Green Cove Springs City Manager Investigation

At the October 7 Green Cove Springs City Council Meeting, the City Council voted to investigate the City Managers expenditures on Spring Park improvements.  The allegation is that Don Bowles, the City Manager, spent more money than the City Council appropriated for the improvements.  A lot more. 

The City Charter states in part at Section 5.11B that "No payment shall be made or obligation incurred against any allotment or appropriation except in accordance with appropriations duly made...."  It goes on say "Any authorization of payment or incurring of obligation in violation of the provisions of this Charter shall be void and any payment so made illegal; such action shall be cause for removal of any officer who authorized or made such payment or incurred such obligation, and he shall be liable to the city for the amount so paid."

After reviewing documentation submitted to him by city staff, Council Member Kelter concluded that the $150,000.00 appropriation for the Spring Park improvements was overspent by $76,308.86.  This is the major cause for the investigation.

 It appears to me the investigation needs to answer two questions on this matter,  1) was the money spent? and 2) did the spending exceed the appropriation?  These two questions should be easy to answer.  If the answer to both questions is "Yes", then the Charter requires the City Manager to repay the overspending and be fired.  It's that simple.

The City Charter is the only "LAW" that is the direct product of the Citizens of the City.  Every part of the City Charter is approved by a vote of the Citizens of Green Cove Springs.  It is the highest Law of the City, just like the U.S. Constitution is the highest law of the land.  Anyone who violates the Charter shows total disrespect for all the Citizens of Green Cove Springs.  It is up to the City Council to enforce the will of the Citizens of this City.