(a) Establishment of Position; Authority. The position of Purchasing Agent for the Village is hereby established. Purchases for the Village shall be made as set forth herein:
(1) The Purchasing Agent and the Mayor shall each, individually, have authority to make purchases from time to time on behalf of each department of the Village, to the extent of appropriations therefor, in an amount not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000) for each purchase, without first obtaining the authorization therefor from Council.
(2) The Purchasing Agent or the Mayor shall each, individually, have the authority to make purchases in excess of five thousand dollars ($5,000) but not more than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) for each purchase, to the extent of appropriations therefor, when authorized by the Finance Committee of Council.
(3) The Purchasing Agent shall have the authority to make purchases in excess of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000), but not more than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000), to the extent of appropriations therefor, when authorized by a motion of Council.
(4) Purchases in excess of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) shall be authorized by legislation of Council and may be subject to competitive bidding as set forth in this section or pursuant to any policies, procedures, and exceptions created by the Mayor and approved by Village Council. The term “competitive bidding” as it is used in this section is a general term encompassing all government procurement methods including but not limited to the solicitation of bids, requests for proposals, and requests for qualifications.
A. Contracts which do not require competitive bidding. The Mayor may make any contract, purchase supplies or material or provide labor for any work involving an expenditure which does not exceed two times the amount specified by the laws of the State of Ohio for which expenditure may be made without competitive bidding; provided, however, that the Chief Fiscal Officer has first certified the availability of funds for the expenditure.
B. Contracts which require competitive bidding. No contract which exceeds two times the amount specified by the laws of the State of Ohio for which an expenditure may be made without competitive bidding shall be made except as otherwise provided in this section or any approved policies, procedures or exceptions approved by Council, unless authorized and directed by ordinance of the Council awarding a contract to the lowest and best bidder after advertising and opening and tabulating sealed bids; provided, however, that the Chief Fiscal Officer has first certified the availability of funds for the contract.
C. Preparation of plans. The Mayor or his or her designee is authorized without Council action to commence the competitive bidding process and the preparation of plans, documents and specifications for any project.
(b) Chief Fiscal Officer to be Purchasing Agent. The Chief Fiscal Officer of the Village is hereby designated as the Purchasing Agent ex officio, with the authority conferred in subsection (a) hereof.
(Ord. 1997-95. Passed 7-9-97; Ord. 2004-138. Passed 8-11-04; Ord. 2012-23. Passed 3-14-12; Ord. 2016-128. Passed 12-14-16; Ord. 2019-44. Passed 6-12-19; Ord. 2023-12. Passed 2-8-23.)