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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-0715A Purchasing PolicyTROPHY CLUB MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT No. 1 RESOLUTION NO. 2014-0715A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE GENERAL MANAGER TO APPROVE CERTAIN EXPENDITURES, PROVIDING FOR THE DISBURSEMENT OF DISTRICT FUNDS, AND CONTAINING OTHER MATTERS RELATING TO THE SAFEKEEPING OF THE DISTRICT FUNDS THE STATE OF TEXAS § COUNTY OF DENTON § COUNTY OF TARRANT § WHEREAS, Trophy Club Municipal Utility District No. I (the "District") is duly created and existing municipal utility district created and operating under Chapters 49 and 54 of the Texas Water Code, as amended; WHEREAS, the Board of Directors is responsible for the management of District assets and funds; WHEREAS, the Board of Directors desires to institute adequate controls for the safekeeping of District funds yet allow for the timely payment of bills and conduct of District business by the General Manager. WHEREAS, Section 49.151 of the Texas Water Code provides that by resolution, the board of directors of a water district may allow the General Manager, or other employee of the water district to sign disbursements; WHEREAS, Section 49.056 of the Texas Water Code provides that the board of directors of a water district may delegate to the General Manager, full authority to manage and operate the affairs of the district subject only to the orders of the board; and WHEREAS, in accordance with the Texas Water Code, the Board of Directors desires to authorize its General Manager to sign certain disbursements, desires to authorize the General Manager to approve certain expenditures of District funds subject to certain controls for the safekeeping and protection of public funds. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE TROPHY CLUB MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT No. 1, BOARD OF DIRECTORS THAT: I. The facts and recitations found in the preamble of this Resolution are hereby found and declared to be true and correct, and are incorporated by reference herein and expressly made part hereof, as if copied verbatim. 2. The General Manager shall establish, maintain and enforce internal control structure designed to ensure all District assets are protected from loss, theft, or misuse. The internal controls shall address, without limitation, the following concerns: i. control of collusion; ii. separation of transaction authority from accounting and record keeping; m. compliance with the District's Investment Policy; iv. written confirmation of telephone transaction for investment and wire transfers; v. compliance with the District's Purchasing Procedures, a copy of which is attached; and vi. performance of an independent annual compliance audit of management controls and adherence to this Resolution 3. For purposes of this Resolution, a "disbursement" is the discharging by making payment of a liability, debt, accounts payable, transfer, or other obligation previously approved by the Board of Directors or General Manager. An "expenditure" represents the prior approval of the liability, debt or other obligation to be discharged by disbursement. 4. Banking and Investment Authority: a. In accordance with Section 49.456 of the Texas Water Code, the Board of Directors of the District shall designate one or more banks or savings associations within the State of Texas to serve as the depository for the funds of the District. The designation of the depositories shall be evidenced by written resolution adopted by the Board of Directors and a duly authorized meeting. b. The General Manager is hereby directed to ensure that signature cards for all district depository accounts contain current information and only the names of those individuals authorized to conduct business on behalf of the District. c. In accordance with Section 49.157 of the Texas Water Code, the Board of Directors of the District has authorized its Investment Officers to invest and reinvest the funds of the District, and to withdraw money from the District's accounts for such investments, in authorized investments of the District, as identified in the District's Investment Policy. The withdrawal and transfer of funds by the Investment Officers for investment officers for investment purposes may be accomplished only in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Resolution relating to the transfer of funds for investment purposes. 5. Disbursement Authority: a. Except as otherwise provided by this Resolution, all disbursements of District funds shall require the signature of either (i) two directors, or (ii) the General Manager and one Director. If a vacancy exists in one of the positions that are authorized to sign disbursements, the Board may designate an alternate staff member to have temporary check signing authority until such time as the vacancy is filled. b. Credit card transactions and payroll disbursements made through direct deposit are subject to terms of this Resolution and the District's Purchasing Procedures. c. Non-payroll checks made payable to any employee of the District may not be signed by the employee receiving the check. d. Checks made payable to any Director of the District for director's fees or reimbursement of expenses may not be signed by the Director receiving the check. e. Directors may participate in the District's payroll direct deposit program. 6. Electronic Transfers: Except as authorized below, the electronic transfer of District funds is prohibited: a. District funds may be transferred between District accounts only upon prior authorization of the General Manager or as directed by the Board of Directors. b. District funds may be transferred for authorized investments, as identified in the District's Investment Policy, only upon prior approval of an Investment Officer of the District. All Investment Officers of the District shall be given prior notice of the proposed transfer of the District funds for investment purposes and the transfer of such funds shall require the written authorization of the General Manager. c. Principal and interest payments for debt service on District bonds may be made by electronic funds transfer from the District's debt service fund directly to the paying agent's account upon prior approval of the General Manager. d. Payroll taxes and other payments to government entities that are required to be transmitted electronically are permitted. e. A report identifying all electronic fund transfers shall be prepared and furnished to the Board of Directors not less than monthly. f. Payroll direct deposit for staff and Board members may be made electronically only upon prior authorization of the General Manager. 7. Expenditure Authority: Except in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth below, all expenditures of District funds shall require the prior approval of the Board of Directors of the District. a. Except for those expenditures identified in Section 7(c) below, the General Manager may approve expenditures of District funds in the amount not to exceed $25,000 provided the proposed expenditure is included within the District's then current fiscal year budget. It is the intent of the Board of Directors that this authorization shall be exercised only for transactions and obligations that do not exceed $25,000 in their entirety, regardless of the amount of individual components thereof. b. The General Manager may approve expenditures of District funds in accordance with any specific authorization granted by the Board of Directors of the District during a Board meeting. c. The General Manager may approve expenditures of District funds in any amount as may be necessary to respond to emergency conditions that potentially threaten the health, safety or welfare of District customers, residents, or employees for which immediate corrective action is necessary. Notification of such action shall be presented to the Board and subsequently placed on the agenda for the Board of Directors next regularly scheduled meeting. d. The General Manager may approve expenditures of District funds regardless of amount for payment of routine operational expenses such as payment of electrical bills, purchased water payments to the City of Fort Worth, solid waste services, and bond payments provided the proposed expenditure is within Districts then current fiscal year budget. e. The General Manager shall exercise his or her expenditure authority in prudent and fiscally responsible manner, and consistent with all applicable policies and Resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the District. f. The General Manager may not approve any expenditure that would exceed the total budgeted expense for each budget category in each "Cost Center" of the District, as identified in the District's then current fiscal year budget. Any such expenditure must be approved by the Board of Directors of the District and may require the amendment of the District's then current fiscal year budget. g. The General Manager may not break down any proposed expenditure into components for the purpose of avoiding limitations on his or her expenditure authority. h. All disbursements, transfers, and expenditures approved by the General Manager shall be identified in the disbursement or other financial reports presented to the Board of Directors. i. The General Manager shall not exercise his or her expenditure authority so as to avoid or circumvent public, committee or Board participation in expenditures or projects that may be particular interest. 8. Purchasing: District purchases are authorized as follows: a. PETTY CASH PURCHASES CUP TO $50.00): Items costing up to $50.00 may be purchased using petty cash funds. However, the policy for petty cash purchases must be followed. b. PURCHASES LESS THAN $150.00:_Items purchased that cost less than $150.00 do not require prior approval by the employee's supervisor or the General Manager. However, a purchase order must be used and a copy of the purchase order and a receipt/invoice must be given to the Finance Manager within two (2) business days of the purchase. If the total of all items on the purchase order equals $300.00 or more, the purchase order must be signed by the employee's supervisor. c. PURCHASES GREATER THAN $150.00 and UP TO $1,000.00: Items purchased that cost over $150.00 and do not exceed $1,000.00 will require prior approval by the Departmental Manager. Purchase can be made only after receiving an approved purchase order signed by the Departmental Manager. A copy of the purchase order should be submitted to the Finance Manager within two (2) business days following the purchase and a copy of the invoice/receipt must be attached to the Finance Manager's copy of the purchase order once the purchase is completed. d. PURCHASES GREATER THAN $1,000.00 AND LESS THAN $25,000.00: Items purchased that cost more than $1,000.00 each and do not exceed $25,000 require approval from the General Manager. If possible, three (3) quotes should be obtained and presented to the General Manager and once approved, a purchase order signed by the General Manager must be obtained. e. PURCHASES GREATER THAN $25,000.00 AND LESS THAN $75,000.00: Items purchased that cost more than $25,000.00 and do not exceed $75,000 require approval from the District Board of Directors. A minimum of three (3) bids must be obtained using a standardized bidding form. Bids are presented to the Board of Directors. After approval by the Board a purchase order signed by the General Manager must be obtained. f. PURCHASES GREATER THAN $75,000.00: Purchases greater than $75,000.00 require formal advertisement for letting of bids and approval for purchase by the District's Board of Directors. The General Manager will advertise for bids and the advertisement will include the general conditions, time, and place of opening of sealed bids. The notice shall be published in one or more newspapers published in Denton and Tarrant Counties. The notice shall be published at least once per week for two consecutive weeks and will allow for at least twenty-one (21) days prior to the date the bids are opened. The Board of Directors may award the purchase to any reasonable person or persons who, in the Board's judgment, will be most advantageous to the District and result in the best and most economical completion of the District's goals. g. EMERGENCY PURCHASES GREATER THAN $25,000.00: In emergency situations that require a purchase to be made prior to the scheduled Board meeting, the General Manager may obtain approval from two officers of the Board of Directors and proceed with obtaining bids for purchase. The purchase must then be made from the lowest bidder. A report must be submitted to the Board of Directors by the General Manager at the next regularly scheduled Board meeting that includes a justification for the emergency purchase and action by the Board to ratify the expenditure will be required. 9. Credit Accounts: The General Manager is authorized to open credit accounts and establish credit relationships on behalf of the District in accordance with the following terms and limitations: a. All purchases with District credit cards shall be made in accordance with the terms of this Resolution and the District's Purchasing Policies. b. District accounts may not be used for personal or non-District purposes. c. The following employees may be issued District credit cards with credit limits that do not exceed the referenced amounts: d. Credit limits for the General Manager may only be increased upon prior authorization of the Board of Directors. Credit limits for staff may only be increased upon prior authorization of the General Manager. e. Use of credit cards and credit accounts are subject to the same limitations as other expenditures, including that they be exercised only for proper purposes of the District and for expenses identified within, and in amounts not in excess of, the expense line item for the employee's department for the then current fiscal year budget. f. Credit card and credit account transactions should be limited to purchases with vendors that will not direct bill the District, and for which it is not practicable to provide payment by check. The original receipts shall be furnished to the District as evidence of the purpose of each payment made by credit card. TITLE General Manager Fire Chief Fire Lieutenant Water Superintendent Wastewater Superintendent Finance Manager District Secretary Administration Manager Water Field Supervisor Crew Leader Administrative Assistant AMOUNT $45,000 $15,000 $ 6,000 $30,000 $15,000 $ 5,000 $ 5,000 $ 5,000 $ 5,000 $ 2,000 $ 2,000 10. Delegation of Expenditure Authority: The General Manager may delegate expenditure authority granted under this Resolution to staff. Further, in the event of an absence, the General Manager may delegate temporary expenditure authorization to other personnel. The Authorized Personnel shall not have the authority to approve or make any expenditure that would exceed the individual budgeted line item amount for the relevant expense category, as identified in the District's then current fiscal year budget, without obtaining the prior approval of the General Manager. Further, the General Manager shall not have the authority to approve any expenditure by Authorized Personnel that would exceed the General Manager's expenditure authority. In all cases, the General Manager shall remain responsible for overseeing and ensuring that Authorized Personnel exercise any delegated expenditure authority properly, prudently, and in accordance with the terms and limitations of this Resolution. 11. Contract Authority: The General Manager is hereby authorized to enter into contracts for a total contract sum (including all goods or services contemplated under the contract) not to exceed the budgeted line item amount for the budgeted expense category to which the contract relates; a. All contracts must relate to an expenditure included within the District's then current fiscal year budget, and the total amount of payment authorized under the contract must not exceed the budgeted line item amount for the budgeted expense category to which the contract relates; b. Contracts for personal services (excluding temporary contract labor) or Professional Services shall be approved in advance by the Board of Directors. Professional Services includes those services rendered for or on behalf of the District defined in the Texas Government Code (architecture, accounting, surveying, engineering, appraisal, and legal services, etc.) Temporary contract labor is excluded from this provision and specifically addressed below. c. Contracts for temporary labor may be approved by the General Manager provided they are for $5,000 or less. d. All goods and services contemplated under a contract, regardless of the date of performance or schedule for payment under the contract, shall be considered for purposes of calculating the amount of a contract and whether it falls within the authorization granted by this Resolution. A transaction or project shall not be broken down into component contracts for purposes of avoiding the limitations established by this Resolution. 12. Finance Manager Review and Reporting: The District's Finance Manager and/or Administration Manager shall monitor the exercise of purchasing and expenditure authority, contracting authority, and use of District credit cards, authorized by this Resolution. All irregularities, exceedances of authority, failure to provide receipts and similar matters that are not promptly corrected shall be reported by the Finance Manager and/or Senior Accountant to the Board of Directors not less than quarterly. 13. This Resolution supersedes and replaces all previous resolutions and policies relating to the subject matter hereof. 14. The staff of the District is hereby directed to take any and all actions that may be required by the District's banking institutions(s) to implement Resolution No. 2014-0715A. PASSED AND APPROVED by the Board of Directors of the Trophy Club Municipal Utility District No.1, Trophy Club, Texas, this 15'h day of July, 2014. Kevin R. Carr, Secretary/Treasurer