By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
The Olean Common Council dealt a blow to Mayor Amy B. Sherburne’s plan to hire a consulting auditor during a special meeting Tuesday.
The mayor had asked the council to hire Compass Group of WNY, founded 20 years ago by a former city auditor Gregg Procton, to finish work on the 2026-27 city budget and serve as a bridge until the city can hire a new auditor.
None of the six aldermen in attendance would agree to sponsor the resolution. Absent was Ward 3 Alderwoman Jennifer Forney.
The resolution called for Compass Group to be paid $200 an hour for up to 20 hours a week with a $40,000 cap. The original proposed contract was for up to 30 hours a week.
The Olean Star incorrectly stated on Tuesday that the Compass Group was a national company based in Minneapolis. The Compass Group in the resolution is based in Portville. Procton’s name was not mentioned during the special meeting
The mayor said at the beginning of the special meeting that “recent audits have highlighted serious concerns” in auditing procedures.
City Auditor Lens Martial was seated in the council chambers throughout the meeting. He was present for the Finance Committee meeting on the budget that followed.
With the city budget being finalized in less than two weeks, the mayor said “moving forward without addressing these financial inconsistencies would set up any new auditor for failure.”
A second resolution on the agenda for the special meeting directed the mayor to post the auditor’s post at a salary of between $95,000 and $120,000.
City Attorney Michael Morgan suggested that by not specifying a certified public accountant, the city would keep its hiring options open in case someone with experience as a municipal auditor, but not a CPA, expressed interest.
Morgan also explained the auditing job was not subject to bidding because it was a professional service.
Alderman David Anastasia, D-Ward 7, questioned whether the special meeting had been properly advertised. When he was assured the meeting was legal, he said the city should not be hiring a consulting auditor for $200 an hour. “I’m voting no.”
Alderman John Crawford, D-Ward 5, noted the council had been talking about this for a couple of weeks, but this was the first time it talked about publicly. Prior discussions were held during executive sessions to discuss personnel.
“The cost is what it is,” Sheburne said, noting the person had worked for the city in the past and was knowledgeable about the auditor’s office. “His time will be well-spent.”
The mayor said she believed a new auditor could be hired by the time the $40,000 could be expended. At $4,000 a week, the funding would last for 10 weeks.
“We have been keenly aware of the (auditing) issues,” said Finance Committee Chairwoman Sonya McCall, D-Ward 4.
Sherburne pushed for the auditing consultant, saying, “We can’t expect to be looking for an auditor to take over the duties with the practices we have in place. “This person actually was employed at the City of Olean and has come in over the course of our history and fixed problems before. He’s going to know the intimate details of this government.”
The mayor added: “I can assure you that the quicker we get a full-time auditor I can appoint to take over the duties would be my desire. If we delay, we will be in worse shape.”
Council President Vernon Robinson Jr., I-Ward 6, said he thought $200 an hour “seems to be a lot, but I don’t know. I haven’t heard an alternative.” One option, he noted, “is to maintain the person in that spot,” acknowledging “it is a difficult topic.”
Crawford said the “sticker shock” of hiring the auditing consultant “is a valid concern,” but he was more concerned over the timing with only weeks before the council must vote on a budget.
Alderman Lawrence Bennion Jr., R-Ward 1, said the council should consider keeping Martial “in place until you can find another auditor.” He noted that the council had allocated funds for additional training for the auditor, but they had been cut by then-mayor Bill Aiello.
No one spoke up when Robinson asked for sponsors for the resolution to hire Compass Group.
Sherburne did not make any further comment, but appeared to be disappointed.
The second resolution to post the city auditor’s position for $95,00 to $120,000 was approved unanimously by the aldermen in attendance with little discussion.
