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Leawood council lets department directors sign contracts, adopts updated purchasing policy
Summary
The Leawood governing body amended city code to expand contract execution authority beyond the mayor and city administrator to department directors and adopted a matching purchasing policy, both passing 7–1.
The Leawood governing body voted 7–1 to amend city code so department directors can execute certain contracts and then approved an amended purchasing policy that implements those approval levels.
City staff told the council the changes implement a charter ordinance adopted Dec. 16, 2024, that expanded who may execute contracts on the city’s behalf and that the charter ordinance became effective after the required publication and waiting period. Mr. Powell, presenting the item, said the code amendments align the municipal code with that charter ordinance and the updated purchasing manual.
Council discussion focused on oversight. Dr. Castor said she preferred the prior policy because it gave the governing body “more oversight over expenditures” and worried the change reduced the council’s ability to review spending before it occurred. Several other council members endorsed the change as a modernization that matches the purchasing manual and local practice. The ordinance amendment (code sections 1-307 and 1-406) passed on a roll-call vote of 7 in favor, 1 opposed. The following motion and roll call were recorded: “Motion to approve the amendment to sections 1-307 and 1-406 of the code,” moved by Miss Villa and seconded by Miss Larson; the clerk recorded ayes from Council members Fila, Larson, Sippel, Kane, Sunkel, Gayad and Harrison and a nay from Dr. Castor.
Immediately after the ordinance amendment, the council voted 7–1 to adopt a resolution approving the amended purchasing policy that sets department director approval levels consistent with the December action. Mr. Powell said the resolution “amends the new purchasing policy to allow the directors to execute those contracts in accordance with the approval levels that you all adopted back in December.” The resolution passed with the same 7–1 division (Castor cast the lone no vote).
The council did not specify in the meeting record any retroactive effect; staff stated the charter ordinance had completed its statutory publication and waiting period and became effective the previous night. The amended purchasing policy and code changes will be reflected in city records and the city’s purchasing manual, as described by staff.
Votes at a glance - Ordinance amending code sections 1-307 and 1-406: Passed 7–1 (Ayes: Fila, Larson, Sippel, Kane, Sunkel, Gayad, Harrison; Nay: Castor). - Resolution adopting amended purchasing policy: Passed 7–1 (same vote split).
