Residents press committee for broader retroactive review, raise COVID procurement concerns

Several residents used the public-comment period to press for retroactive reviews of past conduct and to raise related concerns about emergency procurements during the COVID response.

Mad Schaeffer said she filed a complaint she believes was one of three cases the Board lost jurisdiction over because the alleged misconduct dated back to 2018; she identified a timeline of referral and asked the committee to support retroactive authority.

Testifier Travis Liggett, who said he has run for mayor, urged broader thinking about corruption risks, including links to foreign corporate influence and downgraded regulatory protections. "I was immediately, like, verbally assaulted... my life got weird after that," Liggett said, summarizing why he urged stronger safeguards and an offline follow-up meeting.

Member discussion afterward repeatedly referenced COVID-era emergency procurements as an area members may want the Board and auditors to examine; one member said the State Auditor is already auditing emergency procurements, and staff advised residents to submit formal complaints so agencies can decide appropriate referral pathways.