Citing concerns about potential problems in the city’s court services department, Mayor George Flaggs Jr. Monday announced the formation of a committee to audit and reorganize that department.

The committee was one of two Flaggs named Monday. He first appointed a committee to examine and audit the way the police department handles reporting crime statistics, in response to claims police were targeting blacks, and claims by two online services that the city was unsafe.

The court services department processes cases for the city’s Municipal Court and collects fines for traffic and misdemeanor offenses.

The committee includes Municipal Judge Toni Terrett, court services director Janice Carter, city attorney Nancy Thomas, accounting department employee Anna Booth, city clerk Walter Osborne, city accounting director Doug Whittington, human resources director Walterine Langford, and assistant IT director Pamela Newton.

“We’ve already met and looked at some things, and think these people here can look at what’s going on in court services and make some recommendations and changes,” Flaggs told Aldermen Michael Mayfield and Willis Thompson at Monday’s board meeting. “The purpose of this committee is to perform an audit and develop more accountability and oversight in the department of court services in the city.”

Flaggs said after the meeting one reason for the court services committee was allegations of some mishandling of funds, but would not discuss details. He said he has met with the committee “and I think the process can be improved. I appointed the committee so they can do their own investigation and audit and make recommendations.”

“I want to get into the process how we collect our money, and we may have to start looking at other procedures for every (city) department that handles money,” he said.

Terrett, who chairs the committee, declined to discuss Flaggs’ claim that funds have been mishandled.

She said she talked to Flaggs about the committee before Monday’s meeting, adding the goal of the committee is to improve operations at court services.

“We’re trying to improve the collection procedures and make things more accountable,” she said. “We’ll be meeting to discuss a plan of action to see what things we can implement to make things better for the city as far as court service.”

Flaggs believes part of the problem with court services and other city departments that collect money, is a lack of internal control.

“This city does not have an internal audit system. I’m afraid if we don’t start looking at one, there’s no telling how much money the taxpayers are losing, because we don’t have an effective internal audit system.”