City of Elmhurst Finance Council Affairs & Administrative Services Committee met Oct. 10
Here are the minutes provided by the committee:
1. Call to Order
Chair Talluto called the meeting to order at 6:08 p.m.
2. Roll Call
Committee Members Present: Talluto, Jensen, Nudera, Irby
Committee Members Absent:
Other Elected Officials Present: Curran
City Staff and Others Present: Coyle, Bruns, Kravets
3. Public Comment – None.
4. Receipt of Written Communication – None.
5. Business Before the Committee
A. Minutes of the September 25, 2023, meeting of the Finance, Council Affairs & Administrative Services Committee
Approval of the minutes was deferred to the next Committee meeting.
B. Audit Renewal
Director Coyle presented to the Committee a two-year extension of the City’s audit services contract with Sikich LLP. The 2022 audit concluded the City’s existing four-year contract. Staff explained that a two-year renewal is advantageous as the City is currently in the middle of a three-year Enterprise Resource Program (ERP) implementation. Switching to a new audit firm at this time would require educating a new firm in two software systems, which would not be efficient or cost-advantageous for the City. Sikich is best positioned to execute an audit that straddles two software systems, and to review controls implemented in the new system. It is also important to note that a partner rotation was made for the City’s audit team on the 2022 audit engagement. While not a requirement for government audits, it is a best practice that promotes auditor independence and ensures new perspectives in the review of the City’s financial information.
The proposed audit fees have been determined by staff to be highly competitive, as compared with pricing received by other Municipalities. Bids received by the City of Wheaton for their audit engagement were provided as one example in the Committee report. Treasurer Curran concurred that the renewal fees received in the proposal were great and provided additional recent examples from his own professional experience for context. After discussion and consideration, the Committee approved the report recommending renewal of the audit services contract for a two-year term. A motion to approve the renewal was made by Alderman Jensen and seconded by Alderman Nudera. Roll Call vote: 4 ayes, 0 nays. Motion duly carried.
C. DWC Contract Renewal
Director Coyle presented to the Committee a contract renewal with the DuPage Water Commission (DWC), of which the City is a founding member. The original forty (40) year agreement is set to expire in March 2024. The City is a party to the agreement as a contract customer and does not have the ability to negotiate an individual agreement with the DWC. Staff indicated there are two additional agreements that will need to be approved by City Council, one being a wheeling agreement in place between the City and Illinois American Water and an agreement between the DWC and the City of Chicago, which the City is also a party to. Staff also informed the Committee that the DWC is conducting a feasibility study, in conjunction with other joint water agencies, to explore building new infrastructure to source Lake Michigan water through a northern route as an alternative to water sourced through Chicago. Currently the DWC is negotiating with Chicago on a new contract for source water, but also has the option to extend the current contract term for ten (10) additional years. The committee inquired about several aspects of the DWC Customer Agreement and discussion ensued. No action was required at this time.
6. Other Business
None.
7. Adjournment
A motion to adjourn was made by Alderman Jensen and seconded by Alderman Nudera. Motion carried by unanimous voice vote.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:57 p.m.
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