| – As Town Clerk refuses to attend Statutory Meetings City Hall’s 2014 budget proposal remains in limbo as the rift between Town Clerk Carol Ryan Sooba and Councilors of Mayor and City Council (MCC) continues.Last Monday’s Statutory Meeting which was scheduled to deal with the reviewed budget proposal was cancelled after Sooba staged a walkout citing what she viewed as a deliberate act of disrespect by Deputy Mayor, Patricia Chase Greene.Deputy Mayor, Patricia Chase GreeneSooba reportedly took offence after Deputy Mayor addressed her as Town Clerk Acting.She walked out of the meeting instructing several other key officers of the Council to do the same, bringing an abrupt end to the proceedings.However when the meeting was called again on Friday last it was again cancelled as Sooba maintained her position.Kaieteur News understands that the Town Clerk’s refusal to attend the proceeding to deal with the reviewed budget scheme, which was initially rejected by the Council, last November, has been documented.In correspondence between Sooba and the officers of City Hall, recounting Friday’s incidence, the Town Clerk has been advised by the Council that her actions are causing the delay of the revised budget approval and submission to the Minister of Local Government.However, in response, a memorandum sent by the Town Clerk to the Council stated that, “your request which was received at 15:20 hours on Wednesday January 15, 2014 cannot be complied with as the statutory meeting of Monday January 13, 2014 meeting was not properly constituted.”The Full Council sitting was planned for Council approval on the 2014 proposal, since the presence of the Councilors is required to cast votes.The reviewed application will afterward be presented to the Local Government Minister for his approval.The Council had described the initial 2014 Budget Proposal as being “unrealistic and lacking depth” in relation to what the already ailing Council is expected to accomplish.The 2014 proposal was initially presented by budget overseer and Chairman of the Finance Committee Junior Garrett and his team.The team compiled a budget for $2,Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys,055,467,116 for this year.Town Clerk, Carol Ryan SoobaThe budgetary panel had taken into consideration funds allocated to the various Municipal departments, and funds allocated for the execution of city jobs. Within the proposal, the team looked at the Council’s liabilities – making special reference to the Council’s GPL bill, targets and assumptions, among other things.Georgetown Mayor Hamilton Green had pointed out that the proposal lacked depth and did not cater for the duties and responsibilities of the Municipality.The Mayor said that among other things, the budget does not cater for the Ratings Appeals Panel to ensure citizens’ redress and to further reduce excuses for the non-payment of taxes.At another forum, Junior Minister of Local Government, Norman Whittaker had instructed the team to submit a written account of the objections made by the Mayor and Councilors for the anticipated budget. |
