Commission approves $6,500 engineering task order after debate over manager purchasing authority

The commission on Feb. 3 approved Resolution 2026-10, authorizing the village manager or designee to issue a task order not to exceed $6,500 to Kimberly Horn & Associates for professional electrical engineering and design services related to a motorized gate and access-control project.

The item was pulled from the consent agenda for discussion by Vice Mayor Veronica Amsler, who questioned whether the item needed commission approval because she said it fell within the manager’s purchasing authority. Village Attorney John Herron reviewed the relevant code section and purchasing thresholds: purchases more than $2,500 but less than $10,000 may be made by the village manager or designee without submittal to the village commission, though the manager may choose to bring such items forward for transparency. Commissioners debated transparency versus administrative efficiency. Several members supported placing routinely authorized manager purchases on consent to ensure public visibility, while others said staff has discretion and the code allows the manager to act within thresholds.

Following discussion the commission voted; the transcript records the outcome as 4–1 in favor of approving Resolution 2026-10. The resolution authorizes the manager to sign and issue the task order and expend budget funds on behalf of the village. The attorney agreed to circulate the specific code section (Section 136, purchasing limitations) to the commission for clarity.