[R. O. 1947, ch. 22, § 23; Ord. No. 451, § 1, 6-8-1983]
Every account and claim, except as hereinafter provided in sections 6-32 and 6-33, shall in the first instance be examined, and, if found just, shall be approved and certified by the officer, board or department authorized to create the liability or otherwise having the subject matter of the account or claim in charge. However, if such account or claim is not within the province of any officer, board or department, then it shall be examined, and, if found just, approved and certified by the mayor and accountant.
[R. O. 1947, ch. 22, § 24; Ord. No. 451, § 1, 6-8-1983]
Immediately after the close of each month, the several officers, boards and departments shall examine and approve bills and make up payrolls. They shall keep a record of the names of persons whose bills are approved, and of the dates and amounts thereof. All bills approved by the school committee may be certified by the signatures of the chairman and the secretary thereon, and each payroll of teachers, janitors, election officers, recipients of public welfare and old age assistance and on account of veterans’ service, of members of the police and fire departments and of laborers shall be regarded as one bill.
[R. O. 1947, ch. 22, § 25; Ord. No. 451, § 1, 6-8-1983]
On or before the fifth day of each month, accounts, claims, bills and payrolls as provided by this chapter, hereinafter styled approved bills, shall be sent to the city accountant, together with an approved audit sheet of the same, containing the names of the payees, the amounts and the appropriations respectively chargeable therewith; and all city officers receiving a salary not payable from the appropriations made for the officers, boards and departments shall also file their accounts for the same on or before such day. The accountant shall carefully examine all such approved bills, and, if they are in proper form, he shall fold, file and label them. He shall compare them with the accompanying audit sheets and shall then present all such approved bills and audit sheets to the committee on accounts for examination and approval.
[R. O. 1947, ch. 22, § 26; Ord. No. 451, § 1, 6-8-1983]
On or before the tenth day of each month, the committee on accounts shall examine all approved bills and shall allow and pass them, if found to conform to law and to be correct, just and legally contracted; but no approved bill shall be allowed or passed by the committee on accounts unless there shall be a balance of an appropriation sufficient for the payment thereof. When the committee on accounts has doubt concerning the propriety of any approved bill, it shall return the same to the officer, board or department whose approval appears thereon for explanation. If not satisfactorily explained, the committee on accounts shall lay it before the city council, with its objections, for consideration and final decision. The committee on accounts shall compare the approved bills, allowed and passed by it, with the accompanying audit sheets, and if found to be correct and in proper form, such committee shall make a certificate on such sheets, allowing such approved bills.
[R. O. 1947, ch. 22, § 27; Ord. No. 213, § 2; Ord. No. 451, § 1, 6-8-1983; Ord. No. 695, § 1, 4-29-1992]
The accountant shall present approved bills to the director of finance/treasurer, who shall, if such bills are in proper form, draw director of finance/treasurer’s checks in payment thereof, and deliver the checks to the persons entitled to receive them. The director of finance/treasurer shall file all receipted bills with the accountant.
[R. O. 1947, ch. 22, § 28; Ord. No. 451, § 1, 6-8-1983; Ord. No. 695, § 1, 4-29-1992]
Upon written authorization of the auditor, without action of the committee on accounts, the director of finance/treasurer may draw checks for the payment of money due on the principal or interest of any bond, note or other security of the city, if there shall be a balance of an appropriation therefor sufficient for such payment. With like authorization, the director of finance/treasurer may, if otherwise lawful, also draw checks for the payment of final judgments of courts, and of any sums lawfully payable to the commonwealth or to the county, without action of the committee on accounts thereon, and without any special appropriation having been made therefor.
[R. O. 1947, ch. 22, § 29; Ord. No. 451, § 1, 6-8-1983; Ord. No. 695, § 1, 4-29-1992]
As early as practicable in each week, payrolls shall be prepared to include all sums due at the end of the preceding week to all persons in the employ of the city whose compensation is not fixed by this Code or other ordinance or otherwise at a stipulated sum per annum or per month. Such payrolls shall, if in proper form and after approval by the accountant, be paid by the director of finance/treasurer on or before the Friday of the week in which they are prepared.
[R. O. 1947, ch. 22, § 30; Ord. No. 608, § 2; Ord. No. 451, § 1, 6-8-1983]
Claims against the city for damages or injuries may be referred by the city council to the city solicitor. The city solicitor shall have the power to settle or deny any such claim, subject to approval by the city council. Payment of such claims as are allowed by the city council shall be made from an appropriation by the mayor with the consent of the city council.