROUGH A PRESS RELEASE, SOCIAL MEDIA AT COUNCIL MEETINGS AND IN DEED.
APPLICANTS WERE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT A RESUME AND A STATEMENT EXPLAINING THE VALUE THEY WOULD BRING AS A CITY CONTROLLER BECAUSE THE PREVIOUS CONTROLLER, MR. JEFF GLAZIER, WAS A DEMOCRAT. THE HOME RULE CHARTER AND COUNCIL RULES REQUIRE THE PERSON APPOINTED TO FILL THE VACANCY TO BE A QUALIFIED VOTER AND A MEMBER OF THE SAME POLITICAL PARTY. WE ALSO SENT A LETTER TO THE LOCAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY INFORMING THEM OF THE VACANCY.
THE INTENT THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN TO CONDUCT THE INTERVIEWS AND APPOINTMENT PUBLICLY, SO RESIDENTS CAN HEAR DIRECTLY FROM THE CANDIDATES AND UNDERSTAND COUNCIL'S DECISION.
DUE TO SCHEDULING CONFLICTS, OUR ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED MEETING OF JULY 2ND WAS POSTPONED TO TODAY.
IN THE MEANTIME, WE CONTINUE TO TAKE RESUMES UNTIL MONDAY, AUGUST 20TH.
WE'RE NOW APPROACHING THE END OF OUR PROCESS.
OKAY. WE'LL START THE MEETING. MR. HANLON, CAN YOU DO A ROLL CALL, PLEASE? HERE, HERE. PRESENT. HERE. HERE.
OKAY. KEEP US POSTED ON THAT. WE'LL START TO MOVE THIS ALONG.
[15-8626 Controller Candidate Interviews in the Order Evette D'Amore Jasmine Salgado Patrick Palmer ]
SO REGARDING INTERVIEW PROCESS, CANDIDATES WERE CHOSEN AT RANDOM BY COUNCIL STAFF AND WILL BE INTERVIEWED AS FOLLOWS.FIRST, MISS YVETTE DEMORE. SECOND JASMINE. JASMINE SALGADO AND THIRD, MR. PATRICK PALMER. EACH CANDIDATE WILL HAVE A PRESENTATION OF TEN MINUTES TO.
MY COLLEAGUES WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ONE FOLLOW UP QUESTION FOR EACH CANDIDATE.
THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND AFTER THIS ENTIRE PROCESS, WE WILL SUBMIT VOTES THROUGH A BALLOT PROCESS.
SO AND WE WILL TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT BEFORE THAT VOTE.
SO THE PUBLIC HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE US FEEDBACK.
SO IF IT'S OKAY, MR. HANLON, WE CAN START THE PROCESS OR SHOULD WE? DO YOU WANT TO GIVE MISS ARFA ANOTHER MINUTE OR TWO TO GET.
SHE CAN HEAR THEM ON THE PHONE.
OKAY. JUST THROW IT OUT THERE. HELLO? COUNCILWOMAN.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES. OKAY. THANK YOU, MISS MONTERO.
THANK YOU, MISS MONTERO, WHO IS ALSO OUR SOLICITOR.
SO WE HAVE MISS ARFA ON THE LINE SO SHE CAN PARTICIPATE.
SO I THINK AT THIS POINT, WE CAN START THE INTERVIEW PROCESS.
[00:05:04]
AND AGAIN, TEN MINUTE PRESENTATION AND A TWO MINUTE CLOSING STATEMENT ON ON HOW COUNCIL SHOULD VOTE. GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. PRESIDENT NAPOLI, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE CONSIDERED TO COMPLETE THE TERM OF CITY CONTROLLER. TONIGHT YOU WILL DETERMINE WHO WILL SERVE IN THE ROLE OF CONTROLLER FOR THE NEXT 16 MONTHS.WHOEVER YOU CHOOSE, THE NEW CONTROLLER WILL HAVE VERY LARGE SHOES TO FILL.
JEFF GLAZER WAS A FRIEND AND A DEVOTED PUBLIC SERVANT WITH EXPERTISE IN THE POSITION.
THE CONTROLLER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING THE INTEGRITY OF PUBLIC SPENDING IN THE CITY.
AFTER ALL, THE MONEY SPENT BY THE CITY ULTIMATELY BELONGS TO THE HARD WORKING PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF ALLENTOWN, AND THEY DESERVE TO HAVE AN ACCURATE ACCOUNTING OF EVERYTHING THAT COMES IN AND EVERYTHING THAT GOES OUT.
THE COMPTROLLER DOES NOT SET PUBLIC POLICY, NOR DOES THE COMPTROLLER CARRY OUT POLICY.
BUT THE COMPTROLLER SHINES A SPOTLIGHT ON THE ACTIONS OF CITY OFFICIALS, AND BY DOING SO, PROVIDES IMPORTANT INFORMATION. SO FISCAL POLICY CAN BE MADE IN A WAY THAT RESPECTS THE CITIZENS THAT WE ALL SERVE.
ENSURING INTEGRITY AND FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY IS THE HIGHEST GOAL OF A COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE, AND IT WILL BE MY NUMBER ONE PRIORITY AS CITY COMPTROLLER.
I REGULARLY FOLLOWED BUDGET LINES AND USED APPROPRIATE LINE CODES.
I ALSO CONDUCTED SELF AUDITS OF PROCEDURES AND INVENTORY CONTROL AUDITS.
I CREATED A PURCHASING FORM FOR OTHER PURCHASING AGENTS TO USE THAT SIMPLIFIED THIS PROCESS.
THIS FORM REMAINED IN USE AFTER I AFTER I RETIRED FROM MY POSITION AT THE DEPARTMENT.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, I CONDUCTED AUDITS ON OTHERS AND WAS SUBJECTED TO AUDITING MYSELF.
WHAT I LEARNED IN PENNDOT IS THAT NO ONE IS ABOVE REPROACH.
EVERYONE NEEDS TO HAVE THEIR PRACTICES SUBJECTED TO WATCHFUL EYES OF ANOTHER, AND EVERYONE NEEDS TO BE OPEN TO CORRECTING THEIR PRACTICES BASED UPON THE RESULTS OF AUDITS. AGAIN, THE MONEY THAT IS COMING IN AND GOING OUT DOES NOT BELONG TO THE INDIVIDUAL PUBLIC OFFICIALS.
IT'S THE PEOPLE'S MONEY AND WE ARE ENTRUSTED TO ALLOCATE IT WISELY AND ETHICALLY.
IF APPOINTED, MY FIRST AND IMMEDIATE PRIORITY WILL BE TO PREPARE FOR THE 2027 BUDGET SEASON.
BUDGET PREPARATION IS SURELY UNDERWAY IN THE DEPARTMENTS IN OUR CITY.
WHAT GETS FUNDED, WHAT DOESN'T GET FUNDED. AND WHERE IS THE FUNDING COMING FROM? THESE ARE ALL CRITICAL QUESTIONS THAT NEED TO BE ANSWERED AS PART OF THE BUDGETING PROCESS.
THE CONTROLLER'S JOB IS NOT TO SET THE PRIORITIES.
THAT'S THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL. THE CONTROLLER'S JOB IS TO ANALYZE THE PROPOSALS AND PROVIDE MEANINGFUL FEEDBACK THAT WILL HOPEFULLY BE USEFUL TO THOSE OF YOU MAKING DECISIONS. TO DO THIS, I WILL CERTAINLY BE RELIANT UPON THE EXPERIENCED STAFF PERSON IN THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE, BUT IT IS ALSO MY RESPONSIBILITY TO PERSONALLY DIG INTO THE SPECIFICS OF THE 2026 BUDGET SO I CAN BETTER BE SO I CAN BETTER BE BETTER PREPARED TO PROPERLY ANALYZE THE 2027 PROPOSAL. IN ADDITION TO PORING OVER THE BUDGET, I WILL DO MY BEST TO OPEN UP LINES OF COMMUNICATION WITH ALL THE MAJOR STAKEHOLDERS IN CITY GOVERNMENT. MY HOPE WOULD BE TO MEET WITH MEMBERS OF COUNCIL 1 OR 2 AT A TIME TO FIND OUT YOUR MAJOR CONCERNS AND HOPES FOR THE BUDGET.
I PLAN TO DO THE SAME WITH THE MAYOR AND WITH MANAGING DIRECTOR FRANK KANE.
[00:10:08]
THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE MUST HOLD THE CITY'S ADMINISTRATION TO FIRM STANDARDS.BUT IT ALSO DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE COMPTROLLER SHOULD TAKE SIDES IN POLITICAL BATTLES.
THE CHARTER EMPOWERS THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE TO PROVIDE THAT ACCOUNTABILITY, AND I PROMISE THAT I WILL TAKE THAT ROLE SERIOUSLY BY HOLDING THE ADMINISTRATION TO ACCOUNT FOR THE REVENUE IT TAKES IN AND FOR THE WAY THAT IT SPENDS PUBLIC FUNDS.
BUT THE COMPTROLLER SHOULD NEVER ADVOCATE FOR CHANGES SIMPLY FOR THE SAKE OF CHANGE.
IT IS ADDITIONALLY IMPORTANT TO ALSO PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE THE INAPPROPRIATE PROCEDURE TO IMPROVE SORRY THE INAPPROPRIATE PROCEDURES. KEEPING IN MIND THAT CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF RESPONSIVE GOVERNANCE, THE ABILITY TO STRIKE A BALANCE WAS A STRENGTH THAT JEFF GLAZER SHOWED DURING HIS TENURE.
IF APPOINTED, I CERTAINLY PLAN ON FOLLOWING THIS PATTERN, STARTING WITH MY OWN OFFICE, JACKIE AT THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE WORKED CLOSELY CLOSELY WITH JEFF. I KNOW THAT SHE HAS A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE THAT WILL BE A VALUABLE RESOURCE FOR THE NEW COMPTROLLER.
I KNOW THAT I CAN LEARN MUCH FROM HER AS TIME GOES ON AND AS I GROW INTO THE OFFICE.
ONE OF THE MOST INNOVATIVE THINGS JEFF DID AS COMPTROLLER WAS CREATING AN INTERNSHIP PROGRAM.
HE RECRUITED INTERNS FROM LOCAL COLLEGES TO DO SPECIFIC PROJECTS IN HIS OFFICE.
I PLAN TO CONTINUE THIS PROGRAM SHOULD I BE APPOINTED TO OFFICE? IN CLOSING, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EACH OF YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THIS PRESENTATION, AND I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE FOR ME.
WELL, I HAVE THE I HAVE LOTS OF EXPERIENCE THROUGH PENNDOT, THE PURCHASING THE CONTRACTS, UNDERSTANDING, YOU KNOW, THIS RESPONSIBILITY YOU IT'S NOT YOUR MONEY.
IT'S THE PUBLIC'S MONEY. AND I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY THAT YOU'VE GIVEN ME HERE.
NONE OF US THAT ARE HERE FIT THE TRADITIONAL ROLE FOR CANDIDATE.
BUT I KNOW YOUR TASK IS NOT GOING TO BE THAT EASY TONIGHT.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I REMEMBER FROM PENNDOT THAT WAS THAT REALLY SPEAKS ABOUT MY CHARACTER.
I USED MY KEY CARD TO PURCHASE AN ITEM FOR A TRUCK.
I'D BEEN LOOKING FOR MONTHS FOR THIS ITEM, AND I FINALLY FOUND IT THROUGH THE MANUFACTURER, ORDERED IT, PAID FOR IT. IT'S ON ITS WAY TO MY OFFICE.
AND THEN I'M READING THROUGH OUR NEW CONTRACTS THAT HARRISBURG HAD JUST SENT OUT.
AND THERE'S THE THERE'S THE PART ON ITS OWN CONTRACT.
I HAD TO AND I BECAUSE I KNEW I HAD TO DO THIS.
AND THEN ONCE EVERYTHING WAS SAID AND DONE AND I HAD ALL MY DUCKS IN A ROW, I WENT TO MY BOSS AND SAID, HEY, I MESSED UP. I DIDN'T SEE THIS NEW CONTRACT AND I ORDERED THIS PART, BUT I'VE SENT THE PART BACK.
SO EVEN BEFORE THEY KNEW I MADE A MISTAKE, I RATTED MYSELF OUT.
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT YOU DO WHEN YOU'RE BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND YOU HOLD OTHERS ACCOUNTABLE.
YOU SET THAT EXAMPLE AND THAT STANDARD. AND THAT'S WHAT I DID.
AND ONE OF MY BOSS WAS RATHER IMPRESSED THAT SHE DIDN'T HAVE TO CHASE ME DOWN TO FIGURE IT OUT.
AND I'M LIKE, WELL, THIS IS MY JOB. BUT THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I REMEMBER AND REALLY STICKS WITH ME EVEN NOW WHEN I DO PURCHASING FOR MY BOSS. ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY. SO YES, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO QUESTIONS FROM COLLEAGUES FOR MISS YVETTE DAMORE.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? MR. BINDER, GO AHEAD.
[00:15:02]
OKAY. YOU'RE IN THE HOT SEAT NOW. I'M GOING TO ASK THE SAME ONE TO ALL THE CANDIDATES.SO AND THIS IS SOMEWHAT OF A GENERIC INTERVIEW QUESTION, BUT SPECIFICALLY, SINCE THIS ROLE IS ON CONTROLLING AND AUDITING COULD YOU DESCRIBE A POINT WHERE IN YOUR PAST, ANY OF YOUR JOBS OR ANY OF YOUR ROLES, BE IT IN SCHOOL BOARD OR WHATNOT THAT YOU'VE IDENTIFIED A SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL, AN AUDIT OR AN INTERNAL CONTROL WEAKNESS? AND WHAT EVIDENCE DID YOU EXAMINE AND HOW DID YOU COMMUNICATE THOSE FINDINGS TO LEADERSHIP OR TO THE PUBLIC? SO BASICALLY, WHEN I FIRST STARTED AT PENNDOT, THE COUNTY ACCOUNTANT DID NOT AUDIT US.
BUT THE ACCOUNTANT AND I GOT TOGETHER AND I'M LIKE, LOOK, IT, YOU KNOW, IF I CHECK YOURS AND YOU CHECK MINE, WE'LL BE ABLE TO BE AHEAD OF THE BALL IN CASE THERE IS A MISTAKE, IN CASE WE SCREWED UP SO THAT WE CAN GO FORWARD AND KNOW THAT WHEN THE ANNUALS COME, WE'VE GOT EVERYTHING IN A ROW AND WE HAVE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT, AND IT WON'T TAKE SO LONG FOR THEM TO DO THEIR AUDIT, BECAUSE HERE'S YOUR PAPERWORK. IT'S ALL THERE FOR YOU AND I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT.
AND AFTER WE DID THAT, WE STARTED DOING THAT EVERY MONTH.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE DID. OKAY. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM MISS GERLACH? GO AHEAD. HI. YES, THANK YOU FOR APPLYING. MY QUESTION ALSO I'LL BE ASKING THE SAME OF EACH PERSON IS HOW WILL YOU BALANCE THE ROLE OF CONTROLLER WITH OTHER EMPLOYMENT AND OR COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT.
WORK THAT YOU DO. AND WITHIN THAT QUESTION, DO YOU ANTICIPATE ANY CONFLICTS OF INTEREST? CURRENTLY I'M ON THE SCHOOL BOARD. IF I AM GIVEN THE JOB OF CONTROLLER I WILL HAVE TO RESIGN.
HOWEVER I AM LOOKING AT JOINING THE COMMITTEE FOR HUMAN RELATIONS AND I WOULDN'T GIVE THAT ONE UP BECAUSE I KNOW HOW TO SCHEDULE MY TIME. I'M A MOM. I'VE LEARNED TO JUGGLE ALL SORTS OF THINGS.
I HAVE A SCHEDULE WITH LIKE, OKAY, THIS DAY YOU HAVE THIS DO THIS DAY YOU HAVE THAT DO.
AND I GET REMINDERS BEFOREHAND AND I WORK ON IT CONSISTENTLY.
SO LIKE WE JUST FINISHED A THIS, WE JUST FINISHED A SOCCER.
LIKE THE SOCCER SIGNUPS AND ROSTERS WERE DUE ON SUNDAY.
AND I MADE SURE AS SOON AS MY REGISTRATIONS CAME IN, I WAS GETTING THOSE KIDS NAMES INTO GOD'S SPORT, MAKING SURE THEY HAD ALL THEIR DOCUMENTS IN A ROW, MAKING SURE ALL THE WAIVERS WERE SIGNED, AND I STARTED BUILDING MY ROSTERS RIGHT AWAY.
YOU'VE GOT A PLAN AND YOU'VE GOT TO THINK AHEAD.
YOU'RE WELCOME. OKAY. MR. PONGO, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. AND THANK YOU, MR. MOORE, FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. I AS WELL WILL BE ASKING THE SAME QUESTION TO EVERYONE.
SO MY QUESTION ESSENTIALLY RELIES ON OUR SPECIFIC CITY.
SO WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE ARE THE THREE GREATEST FINANCIAL OR INTERNAL CONTROL RISKS FACING OUR CITY, AND HOW WOULD YOU RISK HOW WOULD THOSE RISKS INFLUENCE YOUR PRIORITIES DURING YOUR FIRST SIX MONTHS? WELL, THREE BIGGEST RISKS. ONE OF THEM IS NOT FOLLOWING THROUGH.
IF THERE'S A PROCEDURE IN PLACE. SO FOR EXAMPLE, YOU BUY A WIDGET, YOU NEED TO TURN IN A RECEIPT.
WE DIDN'T FOLLOW THROUGH. THAT IS YOU NEED TO FOLLOW THROUGH AND THAT'S A RISK.
AND UNLESS YOU HAVE PEOPLE IN PLACE KEEPING AN EYE ON THAT, IT'S GOING TO JUST HAPPEN.
ALSO, SOMETIMES PEOPLE JUST DON'T KNOW ALL THEIR PROCEDURES, AND YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN THEM AND NOT BE AFRAID TO TEACH, BECAUSE EVERY MOMENT CAN BE A TEACHING MOMENT. AND THAT WOULD BE A TEACHING MOMENT THE FIRST TIME.
THE SECOND TIME, YOU NEED TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH WHATEVER DISCIPLINARY ACTION.
BUT THAT WOULDN'T I DON'T THINK THAT'S PART OF THE CONTROLLER'S JOB.
THAT WOULD BE MORE FOR COUNCIL TO DO THE DISCIPLINARY, I THINK.
AND THEN THE THIRD RISK IS NOT KNOWING WHAT YOUR MONEY IS COMING FROM.
YOU NEED TO KNOW WHERE IT COMES FROM AND WHAT'S REALLY BEHIND THOSE FUNDS.
[00:20:05]
THANK YOU. WELCOME. OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MISS DEMORA? OKAY. WELL, THANK YOU MISS. GO AHEAD. I'M GOING TO BE ASKING THE SAME QUESTION.TO THE OTHER CANDIDATES. IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME THAT COUNCIL SELECTS THE CITY CONTROLLER WHO'S UNBIASED AND ABLE TO ACT AS A CHECK AND BALANCE INDEPENDENTLY FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
ARE YOU ABLE TO CARRY THAT RESPONSIBILITY AND HOW, IF YOU'RE CHOSEN.
MY JOB IS TO KEEP EVERYBODY IN CHECK AND BALANCE.
NOT JUST THE MAYOR, BUT THE COUNCIL, THE DEPARTMENTS, ANYBODY WHO'S PURCHASING.
SO YOU DON'T LOOK AT IT AS OH, SO AND SO IS MY FRIEND.
SUCH AND SUCH IS MY FRIEND. WE ARE COLLEAGUES HERE.
I AM I HAVE A JOB TO DO, AND I WILL DO MY JOB NO MATTER WHAT.
NO MATTER WHAT, YOU KNOW, PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP I MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE WITH THAT PERSON.
AND A GOOD EXAMPLE IS THE COUNTY ACCOUNTANT THAT I WAS AUDITING AND SHE WOULD AUDIT ME.
I TOOK IT AS A CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM AND I WOULD DO THE SAME WITH HER.
BUT WHEN SHE DID, SHE WANTED SOMEBODY TO JUST DOUBLE CHECK IT.
AND SHE'S MY BOSS. BUT I STILL DID IT. AND I DIDN'T LOOK AT IT AS ANYTHING OTHER THAN THIS IS MY JOB AND I MUST DO IT EVEN IF I HAVE TO TELL HER BAD NEWS. BUT ONCE SHE KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON, SHE FIXED IT.
AND THAT'S THE WAY IT SHOULD BE. YOU MAKE A RECOMMENDATION, SOMEBODY SHOULD DO SOMETHING WITH IT.
THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. OKAY. THANK YOU. SO I THINK WE'RE GOOD.
THANK YOU FOR APPLYING. AND AT THIS POINT, WE'LL TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR MISS YVETTE DAMORE.
DO YOU WANT ME TO STAY HERE OR YOU CAN YOU CAN SIT.
THANK YOU. WE'LL SEE IF THERE'S ANY PUBLIC COMMENT. OH, WE'RE DOING IT ALL AT THE END.
I THOUGHT WE'RE DOING EACH INDIVIDUAL. OKAY. SORRY.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO PUBLIC COMMENT. WE'LL DO IT ALL AT ONE TIME AT THE END FOR ALL THREE CANDIDATES. SO OKAY, SO MOVING ALONG. OUR NEXT CANDIDATE IS MISS JASMINE SALGADO.
AND. WELCOME. AND AGAIN, YOU HAVE TEN MINUTES FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND A TWO MINUTE CLOSING STATEMENT. WE'LL START WITH THE TEN MINUTES AND WELCOME.
OKAY. I WISH THIS WAS A FINANCIAL TEST. OH, OKAY.
I AM SO NERVOUS RIGHT NOW, SO PLEASE EXCUSE ME.
OKAY. THERE WE GO. YOU'RE GOOD. OKAY. GOOD EVENING. I'M JASMINE SALGADO, AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TODAY.
BEFORE I SPEAK ABOUT MYSELF, I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE JEFF GLACIER.
I KNOW I'M SITTING HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE OUR CITY LOST SOMEONE WHO SERVED ALLENTOWN FOR MANY YEARS.
WHEN I LOOKED AT THE RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE JOB DESCRIPTION, I REALIZED THAT ALTHOUGH I NEVER HELD THIS TITLE OF CITY CONTROLLER, I PERFORMED MANY PIECES OF THIS WORK THROUGHOUT MY CAREER, AND SOME OF THAT ACTUALLY STARTED BEFORE I HAD MY FIRST FINANCE JOB.
I COMPLETED MY ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE IN ACCOUNTING.
I THEN CONTINUED THERE FOR ANOTHER YEAR TO RECEIVE MY MARKETING MANAGEMENT DEGREE.
AT THE END OF THAT, I SAT DOWN WITH THE STUDENT ADVISOR AND IT WAS TIME TO DISCUSS GRADUATION.
I WAS 22 YEARS OLD AND I'M LIKE, OH MY GOSH, WHERE AM I GOING TO COME UP WITH $6,000? SO I AFTER I THE INITIAL SHOCK, I LOOKED AT HIM, I ASKED A COUPLE QUESTIONS AND I DIDN'T GET THE RIGHT ANSWERS.
SO I ASKED FOR AN ITEMIZED BILL AND I SAID, THANK YOU.
I SAID, I'LL BE IN TOUCH. I STAYED UP ALL NIGHT.
I WENT THROUGH MY ENTIRE FOLDER, EVERY RECEIPT I HAD, EVERY BILL, EVERY REPORT CARD.
AND I FOUND ALL THE DISCREPANCIES IN MY BILL FROM THE ALLENTOWN BUSINESS SCHOOL.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I TOOK EVERYTHING I LEARNED IN MY CLASSES, AND IT CAME OUT THAT I WAS PAYING FOR DUPLICATE CLASSES, BOOKS THAT I HADN'T EVEN PURCHASED, COURSES I HADN'T EVEN TAKEN.
AND I TURNED AROUND AND FOUND OUT THEY OWED ME OVER $2,000.
THE NEXT DAY, I WENT INTO THE OFFICE AND I SAT WITH MY ADVISOR.
[00:25:02]
I SAID, I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON HERE, AND I HAD ALL MY MY MARKINGS.I'M VERY COLOR COORDINATED. SO I GAVE HIM A COPY OF ALL MY RECEIPTS AND HE TOOK IT.
HE TOOK IT INTO HE TOOK IT AND SAID, I'LL BE IN TOUCH.
I GOT A BIG FAT CHECK FOR OVER $2,000, AND I GOT MY CAP AND GOWN.
SO WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS THAT I DIDN'T KNOW THEN, BUT THAT REALLY DESCRIBES THE WAY I'VE APPROACHED FINANCIAL WORK THROUGHOUT MY ENTIRE CAREER. AND IT STARTED AS EARLY AS 20 YEARS OLD.
WHEN SOMETHING DOESN'T LINE UP, I ASK QUESTIONS.
WHEN I READ THE CITY COMPTROLLER RESPONSIBILITIES FOR INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT, REVIEWING EXPENDITURES AND IDENTIFYING DISCREPANCIES, I IMMEDIATELY CONNECTED WITH THAT RESPONSIBILITY.
THE FIRST MAJOR RESPONSIBILITY I SEE IN THE POSITION IS FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT AND INTERNAL CONTROLS.
I'VE SPENT MORE THAN 20 YEARS WORKING DIRECTLY IN FINANCIAL OPERATIONS AT MIKHAIL REUS.
I MANAGED ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE FOR APPROXIMATELY 1600 ACCOUNTS, PROCESSED PAYROLL, ACH PAYMENTS RECONCILED, BANK BANK ACCOUNTS FILED, PENNSYLVANIA STATE TAX SALES TAX RETURNS AND ASSISTED WITH THE ANNUAL INVENTORY AUDIT.
MY EYE JUST KEEPS MOVING TO THE RIGHT AND SHE'S INTERVIEWING ME.
AND MY RESPONSE WAS, I CAN'T WAIT TO DIG INTO THAT.
I JUST WAS ITCHING FOR IT. I KNEW WHAT IT WAS, I RECOGNIZED IT, AND I JUST WANTED A PIECE OF IT.
SO AT THE ROOFING COMPANY, I INHERITED QUICKBOOKS RECORDS THAT NEEDED TO BE CLEANED UP BEFORE I COULD PROVIDE AN ACCURATE BALANCE SHEET AND PENILE REPORTS TO THE OWNER. I ALSO CREATED JOB COSTING REPORTS SO MANAGEMENT COULD SEE IF THEY WERE MAKING THE 35% PROFIT MARGIN FOR INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS.
THE WORK REQUIRED EXACTLY WHAT I BELIEVE. GOOD FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT REQUIRES ACCURACY, DOCUMENTATION, INTERNAL CONTROLS, AND A WILLINGNESS TO QUESTION SOMETHING WHEN IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE, EVEN IF IT'S THE OWNER.
I DON'T BELIEVE THE CONTROLLER SHOULD GO INTO A REVIEW LOOKING FOR WRONGDOING.
THE SECOND MAJOR RESPONSIBILITY IN THE DESCRIPTION IS AUDITING.
THAT'S WHERE MY EXPERIENCE AT THE BOMB SCHOOL OF ART BECOMES PARTICULARLY RELEVANT.
AS FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATOR, I HANDLED ACCOUNTS PAYABLE, ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE, PAYROLL, BANK AND CREDIT CARD RECONCILIATIONS, AND FINANCIAL REPORTING. BUT I WAS ALSO THE ORGANIZATION'S PRIMARY POINT OF CONTACT FOR THE INDEPENDENT AUDITORS.
I PREPARED THE SCHEDULES FOR THE ANNUAL AUDIT GATHER THE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION, RESPONDED TO QUESTIONS FROM THE AUDITORS, AND REVIEWED THE AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND FORM 990.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THE CONTROLLER'S RESPONSIBILITIES GO BEYOND IDENTIFYING THE PROBLEM.
THE JOB DESCRIPTION TALKS ABOUT MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS TO STRENGTHEN INTERNAL CONTROLS, COMPLIANCE, AND OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY. THAT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO ME.
FINDING SOMETHING WRONG IS ONLY HALF THE JOB.
WHAT CAUSED IT? WHAT CONTROL WAS MISSING AND WHAT CAN BE CHANGED SO IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN.
THAT'S WHERE OVERSIGHT ACTUALLY IMPROVES AN ORGANIZATION.
I DID THAT BY BY COMPARING TWO PRIOR YEAR ACTUALS AGAINST EXPECTED ENROLLMENT AND EXPENDITURES.
THE WORK THEN WORKED WITH DEPARTMENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO MONITOR SPENDING AGAINST THAT BUDGET.
THAT RESPONSIBILITY IS EVEN BROADER. I OVERSEE ORGANIZATIONAL AND GRANT BUDGETS, REIMBURSEMENT REQUESTS, FINANCIAL REPORTING, FUNDING, COMPLIANCE AND LONG TERM PLANNING.
GRANT FUNDING HAS MADE ME ESPECIALLY CONSCIOUS OF FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY.
AN EXPENSE CAN'T SIMPLY MAKE SENSE. I HAVE TO KNOW WHETHER IT'S ALLOWABLE.
SO WHEN THE COMPTROLLER'S JOB DESCRIPTION TALKS ABOUT REVIEWING FINANCIAL PLAN, EVALUATING FISCAL IMPACT, OR PROMOTING SOUND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, THAT'S SOMETHING I UNDERSTAND FROM BOTH THE FINANCE SIDE AND NOW THE EXECUTIVE SIDE.
[00:30:04]
ONE THING I DO UNDERSTAND, I UNDERSTAND ABOUT THIS OFFICE IS THE IMPORTANCE OF CHECKS AND BALANCES.THE COMPTROLLER HAS TO BE INDEPENDENT. I'M GOING TO HAVE TO WORK WITH COUNCIL.
I'M GOING TO HAVE TO WORK WITH THE MAYOR AND THE DIFFERENT CITY DEPARTMENTS.
AND I WANT TO HAVE A GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP. I WANT TO HAVE GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIPS WITH ALL OF THEM. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE NUMBERS HAVE TO SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. I WILL TAKE AN UNBIASED LOOK AT WHAT'S IN FRONT OF ME AND SAY, OKAY, DOES THIS MAKE SENSE? IS THERE DOCUMENTATION TO SUPPORT IT? WERE THE PROPER PROCEDURES FOLLOWED? I CAN DO THAT WITHOUT BEING COMBATIVE. YOU CAN WORK WELL WITH PEOPLE AND STILL ASK HARD QUESTIONS.
YOU CAN DISAGREE WITH SOMEBODY AND STILL RESPECT THEM.
I'M ALSO NOT GOING TO CHANGE CHANGE A FINDING BECAUSE OF WHO IT INVOLVES.
I'M GOING TO MAKE SURE I HAVE IT RIGHT. I'M GOING TO GO BACK THROUGH THE DOCUMENTATION.
I'M GOING TO TALK TO THE PERSON OR DEPARTMENT AND MAKE SURE THERE ISN'T SOMETHING I'M MISSING.
THEN I'M GOING TO REPORT WHAT I FOUND. IT WON'T BE PERSONAL.
THAT'S WHERE THE INDEPENDENCE OF THIS OF THIS OFFICE MATTERS.
THE RESIDENTS HAVE TO BE ABLE TO TRUST THAT. I'M GOING TO GIVE THE SAME UNBIASED LOOK AT THE NUMBERS, NO MATTER WHOSE NUMBERS I'M LOOKING AT. ANOTHER PART OF THIS JOB THAT REALLY STOOD OUT TO ME WAS COMMUNICATING FINANCIAL INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC.
THAT'S ACTUALLY SOMETHING I DO ALL THE TIME. I'M A CERTIFIED FINANCIAL EDUCATION INSTRUCTOR.
MY JOB IS TO TAKE FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND BREAK IT DOWN.
SO SOMEBODY WHO DOESN'T WORK IN FINANCE CAN UNDERSTAND IT.
BUT IF THE AVERAGE RESIDENT OPENS AND OPENS IT AND HAS NO IDEA WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT, HOW TRANSPARENT ARE WE REALLY? I WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE SAYING.
WHAT DID WE FIND? WHAT IS IT? WHY DOES IT MATTER? WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR THE CITY? AND IF SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE FIXED, WHAT'S BEING DONE ABOUT IT? THAT'S A BIG PART OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY. THE COMPTROLLER ISN'T.
REPORT ISN'T JUST REPORTING INFORMATION TO THE PEOPLE IN CITY HALL.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE RESIDENTS MONEY. WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH IT.
I MANAGE STAFF, I MANAGE BUDGETS AND DETAILS.
AND I'VE LEARNED THAT BEING THE PERSON IN CHARGE DOESN'T MEAN YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO WALK IN THE ROOM KNOWING EVERYTHING. SO IF I WERE APPOINTED, I'M NOT WALKING INTO THE OFFICE ON DAY ONE SAYING, OKAY, HERE'S EVERYTHING WE'RE CHANGING. ABSOLUTELY NOT.
I WANT TO SIT DOWN WITH THE STAFF WHO ARE ALREADY THERE. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THEY'RE WORKING ON, WHAT'S PENDING, WHAT AUDITS HAVE BEEN DONE, WHAT RECOMMENDATIONS ARE STILL OPEN, WHAT SYSTEMS ARE WE USING? WHAT'S WRONG, WHAT ISN'T? I NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE OFFICE BEFORE I START MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT THE OFFICE.
AND THEN WE MOVE FORWARD FROM THERE. I KNOW THE OBVIOUS QUESTION.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT MY RESUME, I'VE NEVER WORKED IN MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT.
I HAVEN'T. I'M NOT GOING TO PRETEND THAT I HAVE.
BUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME IS THAT BEFORE I EVER KNEW THE CITY COMPTROLLER POSITION WAS GOING TO BE AVAILABLE, I HAD ALREADY MADE THE DECISION THAT I WANTED TO BETTER UNDERSTAND LOCAL GOVERNMENT BECOMING MORE INVOLVED IN PUBLIC SERVICE.
THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I APPLIED TO CIVIC LEADERSHIP ACADEMY.
OKAY, WRAP IT UP. OKAY. AND I'M CURRENTLY PART OF THIS YEAR'S CLASS.
I WANT TO UNDERSTAND HOW OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACTUALLY WORKS, HOW DECISIONS ARE MADE, WHERE AUTHORITY SITS, HOW THE DIFFERENT PARTS OF GOVERNMENT WORK TOGETHER, AND WHERE RESIDENTS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS FIT IN THAT PROCESS.
SO I'LL JUST LEAVE IT THERE. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.
IT'S AN IMPORTANT OFFICE THAT'S SERVED IN FOR MANY YEARS.
AND WHOEVER YOU APPOINT IS BEING TRUSTED TO STEP IN AND CONTINUE SERVING THE CITY OF ALLENTOWN.
SO WHY SHOULD YOU SELECT ME? I THINK WHAT I BRING TO THIS IS A COMBINATION OF EXPERIENCE, INDEPENDENCE, AND A GENUINE WILLINGNESS TO SERVE. YOU'VE HEARD TONIGHT THAT I'VE SPENT MORE THAN 20 YEARS WORKING IN FINANCE.
BUT I THINK WHAT I THINK, WHAT MAY BE HARD TO SEE IN MY RESUME IS HOW I APPROACH THE WORK.
I'M CURIOUS, I ASK QUESTIONS, I PAY ATTENTION WHEN SOMETHING DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
I'M NOT AFRAID TO SAY, I DON'T KNOW, BUT I'M GOING TO FIND OUT.
AND I'M ALSO NOT AFRAID TO SPEAK UP WHEN THE INFORMATION IN FRONT OF ME SAYS THAT I NEED TO.
I CAN WORK WITH COUNCIL. I CAN WORK WITH THE MAYOR, I CAN WORK WITH THE CITY STAFF.
I THINK I BRING SOMETHING ELSE IMPORTANT. I CAN TRANSLATE THE NUMBERS.
I DON'T WANT RESIDENTS JUST TO HAVE ACCESS TO INFORMATION.
[00:35:02]
I WANT THEM TO UNDERSTAND IT BECAUSE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ONLY WORK WHEN PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE TELLING THEM.I KNOW HOW TO LEAD, I KNOW HOW TO LEARN, AND I KNOW HOW TO ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS.
IF YOU PUT YOUR TRUST IN ME TONIGHT, I WILL PUT IN THE WORK.
I WILL PROTECT THE INDEPENDENCE OF THIS OFFICE.
IT WOULD BE AN HONOR TO SERVE YOUR SERVE YOURS AS THE NEXT COMPTROLLER.
AND I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR VOTE. OKAY. THANK YOU.
OKAY. APPRECIATE IT. WE WILL GET STARTED ON COMMENTS FROM MY COLLEAGUES.
SO ALL RIGHT. WE'LL GO. SAME ORDER. WE'RE CONSISTENT, MR. BENDER. GO AHEAD. SEE, THAT'S WHAT WE LIKE. ALL RIGHT. SO SAME QUESTION.
IF YOU CAN DESCRIBE AN INSTANCE WHERE YOU INDEPENDENTLY IDENTIFIED A SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL AUDIT OR INTERNAL CONTROL WEAKNESS, WHAT EVIDENCE YOU EXAMINED AND HOW DID YOU COMMUNICATE THE FINDINGS WITH EITHER LEADERSHIP OR THE PUBLIC.
AT WHICH JOB HAVEN'T I DONE THAT? LET ME PICK ONE.
LET ME SEE. I'LL TAKE THE ROOFING COMPANY ONE.
WHEN I WALKED INTO THAT, I WAS ACTUALLY ON A SEVERANCE LEAVE.
I WAS ENJOYING MYSELF. MY UNCLE GAVE ME A PHONE CALL AND SAID, HEY, WE NEED YOU IN HERE.
I HAVEN'T GOT PAID IN THREE MONTHS. HE'S LIKE, I NEED SOMEBODY TO COME IN AND HELP US WITH OUR COSTING JOB, COSTING A ROOFING COMPANY. SO, YOU KNOW, THE SALESMAN GOES OUT, GETS THE JOB WORKERS DO IT.
BUT HOW MUCH DID WE REALLY MAKE ON IT? NOBODY REALLY KNEW.
SO I HE SAID, I GET OFF, STOP WATCHING LATE NIGHT TV AND EATING BONBONS.
I NEED YOU IN HERE. SO I SAID, ALL RIGHT, I'M COMING IN.
I'LL HELP YOU OUT AND GET A LITTLE BORED AT HOME.
EVERYTHING WAS DONE BY PAPER. EVERYTHING WAS DONE BY HAND.
SO I KIND OF HAD TO AUTOMATE THEM INTO QUICKBOOKS A LITTLE BIT BETTER.
THE OWNER REALLY DIDN'T READ THE INCOME STATEMENT.
PERSONAL STATEMENT OR A BALANCE SHEET. AND THAT REALLY TO ME WAS SHOCKING.
SO WHEN I GOT IN THERE, THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCREPANCIES.
THERE WERE ACCOUNTS THAT THEY HAD BEEN PAID ON BUT WEREN'T MARKED IN THE SYSTEM.
THERE WAS ACCOUNTS THAT WERE OVERDUE BUT WEREN'T EVEN REALLY BEING COLLECTED ON.
SO I THOUGHT THAT THAT WAS A BIG, REALLY PART OF HELPING HIM WITH HIS REVENUE AND HIS INCOME.
HE'S A ROOFER. HE'S, YOU KNOW, HE'S HE DIDN'T WANT TO DEAL WITH IT.
AND I SAID, NO, I NEED YOUR TIME. AND I ACTUALLY BLOCKED OUT AND IT WAS A LITTLE FIVE FOOT ME AND I WALKED UP AND I HAD TO TELL THE GUYS, LOOK, I NEED HIM RIGHT NOW. YOU GUYS HAVE TO WAIT.
AND HE ACTUALLY LET ME LOOSE AND LET ME GO INTO HIS BOOKS FULLY AFTER THAT.
OKAY. MISS GERLACH. YES. SAME QUESTION. HOW WILL YOU BALANCE THE ROLE OF CONTROLLER WITH OTHER EMPLOYMENT AND OR COMMUNITY WORK THAT YOU CURRENTLY DO? AND WITH THAT, DO YOU ANTICIPATE ANY CONFLICTS OF INTEREST? OKAY. YEAH. SO, YOU KNOW, I'M GLAD YOU ASKED THAT BECAUSE THE CONVERSATION WE'VE HAD IN THE OFFICE SINCE MY APPLYING FOR THIS POSITION, AND AS YOU MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW, VALLEY HEALTH ALLIANCE IS A FINANCIAL LITERACY ORGANIZATION.
I HAVE A STAFF IN PLACE. IF COUNCIL APPOINTS ME, I UNDERSTAND THAT I'M, I'M ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY TO THE RESIDENTS OF ALLENTOWN, AND I WOULD ORGANIZE RESPONSIBILITIES ACCORDINGLY.
I LIKE MY STAFF. WE'RE GOOD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOUR PRESENTATION.
AGAIN SAME QUESTION. WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE ARE THE THREE GREATEST FINANCIAL OR INTERNAL CONTROL RISKS FACING OUR CITY? AND HOW WOULD YOU ADDRESS THOSE RISKS AND HOW WOULD THAT INFLUENCE YOUR, YOUR AUDIT PRIORITIES DURING YOUR FIRST SIX MONTHS? OKAY. FIRST, I WOULD SAY PENSIONS. I THINK PENSIONS, I'D MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY MEETS ITS LONG TERM OBLIGATIONS TO EMPLOYEES. THE DEBT AND LARGE PROJECTS, MAKING SURE CITY ISN'T TAKING ON MORE DEBT THAN IT CAN REASONABLY AFFORD. I THINK MAYBE. PROBABLY REVENUE AND SPENDING.
THAT'S MY AREA OF STRENGTH. I BUDGET IT'S NOT JUST MY JOB, IT'S MY LIFESTYLE.
[00:40:03]
SO I THINK THAT MAKING SURE EXPENSES AREN'T GROWING FASTER THAN OUR TAX DOLLARS ARE COMING IN.AND MISS MODA ANY. THANK YOU. IT IS IMPORTANT TO ME THAT THE COUNCIL SELECTS THE CITY CONTROLLER, WHO IS UNBIASED AND ABLE TO ACT AS A CHECK AND BALANCE INDEPENDENTLY FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
ARE YOU ABLE TO CARRY THAT RESPONSIBILITY AND HOW? ABSOLUTELY. I BELIEVE I KIND OF HAVE AN UPPER HAND ON THAT ONE THAN THE OTHER CANDIDATES, BECAUSE I'M NOT EMBEDDED IN THE CITY.
I HAVEN'T BEEN COMPROMISED. I DON'T HAVE FRIENDS IN CITY COUNCIL.
I DON'T HAVE FRIENDS HERE. SO I'M COMING IN COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT.
AND I THINK THAT THAT GIVES ME THE UPPER HAND ON IT.
OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? OKAY. THANK YOU, MISS SALGADO.
OKAY. OUR LAST CANDIDATE IS MR. PATRICK PALMER.
WELCOME. AND SAME TEN MINUTES FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND A TWO MINUTE CLOSING STATEMENT.
OKAY. OKAY. FIRST OFF, THANK YOU, COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS. AND I DO WANT TO SAY YOU KNOW, IT IS A SAD TIME WHY WE ARE UP HERE.
I DID CONSIDER JEFF A FRIEND. WE'VE HAD NUMEROUS MEETINGS.
THIS STARTED BACK WHEN I RAN FOR MAYOR, AND HE WOULD HAVE NUMEROUS SIT DOWNS WITH ME TO GO OVER THE BUDGET, GO OVER DIFFERENT THINGS. SO HE WILL BE MISSED.
HIS NAME IS THOMAS SOWELL. SO HE SAID THE REAL GOAL FOR GOVERNMENT SPENDING SHOULD BE REDUCED SPENDING RATHER THAN BALANCED BUDGETS ACHIEVED BY EVER RISING TAX RATES TO COVER EVER RISING SPENDING. AND THAT'S KIND OF HOW I LOOK AT THIS.
WHEN I WAS ON OUR SCHOOL BOARD. AND I'D JUST LIKE TO START OFF WITH A STORY THERE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS PROMISED WAS WE'RE GOING TO STOP THESE TAX INCREASES.
AND WE DID WITHIN MY FIRST YEAR. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WERE DOING WAS WE WEREN'T JUST LOOKING AT THE OLD SCHOOL OF HOW THE BUDGET WORKS AND MAKING SURE THAT THINGS WERE ADDING UP TWO PLUS TWO EQUALS FOUR.
WE WERE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THAT ACTUAL MONEY WAS GOING.
ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS THINGS THAT WE HAD HAPPENED WAS WE REALIZED WE WERE SPENDING ON BUS DRIVERS WE WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO BE SPENDING ON BUS DRIVERS, BUT WE WERE DOING THAT FOR WHAT I CAN REMEMBER WAS ABOUT 12 YEARS BEFORE WE ACTUALLY STARTED LOOKING INTO WHAT WE WERE SPENDING ON.
AND THAT TURNED INTO, AND SORRY TO KIND OF JUMP AHEAD OF YOUR QUESTION THERE, JEREMY, BUT THAT TURNED INTO A, WE HAD TO LET THE PUBLIC KNOW. WE LET THE BUS DRIVERS KNOW.
WE LET FIRST STUDENT KNOW. AND THEN WE HAD A MEETING DURING THAT FINANCE MEETING, I WAS THE FINANCE CHAIR AT THE TIME, AND WE LET EVERYONE SPEAK. WE LET ALL OF THEM SPEAK BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT IS THEIR JOB. AND IT IS MY JOB AS A PUBLIC ASSISTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE IS HEARD AND THAT WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS THE BEST THING FOR OUR CITY AND FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED IN OUR CITY. SO WE ALLOW THEM TO SPEAK. WE CAME TO A RESOLUTION AND WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY WERE STILL PAID, BUT NOT THROUGH US. THAT CUT ABOUT $12 MILLION WORTH OF SPENDING.
THAT WAS SOMETHING WHERE AT THE END OF THE DAY, TWO PLUS TWO DID EQUAL FOUR.
BUT WE WERE MAKING SURE THAT WHY WERE WE DOING THAT IN THE FIRST PLACE? IT'S NOT JUST LOOKING AT A BUDGET AND MAKING SURE ALL THE NUMBERS ADD UP, BUT MAKING SURE WHAT WE'RE SPENDING ON IS WHAT WE SHOULD BE SPENDING ON.
AND THAT KIND OF TAKES ME INTO SOME OF MY RESUME HERE.
WHAT BRINGS ME UP HERE? SO THIS KIND OF STARTED BACK WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE.
AND I'M KIND OF DATING MYSELF. I WENT TO KUTZTOWN AND AT THE TIME TO MAKE SOME MONEY, I STARTED WORKING AT WACHOVIA, WHICH WAS DOWN THE STREET FROM KUTZTOWN. AND NOW IT'S CALLED WELLS FARGO.
AND LO AND BEHOLD, IT KIND OF TURNED INTO A CAREER.
BEFORE I KNEW IT MY MANAGER WAS COMING UP TO ME AND SAYING, YOU CAN MAKE SO MUCH MORE.
YOU SEEM TO BE GOOD AT THIS. YOU SEEM TO BE GOOD AT HANDLING BUDGETS, ASSISTING PEOPLE, AND MAKING SURE THAT EVERYONE'S GETTING TAKEN CARE OF IN A DIFFERENT, UNIQUE WAY. BEFORE I KNEW IT, I GOT MYSELF A SERIES SIX THREE AND A SERIES SEVEN, AS WELL AS BEING AN ML OFFICER, WHICH ALLOWS ME TO DO INVESTMENTS TO DO INSURANCE SALES TO DO AS WELL AS MORTGAGE SALES AND KIND OF GOING FROM THERE.
[00:45:06]
I THEN WENT TO BECOMING A MANAGER HANDLING, YOU KNOW, SCHEDULING.HANDLING OUR BUDGETS FOR OUR BUILDING, HANDLING DIFFERENT THINGS.
FROM THEN ON, I THEN MOVED INTO THE NONPROFIT SPACE, WHICH IS I WAS WORKING WITH NONPROFITS, ASSISTING WITH THEIR BUDGETS, ASSISTING WITH HELPING THEM THROUGH EVEN TAX PREPARATION AS WELL AS GRANTS.
SO MAKING SURE THINGS ADDED UP FOR OUR GOVERNMENT WHEN THEY WERE LOOKING FOR THOSE GRANTS THAT THEY WERE TRYING TO RECEIVE. I EVEN THEN HAD MY OWN NONPROFIT, WHICH WE WERE WORKING ON, AND I WAS MAKING SURE THAT WE WERE ALWAYS ON THE UP AND UP. IT WAS CALLED RUN FOR BOOKS, WHICH WE WERE ASSISTING ATHLETES TO GO AHEAD AND GET SOME BOOKS FOR WHEN THEY DO MOVE ON TO COLLEGE, TO THE HIGH SCHOOLS. SO WE WERE DOING A LOT OF GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE THERE, MAKING SURE THAT OUR GRANTS WERE OKAY AND MAKING SURE EVERYTHING WAS GOING RIGHT. SO AS WELL AS I WAS THE CHAIR OF OUR ALLENTOWN SCHOOL DISTRICT FINANCE COMMITTEE, MAKING SURE THAT THEIR SPENDING WAS DONE PROPERLY AND MAKING SURE THAT WHAT WE WERE SPENDING ON WAS THINGS THAT MADE SENSE.
ANOTHER STORY THAT HAPPENED THERE WAS WHEN WE WERE GOING THROUGH JUST KIND OF FINDING OUT WHAT WE WERE SPENDING ON. THERE WAS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO WAS ACTUALLY AT THE TIME, AND YOU MIGHT REMEMBER THIS, BUT AN INDIVIDUAL AT THE TIME WAS ACTUALLY DELIVERING OUR ACTUAL AGENDAS TO US, GOING DOOR TO DOOR, DELIVERING THOSE AGENDAS. I THEN MADE SURE THAT WE BROKE THAT DOWN FOR WHY ARE WE WASTING FUNDS ON THAT? BECAUSE THAT PERSON COULD BE DRIVING FOR HOURS AND HOURS AND HOURS WHILE WE COULD JUST MAKE SURE THAT WE JUST HAD THEM PRINTED OUT, OR WE COULD JUST EMAIL THEM, HAVE EVERYONE HAVE A PRINTER AND MAKE SURE IT GETS PRINTED OUT. SO WE SAVED THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS JUST THROUGH THAT.
AND AGAIN, THAT KIND OF GOES BACK TO, YOU KNOW, WE ARE SPENDING THE MONEY, THE NUMBERS ARE ADDING UP, BUT WHAT ARE WE SPENDING THE MONEY ON? THAT'S WHERE THE REAL CONVERSATION COMES FROM FOR ME.
I LOOK AT THINGS LIKE, I LOOK AT THE COMPTROLLER POSITION AND I DO SEE WHAT THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES ARE, BUT IT DOESN'T NEED TO END THERE. WHEN YOU LOOK AROUND THE DIFFERENT CITIES, THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO, FOR INSTANCE, ARE FROM LOS ANGELES, FROM NEW YORK CITY THAT ARE DOING DIFFERENT THINGS WITH THE COMPTROLLER POSITION.
THEY'RE STILL STAYING WITHIN THE GUIDELINES, THE SAME GUIDELINES THAT WE HAVE, THE SAME RULES, THE SAME LAWS THAT WE HAVE, BUT THEY'RE DOING DIFFERENT THINGS. THERE'S AN INDIVIDUAL, KENNETH MAYHUGH, WHO IS IN ACTUAL LOS ANGELES AND IS TURNING THE CONTROLLER POSITION INTO MORE OF A DATA DASHBOARD. WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS THEY'RE USING THAT TO KIND OF SEE WHERE OUR SPENDING IS GOING.
AND WHEN YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE MAKING THESE, I GUESS THESE TO LET PEOPLE KNOW AND TO LET COUNCIL KNOW AND TO LET THE MAYOR KNOW, LIKE, THESE ARE MY RECOMMENDATIONS. YOU CAN THEN KIND OF TURN THAT INTO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
THEY'RE ACTUALLY USING IT TO MAP OUT THE HOMELESSNESS, HOUSING RESOURCES, KIND OF ALLOCATE SPENDING AWAY FROM DIFFERENT THINGS THAT AREN'T NECESSARY, AS WELL AS MAKING SURE THINGS LIKE GHOST JOBS AREN'T POPPING UP. SO WE CAN THEN USE THOSE RESOURCES TO ASSIST OTHER INDIVIDUALS WHO NEED THOSE IN OUR CITY.
THAT THEN MAKES SURE THAT THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ACTUALLY HAVE THOSE HOMES ARE ABLE TO PURCHASE HOMES, PAY TAXES, GENERATE MORE FUNDS FOR THE CITY, AS WELL AS SPEND MORE THINGS IN THE CITY.
THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT OUR CONTROLLERS ARE DOING IN DIFFERENT PLACES. AGAIN, BRAD LANER IN NEW YORK, AS WELL AS WE CAN LOOK DOWN THE STREET AT AN INDIVIDUAL WHO'S JUST WORKING AT THE SEVENTH STREET BUILDING, MARK PINSLEY, HE'S DOING DIFFERENT THINGS IN THE CONTROLLER BUSINESS TO JUST SAVE MONEY, BECAUSE, AGAIN, AS WE KNOW WHAT THE CONTROLLER DOES.
I MEAN, I'VE BEEN UP HERE FOR. THERE'S BEEN TWO OTHERS WHO HAVE KIND OF BROKEN THAT DOWN, BUT JUST MAKING SURE THAT THERE ARE DIFFERENT WAYS OF PROGRESSIVE WAYS OF DOING DIFFERENT THINGS WHEN IT HAS COME TO BEING THE CONTROLLER.
AND THAT'S KIND OF WHAT I BRING TO THE BRING TO THE TABLE HERE.
AND OUR INSIDE ALLENTOWN PROGRAM WAS SHOWING INDIVIDUALS WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO BE PART OF CITY GOVERNMENT. THEY'D MEET CITY COUNCIL, THEY'D MEET WITH OUR SCHOOL BOARD, THEY'D MEET WITH OUR BUDGET AND FINANCE DEPARTMENT. AT THE TIME, IT WAS WHEN WE STARTED.
AS WELL AS THEY MEET WITH OUR WITH OUR AUDITING DEPARTMENT AND OUR CONTROLLER.
SO MAKING SURE THAT THEY ACTUALLY LEARN HOW CITY GOVERNMENT WORKS AND HOW DIFFERENT THINGS ACTUALLY DO WORK THROUGHOUT OUR CITY. AND THEN KIND OF GOING FROM THERE, THAT'S KIND OF THE FORWARD THINKING THAT I BRING, IS TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN DO THINGS AND WE CAN STILL MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ABIDING BY WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO, BUT ALSO TEACHING OTHERS AS WELL, AND ALSO LOOKING AT NEW WAYS OF DOING THINGS INSTEAD OF OUTSIDE OF THE ORDINARY, WHICH MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN GENERATE MORE REVENUE AS WELL AS SAVE REVENUE THROUGHOUT THE CITY. YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST SOMETHING WHERE YOU KNOW, I'VE HANDLED SOMETHING WHERE AND AGAIN, THIS IS FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, $500 MILLION BUDGET, MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO SAVE.
SO THAT WAY WE CAN CUT SOME TAX INCREASES AND MAKING SURE THAT OUR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE, YOU KNOW, MORE NEEDY ARE ABLE TO BE ASSISTED. AND I'VE BEEN THROUGH MANY GOVERNMENT AUDITS, WHETHER IT'S BEEN THROUGH NONPROFITS, WHETHER IT'S BEEN THROUGH WORKING IN THE SYSTEM MYSELF, AS WELL AS MAKING SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE GET THE JOB DONE AS LONG AS WE'RE GETTING IT DONE IN THE PROPER WAY.
YOU KNOW, AND IT'S BEEN THROUGH JUST NAMING A FEW OF THE SOFTWARES. I'VE USED ZOHO, XERO, QUICKBOOKS, DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT, JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN GET THE AUDIT PROCESSES DONE RIGHT AS WELL AS RUNNING BUSINESSES, RIGHT? SO THERE'S DIFFERENT THINGS THAT I'VE DONE THROUGHOUT LIFE. JUST MAKING SURE THAT I'VE DONE GONE THROUGH AUDITS AS WELL AS ASSISTED WITH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, REVENUE FORECASTING. AND WHAT I'LL DO WHEN I'M APPOINTED IS MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE CONTINUING THE PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENT FORWARD WHILE WORKING WITH COUNCIL,
[00:50:05]
WORKING WITH THE MAYOR TO FIND NEW WAYS TO ASSIST OUR CITY AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE CONTINUING TO INCREASE OUR BOND RATING, MAKING SURE THAT THINGS ARE GOING UP AND THAT THE CITY DOES CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD. OKAY.SO WHEN I WAS THINKING ABOUT WHY CITY COUNCIL SHOULD APPOINT ME I'M ONE OF THE INDIVIDUALS WHO I KNOW I CAN HIT THE GROUND RUNNING MAKING SURE THAT BECAUSE THIS APPOINTMENT IS ONLY UNTIL THE END OF NEXT YEAR, MAKING SURE THAT IN THAT TIME FRAME, WHEN WE DO HAVE THAT NEXT BUDGET COMING UP, I KNOW WHAT I'M LOOKING AT. AGAIN, I'VE WORKED THROUGH THE BUDGETS, SAT DOWN WITH OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS I'VE SAT DOWN WITH JEFF AND JUST KIND OF WENT THROUGH THE BUDGET TRYING TO SEE WHAT WE WERE DOING. I'M ONE OF THE, I'M ONE OF THE INDIVIDUALS WHO WAS HERE AT MIDNIGHT, WHAT, THREE YEARS AGO, GOING THROUGH OUR BUDGET, GETTING A VOTING THAT WAS DONE ON THAT AS WELL AS ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS, IS BEING ABLE TO SHOW UP TO ALL COUNCIL MEETINGS. I WILL BE ABLE TO SHOW UP TO ALL COUNCIL MEETINGS. IT'S SOMETHING THAT I'VE BEEN DOING FOR YEARS, AND I CAN CONTINUE TO DO THAT AS WELL AS MAKING SURE THAT WHEN I AM HITTING THE GROUND RUNNING, I CAN WORK WITH EVERYONE ON COUNCIL AS WELL AS I CAN WORK EVERYONE IN THE OFFICE AND I CAN WORK WITH OUR MAYOR TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A SMOOTH SAILING, A SMOOTH TRANSITION OVER AS WELL AS BEING ONE OF THE ONES WHO KNOWS HOW SOME INDIVIDUALS WORK. I'M VERY PERSONABLE, I CAN UNDERSTAND AND I'M A QUICK LEARNER.
SO I'D BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN I DO GET INTO THAT POSITION AND I AM WORKING WITH INDIVIDUALS, I CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN MOVE THROUGH A SOLUTION.
MR. BENDER, GO AHEAD. I'M HAPPY TO ASK THE QUESTION AGAIN.
I KNOW YOU ADDRESSED SOME OF IT TOGETHER, BUT I'LL ASK IT AGAIN.
AND WHAT EVIDENCE DID YOU EXAMINE? HOW DID YOU COMMUNICATE THOSE FINDINGS TO LEADERSHIP OR TO THE PUBLIC? SO I CAN THINK OF ANOTHER THIRD STORY HERE. SO ONE OF THE THINGS WAS HOW WE WERE, AND I'LL USE THE POSITION THAT I HAD WITH OUR SCHOOL BOARD AGAIN. ANOTHER ONE OF THE THINGS WAS HOW WE WERE FUNDING AND HOW WE WERE WORKING THROUGH WITH CTI WHEN IT CAME TO ASSISTING WITH THE PLACEMENTS FOR OUR STUDENTS. I WAS ABLE TO GO AHEAD AND SIT DOWN WITH CTI.
WE KIND OF HAVING A CONVERSATION IN TERMS OF HOW WE WERE PLACING OUR STUDENTS, WHAT THEY WERE LOOKING AT, WHAT THEY WERE GOING THROUGH, AND HOW THEY WERE FIGURING OUT WHICH STUDENTS DID WHAT. WITHOUT GETTING INTO THE NITTY GRITTY OF THE CONVERSATION, I WAS ABLE TO, WE WERE ABLE TO GO AHEAD AND IDENTIFY SOME FACTORS THAT MAY HAVE BEEN INFLUENCING THE WAY THAT STUDENTS WERE BEING PLACED, AS WELL AS SOME DISCREPANCIES WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED WHY STUDENTS WERE BEING PLACED IN CERTAIN AREAS.
SO WE THEN WENT AHEAD AND SAT DOWN WITH OUR SUPERINTENDENT. WE WORK THROUGH THAT.
WE WERE ABLE TO ADDRESS SOME CHANGE AND MAKE SOME CHANGES TO HOW THAT WAS HAPPENING, AS WELL AS THEN WE WERE ABLE TO ADDRESS THE PARENTS THROUGH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THERE WERE SOME CHANGES THAT WERE HAPPENING, AND IF THEIR STUDENT WAS LOOKING TO BE PLACED AGAIN THROUGH LTIS VOTING PROCESS OR BIDDING PROCESS, THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO GO AHEAD AND DO THAT.
OKAY, MISS GERLACH. YES. HOW WILL YOU BALANCE THE ROLE OF COMPTROLLER WITH OTHER EMPLOYMENT AND OR COMMUNITY WORK THAT YOU'RE CURRENTLY INVOLVED IN? AND WITH THAT, DO YOU ANTICIPATE ANY CONFLICTS OF INTEREST? SO I DO NOT ANTICIPATE ANY CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.
I KNOW WHAT IT TAKES TO MOVE THINGS FORWARD, AND I KNOW HOW TO MAKE SURE THAT I MAKE THE RIGHT RELATIONSHIPS AND MAKE SURE THAT WE STAY UNBIASED THROUGH EVERYTHING THAT WE DO. BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE NOT HERE FOR OURSELVES.
WE ARE HERE FOR OUR CITIZENS. SO I KNOW WHAT IS NEEDED TO MAKE SURE TO MOVE THINGS FORWARD.
THANK YOU. OKAY. AND MR.. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE ARE THE THREE GREATEST FINANCIAL OR INTERNAL CONTROL RISKS FACING OUR CITY? AND HOW WOULD THOSE RISKS INFLUENCE YOUR OVERSIGHT PRIORITIES DURING YOUR FIRST SIX MONTHS? WELL, I WOULD SAY NUMBER ONE FOR WHEN IT COMES TO CITY IS THE BOND RATING MAKING SURE THAT IF WE DO HAVE ANY PROJECTS THAT WE ARE LOOKING TO SPEND ON THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO AT LEAST BORROW AND NOT JUST BORROW, BUT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE BORROWING WITH AN INTEREST RATE THAT IS APPLICABLE FOR US AND WORKS FOR US.
ANOTHER ISSUE THAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN ADDRESS IS THE LONG TERM SPENDING.
WHETHER, AS I MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, REVENUE FORECASTING IT'S SOMETHING WHERE IF YOU DO WANT TO START A PROJECT, WHAT WOULD, WHEN WOULD IT BE CHEAPER? WHAT WOULD MAKE IT CHEAPER? ONE OF THE SITUATIONS THAT I'VE RUN INTO PREVIOUSLY WAS WE WERE LOOKING TO BUILD FOR A PROJECT AND THIS WAS PRE COVID AND ALL WE HAD TO DO WAS CUT OUT ONE PART OF THE PROJECT, BUT WE COULD STILL BUILD AND MAKING SURE THAT THAT WOULD BE UNDER BUDGET.
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SO JUST MAKING SURE THAT FOR OUR LONG TERM PROJECTS THAT WE DO HAVE THE APPROPRIATE ASSISTANCE OF INFORMATION AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE HANDLING THOSE PROPERLY, AS WELL AS MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE ELIMINATING ADJECTIVE OBJECTIVE SPENDING, WHETHER IT BE THROUGH GHOST JOBS OR WHETHER IT BE THROUGH THINGS THAT WE AREN'T NECESSARILY NEEDED TO SPEND ON. BUT LOOKING THROUGH THAT AND MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN, I CAN HAVE ANY KIND OF ASSISTANCE WITH THAT AS WELL.THANK YOU. OKAY. AND LASTLY, MISS MISS MATA. YES.
THANK YOU. IT IS IMPORTANT TO ME THAT COUNCIL SELECTS A CITY CONTROLLER WHO IS UNBIASED AND ABLE TO ACT AS A CHECK AND BALANCE INDEPENDENTLY FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. ARE YOU ABLE TO CARRY THAT RESPONSIBILITY AND HOW? YES, I AM ABLE TO CARRY THAT RESPONSIBILITY. I HAVE BEEN DOING THAT WHERE, YOU KNOW, IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS PART OF ME, WHERE I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A CHECK AND BALANCE THROUGH THROUGH GOVERNMENT AND WHAT IS NECESSARY FOR THAT TO WORK.
SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I AM ABLE TO GO AHEAD AND MAKE SURE THAT I CAN CARRY ON THROUGH WITH THAT.
WHEN I WAS WORKING WITH THE MAYOR OR WHETHER I AM WORKING WITH CITY COUNCIL, I KNOW AND I UNDERSTAND THAT I NEED TO BE UNBIASED AND I WILL MAKE SURE THAT I CONTINUE TO DO THAT. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU, MR. PALMER.
THANK YOU FOR APPLYING. THANK YOU. AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE NOW WITH PUBLIC COMMENT.
SO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE WELCOME TO SPEAK ON ANY CANDIDATES.
WE COURTESY OF THE FLOOR IS THREE MINUTES AND WE DIDN'T DO WE TAKE CARDS? YEAH. YEAH. SORRY. OKAY. MR. COLBERT, YOU'RE FIRST.
GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL PRESIDENT NAPOLI.
VICE PRESIDENT MOTTA, I THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SHARE TONIGHT ON BEHALF OF JASMINE.
I THOUGHT SHE DID A WONDERFUL JOB, BUT THREE THINGS FOLLOWING QUESTIONS.
I HAVE THREE THINGS I WANT TO SAY ABOUT JASMINE.
SO WE'VE BEEN COLLABORATING WITH JASMINE FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS. SHE IS FINANCIALLY SOUND.
SHE HAS EDUCATION IN REFERENCE TO NUMBERS, BUT ONE OF HER NUMBER ONE STRENGTHS IS COLLABORATION.
A GREAT COLLABORATOR KNOWS HOW TO ASK RIGHT QUESTIONS, WHO TO PARTNER UP WITH, AND TO REALLY MAKE DECISIONS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHERS, RATHER THAN JUST HER ORGANIZATION MINDSET. SHE'S A GREAT COLLABORATOR, AND I BELIEVE COLLABORATION IS THE WAY FORWARD, NOT JUST FOR ALLENTOWN, BUT ALSO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, POLITICAL SYSTEMS, EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS. WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER. NUMBER TWO DETAILS, JASMINE, IS INTO DETAILS.
IF YOU'VE EVER HAD A CONVERSATION WITH JASMINE, IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT DETAILS. WE JUST RECENTLY COMPLETED OUR FIRST ROUND OF JOB READINESS PROGRAM, AND WE MET ONE ON ONE WITH ALL OF OUR PARTICIPANTS.
AND AS THEY WERE RATTLING OFF ALL THEIR FINANCIAL STUFF, SHE WAS TAKING NOTES.
AND SHE AND I WERE SITTING THERE LISTENING TO THEM. AND SHE'S NOTES, NOTES, NOTES WHEN WE FACILITATED IT IN CLASS, EVEN IF SHE WAS UP FACILITATING, IF SOMEONE SAID SOMETHING, ASKED A QUESTION, SHE TOOK NOTES. JASMINE IS INTO DETAILS.
AND LASTLY IS MINDSET AND LIFESTYLE. SHE LIVES THIS.
I MEAN, IF YOU GO ON HER PHONE, SHE HAS APPS ON HOW TO SAVE MONEY AT EVERY STORE, IN EVERY STORE.
SHE IS FRUGAL, BUT THAT'S HER MINDSET AND THAT IS HER LIFESTYLE.
SO THE THREE THINGS COLLABORATION, DETAILS, MINDSET AND LIFESTYLE.
SHE ACTUALLY LIVES THIS THING OUT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING COUNCIL. MY NAME IS LAURA COLE AND I'M HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO KNOW AND WORK WITH JASMINE SALGADO.
I ALSO HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF KNOWING AND WORKING WITH JEFF GLAZIER.
HIS PASSING OBVIOUSLY LEFT ENORMOUS SHOES TO FILL.
WHAT I RESPECTED ABOUT JEFF WAS THE SERIOUSNESS WITH WHICH HE APPROACHED PUBLIC SERVICE.
CAREFUL, INDEPENDENT, THOUGHTFUL, AND DEEPLY COMMITTED TO THIS CITY.
AND JUST AS IMPORTANTLY, HE ALWAYS BROUGHT A KIND AND HUMAN APPROACH TO HIS WORK.
JASMINE HAS AN EXCEPTIONALLY QUICK AND SHARP MIND.
SHE PAYS ATTENTION, SHE REMEMBERS DETAILS, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, SHE REMEMBERS COMMITMENTS.
WHEN JASMINE TELLS YOU SHE'S GOING TO DO SOMETHING, SHE TAKES THAT PROMISE SERIOUSLY.
SHE'S ALSO UNAFRAID TO HOLD OTHERS ACCOUNTABLE.
AND JASMINE DID NOT HESITATE TO REMIND ME OF THE COMMITMENT I HAD MADE.
SHE ALSO HAS COURAGE, NOT JUST THE COURAGE TO SPEAK HONESTLY, BUT EQUALLY IMPORTANT COURAGE TO HEAR SOMETHING DIFFICULT, CONSIDER IT SERIOUSLY, AND RESPOND WITH INTEGRITY IN PUBLIC SERVICE.
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I THINK THAT BOTH MATTER. JASMINE CAME TO ALLENTOWN IN HER EARLY 20S AND CHOSE THIS CITY AS A PLACE TO BUILD HER LIFE, HER CAREER, AND HER COMMUNITY, AND JASMINE GENUINELY LOVES THIS COMMUNITY.ALLENTOWN'S LEADERSHIP SHOULD CONTINUE TO GROW ALONGSIDE THE COMMUNITY IT SERVES, AND IT MATTERS WHEN RESIDENTS CAN SEE PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS AND EXPERIENCES TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR SHARED INSTITUTIONS.
WHAT I KNOW PERSONALLY ABOUT JASMINE IS THAT SHE'S WHIP SMART, METICULOUS, COURAGEOUS, ACCOUNTABLE, AND DEEPLY INVESTED IN ALLENTOWN. I'M GRATEFUL THAT SHE WAS WILLING TO PUT HERSELF FORWARD FOR PUBLIC SERVICE, AND I'M PROUD TO BE HERE TONIGHT TO SPEAK TO THE PERSON AND LEADER I KNOW HER TO BE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS SARAH MONTANEZ. I AM AN ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT AND CERTIFIED FINANCIAL EDUCATION INSTRUCTOR AT VALLEY ALLIANCE, WHICH I'LL REFER TO AS VW AYE, WHERE JASMINE SALGADO SERVES AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
I FIRST MET JASMINE DURING MY SENIOR YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL.
SHE WAS AT MY SCHOOL FOR A TABLING EVENT, AND AT THE TIME I WAS THERE SELLING LIP GLOSS.
THAT SMALL INTERACTION ENDED UP BECOMING THE BEGINNING OF SOMETHING MUCH BIGGER FOR ME.
SHE INVITED ME TO GET INVOLVED WITH VWA. I EVENTUALLY PARTICIPATED IN VWA PROGRAMS MYSELF, WHERE I WAS INTRODUCED TO THE FINANCIAL WORLD AND LEARNED HOW TO BETTER UNDERSTAND AND MANAGE MY OWN FINANCES.
THAT LATER PLAYED A ROLE IN HELPING ME GET MY FIRST APARTMENT AND MY FIRST CAR.
JASMINE GAVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME PART OF THAT WORK.
WORKING BESIDE JASMINE EVERY DAY, I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND THE KIND OF LEADER SHE IS.
SHE IS THOROUGH AND FAIR. SHE HAS PUSHED ME TO GROW BOTH PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, JASMINE SAW POTENTIAL IN ME BEFORE I SAW IT IN MYSELF.
AS JASMINE TAKES ON THIS ROLE, I'LL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT HER AND VWA IN CARRYING OUT OUR MISSION.
GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF ALLENTOWN CITY COUNCIL.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF JASMINE SALGADO FOR CITY COMPTROLLER.
I BELIEVE IN HER RESPONSE STATEMENT SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.
I ALSO BELIEVE HER EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS ARE CLEAR.
JASMINE IS AN ALLENTOWN RESIDENT WHO IS INVESTED IN THIS COMMUNITY.
SHE IS COMPASSIONATE AND GENUINELY CARES ABOUT HER COMMUNITY.
JASMINE IS ALSO PART OF OUR CIVIC LEADERSHIP ACADEMY, AND I THINK THAT SPEAKS TO HER COMMITMENT TO GROWTH AND HER WILLINGNESS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT GOVERNING. OUR NEXT SESSION IS AN EIGHT HOUR CLASS ON A SATURDAY.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS WILL BE AN ELECTED POSITION, AND WE NEED SOMEONE WHO CAN MEET THIS MOMENT AND HELP BUILD A BRIDGE BETWEEN OUR CITY GOVERNMENT AND THE COMMUNITY WHEN IT COMES TO TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
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THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND OKAY, ANY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON ANY OF THE CANDIDATES? HOLD ON, HOLD ON ONE MOMENT.OKAY. YEAH. I MEAN, UNFORTUNATELY AT THIS POINT IT'S HARD.
IT'S HARD FOR ME TO DO THAT ONLY BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE, I WOULD HAVE TO GIVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO EVERY CANDIDATE AND TELL YOU WHAT WE'LL DO JUST TO BE FAIR, LET'S DO A MINUTE AND I'M GOING TO GIVE THAT TO MR. PALMER AND MISS SALGADO AS WELL. AND THAT WAY EVERYONE HAS AN OPPORTUNITY.
WE'LL MAKE IT A ONE MINUTE CLOSING STATEMENT.
OKAY. SO COME ON UP AND YEAH. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THIS.
MISS GERLACH HAD ASKED IF THIS WOULD BE, LIKE, A CONFLICT OF INTEREST, AND I DID FORGET TO MENTION THAT FOR ME, THIS WOULD BE MY FULL TIME PRIMARY JOB. I HAVE CHILDREN, AND I CAN HANDLE THAT'S ANOTHER JOB, BUT IT'S NOT THE SAME. AND I GET THAT. BUT THIS WOULD BE MY PRIMARY JOB.
I WOULD TRANSITION OUT OF WHERE I AM WORKING CURRENTLY AND COME HERE FULL TIME.
ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. MISS SALGADO, DO YOU HAVE ANY CLOSING STATEMENT YOU LIKE TO ADD? I'M NOT. OKAY. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE GOOD.
MR. PALMER, WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADD ANYTHING? COME ON. COME ON UP.
I GUESS I WAS JUST COMING UP JUST TO SAY, YOU KNOW, THE SAME THING.
AND THAT IS MY GOAL IS TO ACTUALLY HIT THE GROUND RUNNING START RIGHT AWAY. MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING THIS MOVING SMOOTHLY. I KNOW IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE WE'VE HAD A CONTROLLER. I KNOW THOSE LADIES HAVE BEEN DOING A GOOD JOB UPSTAIRS. AND I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE SOME A LOT OF FAITH IN THEM UPSTAIRS, BUT THAT IS MY GOAL TO HIT THE GROUND RUNNING AND GO FROM THERE.
THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY. LAST CALL FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
OKAY. OKAY. SO WE'RE GOING TO START THE VOTING PROCESS.
SO EACH OF MY COLLEAGUES HAS A PAPER BALLOT. AND I WOULD ASK THAT YOU FILL THAT OUT AND WE'LL GET THAT TO OUR CLERK.
I HAVE THIS THIS. MR. PONGO MISS MR.. MR.. NAPOLI. MR..
CYNTHIA. MOTA. MR.. MR.. BENDER, MISS. SERRANO. I HAVE MR.. MRS. AND I HAVE MISS SANTOS. MR.. OKAY. THANK YOU. SO WE HAVE
[01:10:11]
5 TO 2 VOTE. WE ARE APPOINTING MISS JASMINE SALGADO.AND TO BE CLEAR, OUR NEXT STEP WE ABLE TO DO AN OATH THIS EVENING? PARDON? ARE WE ABLE TO DO AN OATH? YEAH. SWORN IN.
I'M SORRY. YES, I'M SORRY I MISSED, I MISSPOKE.
OKAY. WELL WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD. I'D LIKE TO THANK ALL THE APPLICANTS FOR APPLYING.
FIRST AND FOREMOST YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE CITY OF ALLENTOWN DOESN'T GO UNNOTICED.
AND WE APPRECIATE YOU KNOW, EVERYONE'S EFFORTS AND, AND COMMITMENT.
SO THAT SAID, WE CAN MOVE FORWARD TO THE SIGNING IN AND MOVE THIS ALONG.
SO, MISS MISS, WE CAN SWEAR YOU AND MISS MISS DELGADO, COME ON FORWARD, PLEASE.
RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. I STATE YOUR NAME. I, JASMINE SALGADO, DO SOLEMNLY AFFIRM.
DO SOLEMNLY AFFIRM THAT I WILL SUPPORT, OBEY AND DEFEND, THAT I WILL SUPPORT, OBEY AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, THE CONSTITUTION OF THIS COMMONWEALTH, AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THIS COMMONWEALTH.
CONTROLLER OF MY OFFICE OF COMPTROLLER OF THE CITY OF ALLENTOWN, OF THE CITY OF ALLENTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA, WITH FIDELITY.
CONGRATULATIONS, MISS DELGADO. WELCOME. AND AT THIS POINT, I THINK WE CAN ADJOURN THIS MEETING.
THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED. AND CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.