Update on City Engineer Funding Crisis

On August 13, 2018 the City Council held a Special Meeting. The Executive Branch had submitted several pieces of legislation for them to act upon in order to ensure compliance with the Department of Justice.

The most essential piece submitted was the funding of the City Engineer.

On June 12, 2018 — over two months ago — Public Works Commissioner Joseph Nigro submitted legislation to fund the salary of this vital city role. A transfer of approximately $67,000 — a fraction of the city’s annual budget — is all that was requested.

City Council President Lisa Copeland, Councilman Marcus Griffith, and Councilwoman Janice Duarte have all indicated their support of this simple but Councilman Andre Wallace and Councilwoman Delia Farquharson have refused to support this resolution — leaving our city vulnerable to millions in penalties and leaving Mr. Curtis Woods, who has been acting in the role of city engineer, without a paycheck for over 50 days.

Click here for video of the City Council Meeting.

Click here for more information about the Mount Vernon Sewer Crisis and the threat to the taxpayer posed by the City Council’s inaction.