Borough of Downingtown, PA Article IV Director of Finance

[Adopted 10-15-2008 by Ord. No. 2008-08[1]]

[1] Editor's Note: Former Art. IV, Director of Finance, adopted 3-13-1974 by Ord. No. 74-1, as amended, was repealed 2-12-1992 by Ord. No. 92-1.

§ 52-18 Creation of office.

Borough Council creates the office of Director of Finance.

§ 52-19 Appointment.

Borough Council shall, from time to time, and whenever there is a vacancy, appoint, by a vote of a majority of all the members, the Director of Finance, who shall serve for an indefinite term and who shall be selected solely on the basis of his or her executive and administrative ability, qualifications and experience. The Director of Finance shall serve at the pleasure of Borough Council.

§ 52-20 Powers and duties.

The Director of Finance shall:

A. Superintend the fiscal affairs of the Borough.

B. Examine and settle all accounts in which the Borough is concerned.

C. Report to the Borough Manager as requested on the status of all accounts.

D. Make and file an annual report of the accounts to the Council or Borough Manager.

E. Countersign all warrants on the Borough Treasurer, provided that there is sufficient money in the treasury to pay the same.

F. Take steps as may be required to prevent any Council appropriations from being overdrawn.

G. Prepare and present, in consultation with the Borough Manager, the annual budget in sufficient time to enable the review and adoption of same within the time limits as required by law.

H. Supply the Council and the Manager with reports at least quarterly so that the budget may be reviewed for areas of possible reallocations.

I. Inform the Manager when any account is approaching a possible deficiency.

J. Serve as the Treasurer of the Borough of Downingtown.

§ 52-21 Evidence required when presenting warrants.

In the performance of his/her duties as herein prescribed, the Director of Finance may require the person presenting warrants to produce evidence that:

A. The amount expressed in the warrant is due the payee.

B. The supplies or services have been furnished and performed according to law and the terms of the contract which entitle the payee to payment.

§ 52-22 Maintenance of records.

The Director of Finance shall maintain appropriate records containing as many accounts under suitable titles as may be necessary to show separately and distinctly all debts due and owing the Borough, all special funds, all receipts and expenditures of the various departments of the Borough government and all appropriations made by the Council.

§ 52-23 Control of accounting personnel.

The Director of Finance shall have full control of all accounting personnel in his/her office, subject to the oversight of the Borough Manager and Borough Council. "Accounting personnel" is herein defined to include all persons whose duties relate to accounting and who are certified by the Council on job lists. Except for the purpose of inquiry, the Council and the Borough Manager shall deal with the persons under the supervision of the Director of Finance through the Director of Finance and shall not give orders to any of the employees of the Director of Finance, either publicly or privately.