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Council members question warrant documentation and procurement controls during roll call approval
Summary
Council members raised multiple concerns about the town’s warrant and procurement practices, pointing to non-itemized receipts, sales tax on reimbursements, and missing documentation for equipment purchases; the warrant was approved but members asked for remedial steps.
During the Feb. 25 meeting the board scrutinized the town’s warrants and procurement procedures before approving a large warrant by roll call. Council member Bukowski said it took her hours to audit the packet and she identified missing itemized receipts and purchases that lacked backup, including expenditures for playground equipment, utility locating services and garbage-bin mowers.
Bukowski said several petty-cash reimbursements included sales tax and that some vouchers were not properly itemized; she asked departments to provide procurement paperwork, three-bid documentation where required, vehicle requisition forms for equipment trade-ins, and explanations for special-purpose charges such as ice time at Buffalo RiverWorks.
Council members recommended a meeting with department heads to clarify procurement rules and expectations. Supervisor Nowak and staff said they would arrange training and provide tax-exempt forms to departments where applicable.
Why it matters: Warrant approval disburses public funds, and auditors and council members said better documentation is needed to ensure compliance with procurement policy and avoid unnecessary sales-tax payments.
What’s next: Finance staff will assemble itemized receipts, procurement backup and supporting resolutions for flagged warrant items and schedule a department-head briefing on procurement and petty-cash procedures.
