Barry N. Finkelstein, CPA, presented the city’s 2014-2015 fiscal year audit during the regular meeting of the Hawkins City Council last Monday.

Finkelstein stated, “The greatest asset the City of Hawkins has is cash.”

Finkelstein touched on recommendations for safeguarding the city’s assets which included numbering all of the city assets for control purposes and to prepare a report of investments and earnings. He also recommended entering water deposits in that department’s program.

Finkelstein also recommended recording all bank accounts on the general ledger. It was noted the Hawkins Volunteer Fire Department had bank accounts not recorded on the ledger and he continued the city council should review how the Hawkins Community Development Corporation spends their funds and be sure that expenditures fall within what is allowed by law.

“I believe these recommendations will give the City of Hawkins stronger internal control and make its operations more efficient,” said Finkelstein. The motion to approve the 2014-2015 fiscal year audit was made by Wayne Kirkpatrick, seconded by Clara Kay. The motion passed unanimously.

The second item of business was to consider a letter of engagement for Finkelstein, for the 2015-2016 fiscal year audit. The motion to accept the letter of engagement was made by Sherry Davis, seconded by Wayne Kirkpatrick and the motion passed unanimously.

The meeting was called into executive session at 6:14 p.m. to consider an appeal for admission to the membership of the Hawkins Volunteer Fire Department. The meeting was called back into open session at 6:22 p.m. andMayor Howard Coquat announced that Ricky Huggins was reinstated to the Hawkins Fire Department as captain. A motion to approve the reinstatement of Huggins was made by Wayne Kirkpatrick and seconded by Debbie Rushing. The motion passed unanimously.

The next item of business was to consider passing an ordinance for the Texas Municipal Retirement System. City Secretary, Dona Jordan, explained that it would allow the retirement system to take the last years that someone works and average them to base their retirement wages on that average. The ordinance would also allow for prior years of service time to be considered when someone retires. The motion passed unanimously.

A motion to approve the ordinance setting the fiscal year 2016 rate at .8038 was made by Kirkpatrick; seconded by Norma Oglesby and passed unanimously.

A motion was made to adopt the fiscal year 2016-2017 budget by Clara Kay, seconded by Kirkpatrick. The motion passed unanimously.

Mayor Coquat gave a report on evSolar Energy’s final report, regarding the street light audit. The mayor stated the city would receive a refund of $6,921 and would save monthly on the street light bills.

The council went behind closed doors again at 6:28 p.m., regarding assets at the Hawkins Volunteer Fire Department. The mayor called the meeting back into open session at 6:38 p.m.

Coquat stated the council would have a letter sent to all suspended firemen that have not turned in their equipment, giving them 10 days to do so. The letter is to be written by City Attorney Alvin Flynn. The fire department will also have 30 days to complete a full inventory of all assets. The motion to approve the instructions of the council was made by Sherry Davis; seconded by Norma Oglesby. The motion passed unanimously.

All council members were present.