THOMASVILLE — Matt Kirkley said his three years of live-streaming Thomasville City Council meetings bring transparency to city government.

“It’s a level of transparency other cities have, and I believe we need here in Thomasville,” said Kirkley, a candidate for the council at-large seat.

He said not all residents can attend council meetings, but they can view his coverage in real time on social media at their convenience.

“Technology has been there, and the city boasts about technology, but the meetings are not live-streamed or available for later viewing,” the candidate said.

Also, Kirkley said, upgrades are needed at council meetings. A microphone is needed at the podium where the public speaks, and technology should be available to allow public speakers’ photographs and videos to be shown at council meetings, he said.

“That kind of technology should be in those (meeting) rooms. That’s what millennials expect or want,” Kirkley said.

A new city audit by a third party is needed, Kirkley said, adding, “Personally, I’ve seen some red flags another set of eyes needs to look at besides the accounting firm we’ve had for 20-something years.”

Kirkley cited errors in city budgets and annual financial reports. He said the city maintains 12 funds, but reported only nine to the state auditor in the 2015 comprehensive annual reports.

He would like to see city finances placed online in a computer program the public can open.

The candidate thinks an audit and cameras in council chambers would return public trust to the council.

The city should follow the city charter “as it reads,” Kirkley said.

On one page of the charter, it says three times the city manager will oversee all city posts, with the exception of the utilities superintendent, Kirkley said.

Also in reference to the charter, he said city employees are not supposed to take public property home, and the Thomasville Payroll Development Authority is not made up of individuals the charter says should be on the panel.

Also, he said, the council adds unexpected items to meeting agendas.

Kirkley thinks someone with city planning experience should look at the Roses property. If the land is used for an events center, the facility should have more than one use, he said, and suggested city hall or a disaster center there or elsewhere in the city.

Many containers arriving through the Savannah port are being transported by rail, Kirkley said, and new manufacturers need connections to local rail lines.

A Georgia international trade commission has 11 offices worldwide, Kirkley said, adding that he would like for the foreign trade offices to be aware of Thomasville, locate here and ship throughout the United States.