City Council discusses amending recently approved ordinance forming office of internal audit

An ordinance approved by Chattanooga voters could potentially be revised and placed on a future ballot for consideration, City Council members said Tuesday. 

During their afternoon agenda session, the group discussed tweaking an ordinance that amended the City Charter to establish an independent office of internal audit. The ordinance, which was overwhelmingly passed in the Aug. 2 election, would also form an audit committee, establish the position of a city auditor, and create guidelines for the position's qualifications, appointment and removal. 

Several council members objected to rules established under the ordinance for the auditor's possible removal. In order for a replacement to occur, the proposal would have to clear two major hurdles—a supermajority vote of the five-person audit committee and a majority council vote.

The group could vote on the first reading, beginning the process of amending the ordinance, as early as next week.

During their regular meeting, council members approved a resolution approving the Chattanooga Housing Authority's plan for acquiring Dogwood Manor Apartments. The city recently swapped the apartments, valued at $1.7 million, with an additional $2.4 million in city-owed debt for the site of the former Poss Homes, appraised at $1.87 million. 

The group also unanimously passed a resolution recommending the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives expedite rulemaking regarding the use of bright-colored firearm components. During their meeting last week, several council members discussed potential threats posed by the guns, which could be mistaken for toys by both law enforcement officers and children.