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TO: The Rules, Administration, and Procedures Committee
FROM: Rich Jacobs, Chief of Staff - Office of the Aldermen
The Law Department
DATE: July 13, 2023
SUBJECT:
The 35th Annual Scheketa Hart-Burns / Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Funfest and Back to School Bash
PURPOSE:
To authorize the Chief of Staff of the Office of the Aldermen to encumber and make expenditures from the funds allocated to Ward 7 for the limited and specific purposes of ensuring the success of the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Back Funfest and Back to School Bash.
BACKGROUND:
Prior to her election to the City Council in 1991, the late Alderwoman Scheketa Hart-Burns began hosting a back-to-school program for students in underserved communities. She carried this tradition throughout her tenure as the first, and thus far only, Ward 7 alderwoman in the City's modern history.
At the time of the alderwoman's death last month, plans for this annual tradition to be held on Saturday, August 21, 2023 were already underway, but she had not authorized the disbursement of funds allocated to Ward 7 to pay all of the costs or engaged all of the vendors associated with the event.
DISCUSSION:
Though it is possible that the Mayor may appoint, and the City Council may confirm, a successor to the alderwoman prior to this event, planning must continue, contracts must be signed, and bills must be paid during this interregnum. Because no ordinance or other rule addresses the encumbrance or disbursement of ward funds when there is an aldermanic vacancy, it falls to the Rules, Administration, and Procedures Committee to exercise its authority under Sec. 2-123(f)(1)(a) and (c) to provide for a mechanism to address this situation.
As temporary solution, and to address this unique situation, the RAP Committee is asked to authorize the Chief of Staff of the Office of the Aldermen to perform these functions specifically related to the Back-to-School event and for no other purpose.
IMPACT STATE...
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