GEORGETOWN, S.C. —  How the City of Georgetown handles its money is the biggest concern of a newly formed committee of people who met for the first time this week.

The group is made up of Georgetown residents and people with interests in the city, and is headed by recently seated City Councilwoman Jeanette Ard.

About a dozen people attended the initial meeting, described by Ard as an “informal” way people can have their voices heard.

She said she decided to form the group after hearing people address council at meetings and get no feedback.

“They would feel like they were talking to a wall,” she said.

Ard said she does not want the monthly meetings of the group to turn into “gripe sessions” but a way to find solutions to the city’s problems.

The group spent about 90 minutes talking about their concerns and then prioritizing the issues they feel need to be addressed.

Ard said other council members and City Administrator Chris Eldridge were invited to the meeting but none were in attendance.

Local resident and business owner Jim Moody — who ran unsuccessfully for a city council seat last year and said he will run again in 2011 — said money is the biggest problem.

He said a thorough audit of the city’s finances needs to take place. Moody said the annual audits that take place do not answer all the questions that need to be answered.

He said a management audit is needed.

Resident Marty Tennant agreed.

He said the last audit he reviewed showed $5 million has been applied to long-term retirement benefits for city employees.

Tennant said these types of decisions appear to be made by City Finance Director Jessica Miller without council’s approval.

“Council needs to get a handle on what she is doing,” Tennant told Ard.

Moody said he is concerned there will not be enough money collected in taxes, fees and other areas of revenue to cover the city’s budgeted expenses this year.

Willie Linnen said he feels the city made a mistake by spending more than $1 million to purchase property and a building for a Maryville Fire Department substation.

Recycling Program

Ard explained why, last week, she voted in favor of a $50,000 budget amendment to continue to allow the Georgetown County Board of Disabilities to handle the city’s recycling program.

Ard said during last year’s budget process, the program was removed as an expenditure without council’s knowledge.

However, the Board of Disabilities continues to do the work so last week council voted to put the money back into the budget to fund the project.

Ard said people with physical and mental disabilities collect and sort the recycled items. The city provides a vehicle and driver.

“These people and their families pay taxes and I couldn’t see us taking those jobs away,” Ard said.

‘Respect’ at City Hall

Another top priority identified by the group was classified as “a respectful attitude at City Hall.”

Verne Ray, a part time city resident, said she would like council to give more feedback to members of the public who speak at council meetings.

“The biggest problem I see is the respect (city) employees get and the respect they give to citizens,” Ard said. “Employees may hate their jobs but they should not hate going to work, like they do now.”

It was also said council needs to make sure city officials return telephone calls that they receive.

Traffic and transportation concerns

Minnie Kennedy, a 93-year-old resident, said Georgetown needs some sort of public transportation to take the elderly and others without vehicles around town.

“I don’t always have the money for a taxi,” she said.

John Henry, another resident, told Kennedy during the meeting he will volunteer to take her anywhere she needs to go if she calls him.

Tennant said something needs to be done about the traffic problems on Black River Road as well as at Five Points.

Ard said she will discuss some of the concerns expressed at the meeting with council at upcoming workshops.

The group will meet again Feb. 15.

By Scott Harper

sharper@gtowntimes.com