Monday’s Selma City Council meeting was bookended by a pair of executive sessions.

The first discussed a lawsuit filed against the city by First Baptist (see story 1A), the other was an update of the General Services investigation.

In between, the council dealt with everything from approval to move forward with the proposed animal shelter to a discussion of the still absent budget from the fiscal year 2002-2003.

Council members seemed frustrated that City Auditor Bill Long was not on hand to give out the report which he had said in the June 14th meeting could be ready by Monday.

The report, which is generally turned in by March, will give the council their financial situation from nearly one year ago.

The 2003-2004 fiscal year will end in October.

“I talked to Mr. Long a few minutes before he came in and he didn’t give us a date,” city treasurer Cynthia Mitchell said.

“This is July and we have not got an audit report yet,” Council President George Evans said. “We don’t know what the status of the city’s (finances).”

“We don’t have any checks bouncing,” councilwoman Bennie Ruth Crenshaw said.

At the June 14th meeting, Charlie Palmatier indicated that the city could be as much as $1 million under budget for the 2003-2004 fiscal year but that it wasn’t definite until the audit was completed.

“We kind of got a feel for what was happening,” Crenshaw said. “Maybe by the last council meeting we will have what we need.

We know the deal we don’t need to keep something before the media. Some people on this council understand what is happening in terms of the audit.”

Councilman Glenn Sexton asked for a motion to have Evans negotiate with Long to get the report by the 20th of July.

“I think that motion is out of order,” Evan said. “I can ask for the end of the month. I don’t have a problem with contacting him to see if he is going to be able to have it by the end of the month.”

Councilwoman Nancy Sewell expressed her frustrations.

“I don’t think if we’re going to pay an accountant he can snub the council wishes,” she said. “I don’t know what we can do short of having our own audit done. I think it’s unfortunate. We are accountable and responsible.”

In other business the council:

Supported Leadership Selma/Dallas County

Heard a request from softball coach Clarence Moore to help finance a trip to Disney World for 40 youth softball players

Adjusted funds for the Riverfront Development Project for the office of Planning and Development

Voted to approve City Engineer David Painter to move forward with the animal shelter project

Congratulated Patty Sexton and Elizabeth Driggers of the Planning and Development Office for their work on the city’s Fourth of July Celebration

An update on the proposed sale of the restaurant at the City Marina

Tabled an ordinance to make City Council meeting tapes public record

Passed an ordinance requiring city funds to be deposited only into state approved institutions

Rescinded a previous ordinance requiring city funds to be placed into one of four city financial institutions

Update on negotiations for All-Lock facility

Update on condition of grass and shrubs around city

Update on search for city school board member