[HISTORY: Adopted by Town Meeting of the Town of Brookfield 6-26-1975.
Amendments noted where applicable.]
There is hereby created, for the Town of Brookfield, the office of Controller,
which office shall consist of the Controller and such assistants and employees
as shall be approved by the Board of Selectmen from time to time.
The Controller shall be appointed by the Board of Selectmen, with the
approval of the Board of Finance and the Treasurer, for an indefinite term.
The Controller may be removed from office by the Board of Selectmen for good
cause, provided that such dismissal shall have the approval of a majority
of the full Board of Finance and the Treasurer.
A.
The Controller shall install, maintain and supervise
the general accounting system for all departments, offices, boards, committees,
commissions and agencies in conformity with the uniform system of accounts
for Connecticut municipalities, or such other system as may be approved by
the Board of Finance and the Tax Commissioner of the State of Connecticut;
shall prescribe the form of accounts to be kept by each department, office,
board, committee, commission and agency of the Town; shall keep separate accounts
for the appropriations contained in the budget and encumber immediately with
the amount of each purchase order, payroll or contract and maintain for each
account a record of the amounts paid and remaining unpaid, all encumbrances
and the unencumbered balance. The Controller shall audit before payment all
bills, invoices, payrolls and other evidence of claims, demands or charges
against the Town.
B.
He shall compile for the Board of Selectmen estimates
for the budget and capital program and assist in the preparation of the annual
budget document and recommend to the Board of Selectmen changes in department
programs and departmental estimates of revenue and expenditures; shall submit
monthly to the Board of Selectmen, the Board of Finance and the Treasurer
a financial statement showing the amount of each appropriation and any transfers,
encumbrances and expenditures therefrom and such other fiscal data as may
be prescribed by the Board of Selectmen and/or the Board of Finance and the
Treasurer; and shall prepare for the Board of Selectmen, the Board of Finance
and the Treasurer, at the end of each fiscal year, a complete financial statement
and report of the Town. The Controller shall establish and supervise inventories
wherever required and shall perform such other duties as may be requested
by the Board of Selectmen and/or the Board of Finance or the Treasurer.
A.
The First Selectman and the Controller, acting in conjunction,
shall be the general purchasing authority of the Town. All supplies, materials,
equipment and other commodities required by any department, office, agency,
board, committee or commission shall be purchased by the purchasing authority
on requisition, in such form and in such manner as the Board of Selectmen
may prescribe, signed by the head of the department, office, agency or Chairman
of the board, committee or commission.
B.
All purchases shall be made in full compliance with the
existing ordinances of this Town pertaining to bidding.
C.
No requisition for any purchase and no contract for public
work or other service shall be valid unless it bears the endorsement of the
Controller. The Controller shall endorse a requisition or contract only after
he has examined the same and has found that it conforms to the requirements
of this section and that there is a sufficient unencumbered balance of any
applicable appropriation to pay the same. If by making any contract or purchase,
the budget allowance of the officer, department, commission, committee or
board requesting the same shall be exceeded, the purchasing authority shall
bring the request to the attention of the Board of Finance at its next meeting,
and the Board of Finance may authorize such contract or purchase in accordance
with and subject to the limitations of the general statutes or other laws
pertaining to this Town.
D.
No voucher, claim or charge against the Town shall be
paid until it has been approved by the Controller and the Town Treasurer for
correctness and legality.
E.
Contracts for public works or other services involving
an expenditure exceeding $3,000, or such other amount as may be specified
by the Board of Finance from time to time, shall, in addition to the requirement
of this section, be subject to the consideration and approval of the Board
of Selectmen.
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to the Board of Education.
The Controller, however, shall be available to the Board of Education for
advice and consultation as to said Board's systems and manner of fiscal
accounting.