NATCHEZ — Members of the Natchez Convention and Promotion Commission questioned Thursday night the purchase of a car by Convention and Visitor Bureau Director Kevin Kirby.

The commission’s secretary treasurer, Dennis Switzer, said before the meeting the commission does not believe Kirby had the authority to purchase the vehicle without direct approval.

“We can’t find anywhere in the minutes where a car purchase was authorized, so we’re looking into that,” Switzer said. “The bank itself should have required a resolution from the board authorizing the purchase.”

Kirby was not at Thursday’s CVB meeting.

Last month the commission rescinded all of Kirby’s authority to represent the commission after commission members questioned financial matters at the CVB.

Natchez Mayor Butch Brown has said previously Kirby is under his direct authority as a city employee, and the commission does not have authority over Kirby’s employment.

The commission’s attorney, Christina Daugherty, said at the meeting City Attorney Hyde Carby had obtained the keys to the Lincoln SUV in question at the request of the commission and the keys would soon be in the commission’s possession.

Commission Chairman David Gammill asked the lienholder on the car to stop the automatic drafts, which were paying for the car through the CVB’s operating account on Feb. 29.

The commission moved to have Daugherty look into the proper way to handle the car and whether it can or should be returned to avoid further payments.

Commissioner Virginia Benoist moved Daugherty should advise Gammill and Switzer, who would be authorized to take action on behalf of the commission as relates to the car and its payments to the lien holder.

The commission also asked Carby to collect Kirby’s city credit card, Daugherty said, but she has not received confirmation the card has been taken from Kirby.

Daugherty said any charges made on the card would be declined pending the budget review and investigation into the finances.

CVB advertising director Carol Ann Riley recently submitted her last invoice for payment, Gammill said after the meeting.

Riley was previously a contractor for the CVB, Gammill said, not a staff employee, but her employment status recently has been unclear. Gammill said he did not know whether Riley is or has been a city employee.

CVB accounting employee Barbara Lomasney said the staff had been steadily reduced over the past few months, including the departure of Riley, one staff member last year and an upcoming departure of one more.

“There are three of us now doing the work of six,” Lomasney said to the commission. “So be patient with us.”

Switzer said the commission’s internal budget review is examining all purchases made from fiscal year 2014 to date.

The commission discussed ongoing budget concerns at the meeting, including the commission’s bills they are not able to pay immediately.

Benoist moved to ask Switzer and Gammill to meet to discuss what payments could be made when and which bills can be paid only in part.

Those bills included paying for some printed materials from the tricentennial, as well as other bills Switzer said he did not recall in detail.

Kirby is expected to come before the Natchez Board of Aldermen at 4 p.m. Wednesday to discuss his perspective on recent events and personnel matters at the CVB.