Auditor: City not responding to suggestions

The Clarion-Ledger, 1/28/8

An employee hired by Mayor Frank Melton to assess Jackson’s fiscal situation says she is fed up with Melton and his department heads for not responding to her recommendations to fix the city’s bookkeeping problems.

Assistant Chief Administrative Officer Valerie Nevels, a former Internal Revenue Service criminal investigator, said the mayor has not reinforced her suggestions.

“Nobody in the city is listening or reading anything I send,” said Nevels, who has been with the city for a year. “My hands are somewhat tied.”

Melton said he expects Nevels to provide the oversight she believes is necessary and for his staff to follow her guidelines.