Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer is waiting until a state auditor’s review of the Metropolitan Sewer District is complete before making any judgements on a new controversy in the agency. MSD Executive Director Bud Schardein is set to receive a $200,000 bonus from a hidden trust fund. MSD officials say the compensation is standard to retain […]
Tag Archives: Tina Ward-Pugh
New Land Development Code Seeks Green Development
A change in the land development code is encouraging commercial developers to go green. The Metro Council on Thursday approved the change in code that allows developers of commercial property to bypass certain council permissions if their development promotes a green initiative spelled out in the new land development code. “This is just something to […]
Council Committee to Review Audit of District Office Funds
The audit was ordered last year and does not look in-depth at how council members spent the $175,000 in neighborhood development and community infrastructure funds allocated to each district every year. The funds have been a contentious topic in recent weeks, as Councilwoman Judy Green faces ethics charges that she misappropriated city allocations.
Council Members Differ on Discretionary Fund Limits, Regulation
At least one council member has asked the mayor to cut the $175,000 total that members can allocate each year. However, other council members have pushed to give the Office of Management and Budget oversight of each grant rather than cut the funds.
Councilwoman Tina Ward-Pugh supports the latter option. She says her colleagues who hope to cut the funds represent wealthier districts that can function without city grants to pave sidewalks or fund community groups.
Council Committee to Review Grant Process Wednesday
The Government Accountability and Ethics committee will review the allocation process at its meeting Wednesday. Committee chair Tina Ward-Pugh has asked the city’s internal auditor and chief financial officer to attend and discuss any potential changes to how the money is accounted for.
Case Against Green Will Likely Change Council Grant Oversight, Amounts
On Thursday, the Louisville Metro Ethics Commission will hold a hearing on a complaint against Metro Councilwoman Judy Green. Green is accused of using a city-funded summer jobs program to benefit members of her family. The commission could also take up other charges related to the misuse of Neighborhood Development Funds.
The accusations have led the council and the mayor’s office to take a new look at how those funds are monitored.
As Green’s Ethics Hearing Nears, Council Members Withhold Judgement
The council hasn’t encountered a situation like this before. If the Ethics Commission finds evidence of wrongdoing, then the council could act to remove Green. But Councilwoman Tina Ward-Pugh says it’s important to make sure no one rushes to judgment and that every process of the law is conducted unencumbered. That’s both to give Green a fair chance and to avoid setting unwelcome precedents.
2010 Census Could Lead To Changes In The Metro Council
Data from the 2010 Census is beginning to be released, and that means legislative districts will have to be redrawn to reflect changes in population.
Next year, the Louisville Metro Council will redraw its district map for the first time.
Ward-Pugh Drops Bid For Council Presidency
Louisville Metro Councilwoman Tina Ward-Pugh will not seek the council presidency next year. That means Councilman and former mayoral candidate Jim King will likely win the office.
Council Committee Approves Anti-Toll Resolution
The nonbinding legislation recognizes that tolls will be necessary to finance two bridges. But it asks the bi-state Bridges Authority to only toll new bridges.