[Adopted 5-6-2014 by L.L. No. 2-2014]
This article shall be known as the "We Pay Our Bills Timely"
local law.
A.
It is the intention of the Legislature of Rockland County by this
article to create a policy to provide for the prompt payment of lawful
debts and obligations incurred by the County of Rockland.
B.
Many times vouchers, requisitions or purchase orders, hereinafter
referred to as "financial obligations of Rockland County," are submitted
by contractors, contract agencies, vendors and others for payment
by the County of Rockland. Many times these financial obligations
of Rockland County, after they are approved for payment, do not get
paid for as long as 90 days. In addition thereto, in some instances,
the checks are actually issued by the County, dated within the 90
days, but not paid to the appropriate party until several weeks later.
This procedure used by the County to pay its financial obligations
causes great hardship upon the recipients of the payments, who must
wait for extended periods of time and, in many instances, borrow money
from other sources until the County of Rockland meets its financial
obligations.
C.
It is the intent of this article to create a policy for payment of
Rockland County's outstanding financial obligations which does not
inflict a hardship upon people who do business with or receive payments
from the County of Rockland.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Vouchers, requisitions or purchase orders, hereinafter referred
to as "financial obligations of Rockland County," which are submitted
to the County of Rockland by contractors, contract agencies, vendors
and others for payment.
Payment of the financial obligations of the County of Rockland
within 60 days from final approval of the vouchers, requisitions,
purchase orders, debt, contractual or legal obligation, along with
any documents required by the County of Rockland. Prompt payment does
not apply to any amount which is in dispute by the County of Rockland
and/or for which proper and complete documentation has not been submitted
as determined in the sole discretion of the County Executive.
Pursuant to the Rockland County Charter Section 2.01, the Legislature
"shall be the legislative, appropriating and policy-determining body
of the County," and this article is being enacted pursuant to such
Charter section. Pursuant to Rockland County Charter Section 2.01(c),
the County Legislature shall have the power to "exercise all powers
of local legislation in relation to enacting, amending or rescinding
local laws, legalizing acts or resolutions."
A.
Concurrent with the effective date of this article, it shall be the
policy and the obligation of the County of Rockland to issue prompt
payment of any financial obligation of the County of Rockland within
60 days of approval, in whole or in part, of the financial obligation
as may be approved for payment.
B.
In the event that unforeseen circumstances occur, including but not
limited to federal or state funds not having been timely received,
then the County Executive, in his sole discretion and in the best
interests of the County, is authorized to extend payments beyond the
sixty-day requirement of this article.
C.
All County requests for proposal and/or all County requests for bids
shall contain a statement setting forth the provisions of this article.
All County government officials and employees, including but not limited
to elected and appointed officials, shall in good faith comply with
this article.
The County Commissioner of Finance shall report to the County
Executive and the Chair of the Legislature whenever payment is not
or cannot be paid, within the time periods set forth by this article,
and the reasons therefor.
