All contracts of the Municipality involving sums in excess of
five hundred dollars ($500.00) shall be in writing.
Except as otherwise provided in this Charter, no contract for
supplies, material, labor, franchise, or other valuable consideration,
to be furnished to or by the Municipality, shall be authorized on
behalf of the Municipality except with the lowest responsible bidder
after competitive bidding.
Competitive bidding shall not be required under this Charter
for:
a. Labor or services rendered by any Municipal officer or employee in
payment for his/her services;
b. Contracts for labor, material, supplies or services available from
only one vendor;
c. Contracts for labor, material, supplies or services aggregating less
than two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500.00) for the item in
the year supplied.
d. Contracts relating to the acquisition or use of real property;
e. Contracts for professional or unique services;
f. Contracts for emergency repair of public works of the Municipality;
g. Contracts with other governmental entities, authorities, agencies
or political subdivisions.
Real property cannot be acquired until two (2) appraisals by
certified real estate appraisers have been received.
The term of contracts for the purchase of supplies shall not
exceed two (2) years.
The Municipality shall have no authority to grant to others,
by franchise, contract, or otherwise, its power and right of eminent
domain.
In any case where a Municipal officer or official elected or
appointed knows or by the exercise of reasonable diligence could know
that such person is interested to any appreciable degree, either directly
or indirectly, in any contract for the sale or furnishing of any personal
property for the use of the Municipality, or for any services to be
rendered for such Municipality involving the expenditure by the Municipality
of more than three hundred dollars ($300.00) in any year, such person
shall notify Council thereof, and any such contract shall not be passed
and approved by Council except by an affirmative vote of at least
three-fourths (3/4) of the members thereof. In case the interested
officer is a member of Council, such person shall refrain from voting
upon such contract. The provisions of this section shall not apply
to cases where such officer or official is an employee of the person,
firm or corporation to which money is to be paid in a capacity with
no possible influence on the transaction and in which such person
cannot possibly be benefited thereby, either financially or in any
other material manner. Any officer or officials who shall knowingly
violate the provisions of this Section shall be liable to the Municipality,
and to forfeiture of office.