No or Yes on IRB’s AmendmentIn addition to voting for two commissioners, IRB will be deciding on an amendment that changes who hires and fires the treasurer. Now, the treasurer answers to the commission. The amendment would allow the city manager to choose his treasurer. At "Meet the Candidates," Former Commissioner Coppen advised to vote NO, saying the responsibility of the treasurer should remain to the commission and to the residents. If commissioners are vigilant in examining the treasurer’s work, the system works well. Commissioner Valery advised to vote YES. The point was that in a business it makes sense to let the manager have control of the people beneath him. Both sides made good points but I feel they missed the most important one. We need competency and consistency in our treasurer and financial reports. Recently, IRB has had four different people in the city manager position. If each city manager hired a buddy to be his treasurer, as often occurs, it would compound our problems. Therefore, I’m voting NO. - John Pfanstiehl, Indian Rocks Beach
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