City pauses use of city credit cards, calls for assessment of gas card use

City officials have temporarily suspended the use of city credit cards to allow City Manager Montré Freeman time to create a policy that states which employees should be authorized to possess and use them.

City Council voted 7-1 Monday night to suspend immediately the use of city purchase cards by all workers, with the exception of Freeman and city department heads. Voting against the motion was 4th Ward Councilman Johnnie Walton.

The vote followed a discussion led by Mayor Kirk Rivers and a motion by 1st Ward Councilman Johnson Biggs.

“I make a motion that we, effective immediately, that we pause the use of purchasing cards within the city, with the exception of the city manager and each department head within the city organization,” Biggs said.

Rivers said he appreciated any concerns councilors have about suspending use of the purchase cards but said the city has to set a policy.

“I thank the council, but we’re going to get our policy in place,” he said.

Walton and fellow 4th Ward Councilman Ronnie Morris had questioned whether crew supervisors, such as public utility workers or city vehicle mechanics, should be exempt from the suspension, in the event they are unable to contact their department heads.

In another vote Monday night, City Council unanimously agreed to instruct Freeman to conduct an assessment of all employees who have a city gas card and report back at council’s next meeting, which is July 29.

Biggs, again, was the first to call for a motion.

“I’d like to make a motion that we instruct the city manager to come back to city council at the next meeting that we have with a listing of everyone who has a, is in possession of, a gas card and a full review of the business purpose of why they have a gas card and a recommendation on policy to tighten this down,” he said.

Biggs made one final request to Freeman, saying council, “preferably would like to have that list ahead of” the next council meeting.

One example of city employees who may have legitimate needs to use a city gas card are Elizabeth City police officers who need to fuel their patrol vehicles.

Freeman explained the difference between a city gas card and credit card, which the city refers to as a purchase card, or “P” card. The gas card is like a credit card that can be used at any gas station for the sole purpose of purchasing fuel. Whereas, with a purchasing card, “You can go in the store, buy food, buy gas, whatever,” the city manager said.

The July 29 meeting was originally scheduled for Aug. 12, around the same time of the annual meeting of the N.C. Eastern Municipal Power Agency. City Council approved the date change because several of the councilors and Rivers are expecting to attend the meeting.