High Springs Tweaks Purchasing Policy

HIGH SPRINGS ‒ The City of High Springs has finetuned its purchasing policy but did not change purchase threshold amounts.

Commissioners unanimously approved Resolution 2020-G on Aug. 27, which amends the City’s purchasing policy and procedures. The main changes address the City’s competitive purchasing process price thresholds and approval requirements.

This item was carried over from the July 23 Commission meeting when Commissioner Nancy Lavin suggested several modifications. Commissioners asked for more time to consider the modifications and asked that the item be brought back at this meeting.

Commissioner Lavin expressed concern with currently policy language that states “The Director of Finance, under the City Managers leadership, is the authorized purchasing agent for the city, with the City Commission’s approval.” The wording has now been changed to reflect that the City Manager is the purchasing agent for the City, but that he or she may designate someone else to act in that capacity.

Another of Lavin’s concerns was wording that the City Manager should be the signer on any contracts involving financial responsibility. That wording has been changed to read, “All contracts will be signed per City Charter unless the City Commission directs otherwise.”

Lavin also expressed concern about the length of time records are retained by the City. The wording now reflects that records retention is “in accordance with public records law.”

Another concern was about threshold amounts. City Finance Director Jennifer Stull indicated that she had checked with the City of Newberry and High Springs was similar or lower than Newberry in that capacity. Therefore, no changes were proposed on this issue.

Lavin advocated that the City Clerk, Finance Director and Department Heads purchasing amounts should be lowered. Commissioner Linda Jones opposed the measure and the purchasing amounts were not modified.

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