(A) Any expenditure for professional services or to retain a consultant or other professional by or with the City of Lawrence, Indiana, in an amount equal to or in excess of $5,000 in a fiscal year must be approved by the Common Council prior to any payment of claims under such contract. The term of any professional services contract shall not extend past the end of the fiscal year in which is executed.
(B) If such a professional is initially engaged for an amount less than $5,000, the Controller may not disburse funds in excess of that amount in any given fiscal year without the prior approval of the Common Council.
(C) (1) Consistent with division (A) above, the Council will not approve any claim for an expenditure for professional services without first reviewing and approving said contract submitted by the City administration in advance of a request for payment of the first claim under said contract.
(2) Any and all service providers and consultants entering into professional service agreements anticipated to exceed $5,000, or known to exceed $5,000, in a fiscal year, include a term that extends beyond the end of the current fiscal year, or that otherwise do not comply with this division (C) and division (A) above, perform such services at their own risk and without claim of payment against the City thereon, including in quantum meruit.
(D) An EXPENDITURE FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES OR TO RETAIN A CONSULTANT OR OTHER PROFESSIONAL is defined to mean a financial disbursement to an individual or corporate entity who is to be or has been retained by the City of Lawrence, Indiana as an independent contractor providing professional services, or any contractor that is paid from the “Other Services and Charges” major budget category. Examples include, but are not limited to, legal professionals, government affairs consultants, engineers, architects, accountants, and other financial, political, or legal consultants. It explicitly does not include payments via payroll to City employees, contracts for products, or expenditures for infrastructure projects.
(E) Approval under this section means a simple majority vote of the Council, obtained by written request sent to the Clerk for inclusion in the next meeting agenda. Approval of the Board of Public Works and Safety should be obtained prior to the Council’s consideration.
(Ord. 11, 2014, passed 8-20-2014; Am. Res. 7, 2016, passed 6-6-2016; Am. Ord. 4, 2023, passed 3-6-2023)