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.The city's Chief Financial Officer says he plans to increase the oversight of NDF grants. That could lead to more staff to his office, or the in offices of the departments that oversee the grants.Metro Council President Jim King says the council will also explore ways to improve oversight."Frankly, that's for the Committee on Government Accountability to decide. They're going to be meeting with the internal auditor hopefully in the next couple weeks to discuss the scope of the work that needs to be done and then to what extent we would need to increase funding for managing these grants going forward," he says.Accountability Committee Chair Tina Ward-Pugh says an oversight measure will likely be introduced and discussed soon. Other council members have asked the mayor to reduce the Neighborhood Development Funds in the next budget. A spokesperson for the mayor says it will be considered.