Council narrows city administrator purchase authority to $5,000 in code amendment

Council members reviewed proposed changes to the City Code (title 1-5-9) governing bill paying and purchase-order authority and debated where to set delegation limits.

One council member moved to amend the ordinance so that the city administrator may expend up to $5,000 without further council approval; purchases above that threshold would return to the council for approval. Councilors discussed reducing lower-rank spending authority (for positions such as police, streets and parks foremen) to smaller amounts like $1,000 for routine supplies.

The council approved the amendment by roll call. Members said the administrator would be the first point of contact for emergency approvals and that the mayor would step in if the administrator is unavailable. The council also agreed to review older code language and consider raising the limit later if oversight and spending controls prove effective.

No specific implementation schedule or effective date was recorded in the transcript; staff were directed to draft the final ordinance language to reflect the amendment.