Audit and Finance Committee Meeting Transcript – 05/18/2015 Title: ATXN 24/7 Recording Channel: 6 - ATXN Recorded On: 5/18/2015 6:00:00 AM Original Air Date: 5/18/2015 Transcript Generated by SnapStream ================================== [9:30:23 AM] >> Tovo: Good morning. I'm mayor pro tem Kathie tovo and I would like to call do order the audit and finance meeting. Today is may 18, 9:31, meeting in the boards and commissions room. As we now have a quorum we are going to break to pursue the purpose of today's meeting, and so the audit and finance committee will go into closed session to take up one item, pursuant to section 551.074 of the government code, the committee will discuss the following item, and that is item 2 on today's agenda, which is a personnel matter related to a candidate for appointment to the position of city auditor. Is there any objection to going into executive session on the item announced? >> No. >> Tovo: All right. Hearing none, the committee will now go into an executive session. [Executive session] [9:56:19 AM] >> >> >> >>> >> [Executive session] >> [11:12:42 AM] Test [11:34:24 AM] >> Tovo: Okay. We are out of closes session. In closed session we took up and discussed a personnel matter related to item 2. We are now -- >> Pool: You're not on yet. >> Tovo: Shall I start again? Welcome back. We are out of closed session. In closed session we took up and discussed a personnel matter related to item 2. It is now 11:35 we are going to recess this meeting of the audit and finance committee until 12:00 at which time we'll reconvene. [Recess] [12:05:18 PM] >> Tovo: Welcome back. We are now out of recess, and the audit and finance committee will now go into closed to session to take up one item pursuant do section 551.074 of the government code, the committee will discuss item 2, personnel matter related to a candidate for appointment to the position of city auditor. Is there any objection to going into executive session on the item announced? Hearing none, the committee will now go into executive session, and I anticipate we will return in about 15 minutes. So about 12 -- it is now -- the time I should have said is now 12:08 and we will be in executive session I anticipate until about 12:20 [12:21:29 PM] >> Tovo: Okay. Welcome back. It is -- we have concluded the closed session on item 2 concerning a personnel matter. Today is may 18, 2015. And the time is 12:22. We are out of closed session. In closed session we took up and discussed a personnel matter related to item 2. And I will now open the floor for any motions. Related to item 1. >> Troxclair: I'd like to make a motion that the audit and finance committee recommend to the full council that we hire Corey sticks as our city auditor. >> Tovo: Thank you. Vice chair troxclair makes a motion, seconded by councilmember pool. Advice Claire troxclair would you like to speak to your motion? >> Troxclair: Sure. I, you know, have had the pleasure of getting to know Corey a little bit over these past few months, and not only in talking with her in the interview extensively about her experience but also vision as well as talking to her references and peers and people she's worked with, I am very confident in not only her abilities and her professional standards and her understanding of auditing processes, but I'm also very excited about the passion that she brings to the job and every understanding of how to create -- her understanding of how to create a culture of people who want to -- who are excited about what they're doing and want to come to work everyday and just a few of the things that I wrote down throughout our conversation, you know, of the people that we talked to about her. They said she's innovative, thoughtful, motivating, passionate, professional, has personal integrity, is a mentor, is a natural leader, inspires others to do their best, and is [12:23:29 PM] nationally respected in the auditing field. So I think we would be very honoredtop to have her as our city auditor. >> Tovo: Thank you. >> Pool: I was very impressed with Ms. Stokes during the interview -- with miss stokes what I'm going to call a 360-degree knowledge of what's going on at the city from her perspective in the auditor's office and the reporting that's done throughout the city. She has a strong institutional knowledge and a realistic understanding of the city's processes and time lines, and I think is a good leader, in particular in developing a culture of collaboration and sharing of skill sets and talents within the auditor's office. She has a firm grasp on the regulations that are needed throughout -- in this key role, and she sets a really good tone at the top. I think we're lucky to have her. >> Renteria: I also want to say, you know, she has the experience and the people that I have talked to just all -- gave all kinds of praise to her ability to do the job and they really think think -- she told me they know she'll do an excellent job as the auditor and her training and her knowledge of the job is just -- is just phenomenal. So I'm also going to support the -- Corey as our auditor. >> Tovo: Thank you, councilmember. I can hardly toad that but I'll just say that, you know, it's very clear, after reviewing Cori stokes' application materials and her resume and talking with her one on one extensively this morning and also having worked with her for the last three years and having the opportunity to talk with her references that [12:25:31 PM] we are extremely fortunate that Ms. Stokes is interested in continuing her here at the city of Austin and serving in this capacity. So I offer my very strongest endorsement for her, for city auditor, and this will, once we vote on it, be a recommendation to the full city council and I expect it will be on our next council agenda as a recommendation. Well, let me clarify. It would not be our next council agenda as in Thursday, it would be our first opportunity to have this come forward to the full council would be June 4. So all in favor, please signal by saying aye. So that is unanimous on the dais. Again, it's our expectation it will come forward as a recommendation from the audit and finance committee on our June 4 agenda. If that changes, several councilmembers will need to bring that forward. >> Pool: I was just going to say we will be having a council meeting, it's my understanding, may 28. >> Tovo: That's correct. I'm not sure if that's been scheduled yet but that would be another opportunity to have this come forward. So let's just make a note of that, if it is possible, to get that on the audit and -- as a recommendation from audit and finance on our may 28 council meeting. That would be a good opportunity. Thank you for making that. >> Pool: Great. >> Tovo: All right. Well, we stand adjourned at 12:27. Thank you, everyone, for sticking with it. I'm sorry this has run over. We had a lot to accomplish this morning and I appreciate it. It will not set the standard. We're going to end on time in the future. So thanks very much. [Meeting adjourned]