This investment policy applies to all moneys and other financial
resources available for investment by the Village or by any other
entity or individual on behalf of the Village.
The primary objectives of the Village's investment activities
are to:
A. Conform with all applicable federal, state and other legal requirements;
B. Adequately safeguard principal;
C. Provide sufficient liquidity to meet all operating requirements;
and
D. Obtain a reasonable rate of return.
The responsibility of the Board of Trustees for administration
of the Village's investment program is delegated to the Village
Treasurer, who shall establish written procedures for the operation
of the investment program consistent with these program guidelines.
Such procedures shall include an adequate internal control structure
to provide a satisfactory level of accountability based on a data
base or records incorporating description and amounts of investments,
transaction dates, and other relevant information and regulate the
activities of subordinate employees.
All participants in the investment process shall seek to act
responsibly as custodians of the public trust and shall avoid any
transaction that might impair public confidence in the Village to
govern effectively.
A. Investments shall be made with judgment and care, under circumstances
then prevailing, which persons of prudence, discretion and intelligence
exercise in the management of their own affairs, not for speculation,
but for investment, considering the safety of the principal as well
as the probable income to be derived.
B. All participants in the investment process shall refrain from personal
business activity which could conflict with proper execution of the
investment program, or which could impair their ability to make impartial
investment decisions.
It is the policy of the Village to diversify its deposits and
investments by financial institution, by investment instrument, and
by maturity scheduling.
The Board of Trustees shall establish a list of banks and trust
companies authorized for the deposit of moneys. Unless otherwise provided
by the Board of Trustees, deposits in each may be made and maintained
to the maximum amount for which Federal Deposit Insurance Act insurance
is available, or such other maximum amount as set forth in an approved
collateral agreement between the Village and such institution.
In accordance with the provisions of General Municipal Law § 10,
all deposits of the Village, including certificates of deposit and
special time deposits, in excess of the amounts insured under the
provisions of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act shall be secured:
A. By a pledge of "eligible securities" with an aggregate market value
as provided by General Municipal Law § 10, equal to the
aggregate amount of deposits from the categories designated in Appendix
A of this policy;
B. By an irrevocable letter of credit, issued by a qualified bank other
than the bank with the deposits, in favor of the Village for a term
not to exceed 90 days with an aggregate value at least equal to 140%
of the aggregate amount of deposits and the agreed-upon interest,
if any. A qualified bank is one whose commercial paper and other unsecured
short-term debt obligations are rated in one of the three highest
rating categories by at least one nationally recognized statistical
rating organization or by a bank that is in compliance with applicable
federal minimum risk-based capital requirements; or
C. By an eligible surety bond, in form approved by the Village Attorney,
payable to the Village for an amount at least equal to 100% of the
aggregate amount of deposits and the agreed-upon interest, if any,
executed by an insurance company authorized to do business in New
York State, whose claims-paying ability is rated in the highest rating
category by at least two nationally recognized statistical rating
organizations.
Eligible securities used for collateralizing deposits shall
be held by a third-party bank or trust company subject to security
and custodial arrangements.
A. The security agreement shall be in a form approved by the Village
Attorney, and shall provide that eligible securities are being pledged
to secure local government deposits, together with agreed-upon interest,
if any, and any costs or expenses arising out of the collection of
such deposits upon default. It shall also provide the conditions under
which the securities may be sold, presented for payment, substituted
or released, and the events which will enable the local government
to exercise its rights against the pledged securities. In the event
that the securities are not registered or inscribed in the name of
the Village, such securities shall be delivered in a form suitable
for transfer, or with an assignment in blank, to the Village or its
custodial bank.
B. The custodial agreement shall be in a form approved by the Village
Attorney, and shall provide that securities held by the bank or trust
company, or agent of and custodian for, the local government, will
be kept separate and apart from the general assets of the custodial
bank or trust company and will not, in any circumstances, be commingled
with or become part of the backing for any other deposit or other
liabilities. The agreement should also describe that the custodian
shall confirm the receipt, substitution or release of the securities.
The agreement shall provide for the frequency of revaluation of eligible
securities and for the substitution of securities when a change in
the rating of a security may cause ineligibility. Such agreement shall
include all provisions necessary to provide the Village a perfected
interest in the securities.
As authorized by General Municipal Law § 11, the Village
authorizes the Village Treasurer to invest moneys not required for
immediate expenditure for terms not to exceed its projected cash flow
needs in the following types of investments:
A. Special time deposit accounts.
C. Obligations of the United States of America, an agency thereof or
a United States government sponsored corporation or obligations fully
insured or guaranteed as to the payment of principal and interest
by the United States of America, an agency thereof, or a United States
government sponsored corporation.
D. Obligations of the State of New York.
E. Obligations issued pursuant to Local Finance Law § 24.00
or 25.00 (with approval of the State Comptroller) by any municipality,
school district or district corporation other than the Village.
F. Obligations of public authorities, public housing authorities, urban
renewal agencies and industrial development agencies where the general
state statutes governing such entities or whose specific enabling
legislation authorizes such investments.
G. Certificates of Participation (COPS) issued pursuant to General Municipal
Law § 109-b.
H. Obligations of the Village, but only with any moneys in a reserve
fund established pursuant to General Municipal Law §§ 6-c,
6-d, 6-e, 6-g, 6-h, 6-j, 6-k, 6-1, 6-m or 6-n.
I. Obligations issued or fully insured or guaranteed by the State of
New York, obligations issued by a municipal corporation, school district
or district corporation of New York State or obligations of any public
benefit corporation which under a specific state statute may be accepted
as security for deposit of public moneys.
J. Obligations issued or fully guaranteed by the International Bank
for Reconstruction and Development, the Inter-American Development
Bank, the Asian Development Bank, and the African Development Bank.
K. Obligations partially insured or guaranteed by any agency of the
United States of America, at a proportion of the market value of the
obligation that represents the amount of the insurance or guaranty.
The Village shall maintain a list of financial institutions
and dealers approved for investment purposes and establish appropriate
limits to the amount of investments which can be made with each financial
institution or dealer. All financial institutions with which the Village
conducts business must be creditworthy. Banks shall provide their
most recent Consolidated Report of Condition (Call Report) at the
request of the Village. Security dealers not affiliated with a bank
shall be required to be classified as reporting dealers affiliated
with the New York Federal Reserve Bank, as primary dealers. The Village
Treasurer is responsible for evaluating the financial position and
maintaining a listing of proposed depositories, trading partners,
and custodians. Such listing shall be evaluated at least annually.
Repurchase agreements are not authorized.