[HISTORY: Adopted by the Common Council of
the City of Amsterdam 3-2-2004. Amendments noted where applicable.]
This investment policy applies to all moneys
and other financial resources available for investment on its own
behalf or on behalf of any other entity or individual.
The primary objectives of the local government's
investment activities are, in priority order:
The governing board's responsibility for administration
of the investment program is delegated to the Controller, who shall
establish written procedures for the operation of the investment program
consistent with these investment guidelines. Such procedures shall
include an adequate internal control structure to provide a satisfactory
level of accountability based on a database or records incorporating
description and amounts of investment, transaction dates and other
relevant information and regulate the activities of subordinate employees.
A.
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 City of
Amsterdam to govern effectively.
B.
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.
C.
All participants involved in the investment process
shall refrain from personal business activity that 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 City of Amsterdam to
diversify its deposits and investments by financial institution, by
investment instrument, and by maturity scheduling.
A.
It is the policy of the City of Amsterdam for all
moneys collected by any officer or employee of the government to transfer
those funds to the Controller within five days of deposit, or within
the time period specified in law, whichever is shorter.
B.
The Controller is responsible for establishing and
maintaining an internal control structure to provide reasonable, but
not absolute, assurance that deposits and investments are safeguarded
against loss from unauthorized use or disposition, that transactions
are executed in accordance with management's authorization and recorded
properly, and are managed in compliance with applicable law and regulations.
[Amended 3-19-2013 by Res. No. 12/13-220]
The banks and trust companies authorized for
the deposit of monies up to the following maximum amounts are:
In accordance with the provisions of General
Municipal Law § 10, all deposits of the City of Amsterdam,
including certificates of deposit and special time deposits, in excess
of the amount insured under the provisions of the Federal Deposit
Insurance Act shall be secured:
A.
By a pledge of eligible securities with an aggregated
market value, or provided by General Municipal Law § 10,
equal to the aggregated amount of deposits.
B.
By an eligible irrevocable letter of credit issued
by a qualified bank other than the bank with the deposits in favor
of the government for a term not to exceed 90 days with an aggregate
value equal to 140% to 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.
C.
By an eligible surety bond payable to the government
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.
A.
Eligible securities used for collateralizing deposits
shall be held by the depositary and/or a third-party bank or trust
company subject to security and custodial agreements.
B.
The security agreement 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 local government, such securities shall be delivered
in a form suitable for transfer or with an assignment in blank to
the City of Amsterdam or its custodial bank.
C.
The custodial agreement 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 local government a perfected interest in the securities.
A.
As authorized by General Municipal Law § 11,
the City of Amsterdam authorizes the Controller to invest moneys not
required for immediate expenditure for terms not to exceed its projected
cash flow needs in the following types of investments:
(1)
Special time deposit accounts;
(2)
Certificates of deposit;
(3)
Obligations of the United States of America;
(4)
Obligations guaranteed by agencies of the United States
of America where the payment of principal and interest are guaranteed
by the United States of America;
(5)
Obligations of the State of New York;
(6)
Obligations issued pursuant to LFL § 24.00
or 25.00 (with approval of the State Comptroller) by any municipality,
school district or district corporation other than the City of Amsterdam;
(7)
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.
B.
All investment obligations shall be payable or redeemable
at the option of the City of Amsterdam within such times as the proceeds
will be needed to meet expenditures for purposes for which the moneys
were provided and, in the case of obligations purchased with the proceeds
of bonds or notes, shall be payable or redeemable at the option of
the City of Amsterdam within two years of the date of purchase.
The City of Amsterdam 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 local government conducts business must
be credit worthy. Banks shall provide their most recent Consolidated
Report of Condition (Call Report) at the request of the City of Amsterdam.
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 Controller is responsible for
evaluating the financial position and maintaining a listing of proposed
depositaries, trading partners and custodians. Such listing shall
be evaluated at least annually.
A.
The Controller is authorized to contract for the purchase
of investments:
(1)
Directly, including through a repurchase agreement,
from an authorized trading partner.
(2)
By participation in a cooperative investment program
with another authorized governmental entity pursuant to Article 5G
of the General Municipal Law where such program meets all the requirements
set forth in the Office of the State Comptroller Opinion No. 88-46,
and the specific program has been authorized by the governing board.
(3)
By utilizing an on-going investment program with an
authorized tracking partner pursuant to a contract authorized by the
governing board.
B.
All purchased obligations, unless registered or inscribed
in the name of the local government, shall be purchased through, delivered
to and held in the custody of a bank or trust company. Such obligations
shall be purchased, sold or presented for redemption or payment by
such bank or trust company only in accordance with prior written authorization
for the officer authorized to make the investment. All such transactions
shall be confirmed in writing to the City of Amsterdam by the bank
or trust company. Any obligation held in the custody of a bank or
trust company shall be held pursuant to a written custodial agreement
as described in General Municipal Law § 10.
C.
The custodial agreement shall provide that securities
held by the bank or trust company, as agent of and custodian for the
City of Amsterdam, 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 shall describe
how the custodian shall confirm the receipt and release of the securities.
Such agreement shall include all provisions necessary to provide the
local government a perfected interest in the securities.