City’s new chief financial officer brings years of experience to new job
By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio
Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2019 — Surrounded by his wife and three sons, Aaron Boles was sworn in Tuesday night as the City of Bardstown’s next chief financial officer by Mayor Dick Heaton with the council looking on.
The council voted unanimously to approve the recommendation to offer the job to Boles, who was one of more than 30 applicants for the position, Heaton said. Boles’ experience and his knowledge made him a standout among the candidates, Heaton explained.
Boles replaces former CFO Tracy Hudson who was fired after an audit revealed “financial irregularities” in the city finances.
Boles is a graduate of Bethlehem High School and spent 11 years working for Wilson & Muir Bank and Trust. Co., and most recently, he served as director of accounting and finance for Radcliff-based Fort Knox Federal Credit Union.
Boles’s first day on the job as CFO is Monday, Dec. 2, 2019.
Boles told the council his first goal is to rebuild the trust that the members of the city council expect from their CFO and that the citizens of Bardstown deserve. Boles and his family live in Bardstown and his children attend Nelson County Schools.
SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY. Mayor Dick Heaton presented the council with a resolution that designated Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019, as Small Business Saturday in Bardstown.
Small Business Saturday is an annual event that falls on the Saturday after Thanksgiving that was first observed in 2010 as a counterpart to Black Friday and Cyber Monday. By contrast to those shopping events, Small Business Saturday encourages shoppers to patronize their local brick and mortar businesses. The name is a trademark of American Express, the company that promoted Small Business Saturday in its first year.
TRANSPORTATION STUDY. Consultants that Heaton has discussed looking at the city’s parking situation may also be called on to take a larger look at more than parking.
Heaton said he would like to expand the focus beyond just parking and include more green initiatives, connecting walking trails and other issues, and to see if there’s grant money available to pursue a larger scope that will go beyond just parking.
The cost of the study would most likely be split between two budget years and begin this spring.
The council voted to move forward with the study.
In other business, the council —
— approved updates to its wholesale pricing schedule for water customers. The wholesale price per gallon will rise to $2.45 on Jan. 1, 2020; $2.49 on July 1, 2020; $2.56 on July 1, 2021; $2.64 on July 1, 2022; and $2.72 on July 1, 2023.
— approved a change order requested from Keyes Architects for $6,150 to cover the costs required to install new electrical due to horizontal blocking in the walls of the pantry, crew room, and dorms. To install the electrical wiring, installers had to remove the drywall on one side of the wall, install the wiring, and re-install and finish the drywall, HR Director Greg Ashworth.
The blocking was actually part of the building code when the building was built, Councilman David Dones told the council.
— discussed the fact that the second regularly scheduled council meeting next month falls on Christmas Eve. The council can either cancel the meeting or hold a special meeting if there’s sufficient business to warrant a second meeting. As of Wednesday morning, the word from City Clerk Gary Little is that the Dec. 3, 2019 council work session and the Dec. 24, 2019 council regular meeting have been canceled.
NEXT UP. The Bardstown City Council next meets at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019 in the city council chambers next to the Bardstown Recreation Center on Xavier Drive.
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