by SC Reporter Emilie Alfino
City Council on September 9 heard first readings on two matters that will come back for second readings and hearings on October 1.
First is an amendment to an ordinance relating to contracts and purchases regarding the procedures for the procurement of goods and services. As part of the City Council goals for fiscal year 2024, the Finance department was tasked with creating a centralized procurement division to oversee City-wide purchasing. The first major component of this initiative was to create a Procurement Manager position. This position was filled by Brett Schira earlier this year. One of the first tasks to undertake was a review and update of the City’s purchasing policy. Summary of updates include:
1. Increased threshold of purchase limits that require City Council approval from $25,000 to $50,000. This change is being suggested due to inflation and cost increases since the purchasing policy was adopted;
2. Elimination of the section for local vendor preference. Current Federal purchasing guidelines prevent a municipality from awarding contracts for goods or services with a preference to local vendors. Since the City’s purchasing policy was last updated, there has been a notable increase in grant opportunities from State and Federal sources and this change to the policy will more align the City with those requirements;
3. Additional conditions added to exceptions for competitive bidding; and
4. Addition of a section relating to purchases made under a Federal or State declared emergency.
The second public hearing will consider an ordinance amendment to decrease the number of trustees on the General Employees’ Retirement Plan to five: three to be City-Council appointed and two to be elected by the plan membership.
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