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Committee debates streamlining bill-signature process; clerk to work with attorney on resolution
Summary
Council discussion on July 7 focused on delays from the current process of circulating warrants and requiring multiple signatures; members asked the clerk to prepare a resolution (for August) to allow the mayor, clerk and treasurer to sign preliminary and final warrants to speed payments.
A council member raised a procedural problem the committee says is delaying payments: warrants and bills are circulated for signatures twice a month, and getting three signatures has caused payment delays. The clerk said the current practice had evolved over years and that circulating the warrant twice monthly and rotating signers might reduce delays.
According to the clerk’s description, there is no state law or IML rule requiring a specific number of signatures; the clerk said she consulted the city attorney and auditor and that the mayor currently signs in older resolution language. Council members debated a possible alternative: have the mayor, clerk and treasurer sign warrants and establish a rotation for reviewing bills so more members share oversight.
Why it matters: the current process has reportedly delayed payments and sometimes left staff unable to pay vendors until signatures are collected. Council members said rotating signers and formalizing a process by resolution would preserve oversight while improving timeliness.
Next steps: the committee directed the clerk to draft language for a resolution and bring a recommendation to the August meeting after attorney review. No vote was taken at the July 7 meeting.
Representative quote: "If that's the case then I need either I don't know which one it is a resolution that says that I you you all agree that the warrant will be sent twice a month... and the second and the fourth Monday that'll be voted on," the clerk said, describing a proposed workflow and attorney-led drafting process.
