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Parlier Council narrows check-signing authority; resolution amended to require one elected official plus one staff signer
Summary
Council approved Resolution No. 2025-34 designating authorized signatories for city checks after debate and an amendment to require one elected official and one staff member sign all checks when signatures are needed.
The Parlier City Council voted to approve Resolution No. 2025-34 on May 1, revising who is authorized to sign city checks and requiring a combination of one elected official and one staff member to sign.
Council debate centered on past practice in which two staff members signed checks without an elected official’s signature. Several council members said that practice left elected representatives out of financial oversight. A council member asked the body to change the resolution from a “preferred” to a “required” combination; council members approved language to require one elected official and one staff member to sign.
A staff presenter explained the resolution’s intent was to add the finance director as an authorized designee so that payroll and check-signing could be maintained. Council members clarified they did not want staff who prepare checks to also be the signatories and asked that signers be limited to a supervising staff member paired with an elected official.
The council voted to approve the amended resolution. The motion to delete a closed-session agenda item (item number 9) also passed earlier in the meeting. The meeting record shows the motions carried by voice vote; a roll-call tally for the resolution was not read aloud on the record.
Why it matters: The change alters the city’s internal financial control protocol by making an elected official a required signer on checks when signatures are directed, addressing council concern about prior practice in which two staff signers could approve disbursements without elected sign-off.
What was decided: The council directed staff to finalize resolution wording with the city attorney and finance director to ensure the requirement that at least one elected official and one staff member sign checks is explicit in the policy. Staff reported they will prepare final corrected language and have staff coordinate with the finance director (Bertha) to implement the change.
Provenance: The matter appeared on the regular business agenda as “Resolution number 2025-34, designation of the authorized signature.” Discussion runs through the staff presentation, council clarifying questions and the motion to adopt the amended resolution.
No other formal changes to payroll or finance policy were adopted at the meeting beyond the signatory requirement; staff will return with finalized language if technical edits are needed.
