By Jen Fifield | Arizona Republic
Glendale leaders have proposed eliminating the city’s internal watchdog, its city auditor.
The majority of Glendale City Council members agree with a new plan from City Manager Kevin Phelps that would make use of outside contractors to perform audits.
This would require a change to the city’s code, which the council will soon be asked to approve.
Phelps has said his proposal would make for a better, more independent process that would allow for more complex audits. He proposes adding an audit committee to decide what audits should be done, and to keep an internal audit program manager to oversee those contracts.
Council members had several questions for Phelps on how the new program would work, including whether fewer audits would be performed, how the new program manager would maintain independence and who would determine which audits were performed.
Councilman Bart Turner said he has major concerns about the proposal, which he thinks will lead to a less independent and thorough look at city problems.
“Moving to this program is a step backward,” he said.
