There shall be a Finance Department, the head
of which shall be the Commissioner of Finance.
The Commissioner of Finance shall be appointed
for a term of four (4) years. He shall be under the direction and
supervision of the Mayor. He shall be the chief fiscal officer of
the city and have charge of the administration of all its financial
affairs. He shall be a person who is either (1) a graduate of an accredited
college and has had at least three (3) years' experience in accounting;
(2) a person who has had at least eight (8) years' experience in public
accounting; or (3) a person who has had equivalent experience in financial
management for at least eight (8) years.
The Commissioner of Finance shall act as the
City Treasurer. In all cases where the duty is not expressly charged
to any other department or office, it shall be the duty of the Commissioner
of Finance to promote, secure and preserve the financial interests
of the city, and he shall:
A.
Exercise general supervision over all officers, employees
and departments of the city regarding the proper management of the
fiscal affairs of their respective functions, as follows:
(1)
Examine and audit the books and accounts of such officers,
employees and departments, including the Water Department, and prescribe
the form of accounts and financial reports to be used by them, consistent
with the uniform system of accounts prescribed the State Department
of Audit and Control.
(2)
Confirm the deposit of all city moneys into the City
Treasury by all officers and employees receiving the same, shall confirm
that all necessary financial reports are made by all officers and
employees, and shall report all delinquencies in such payments or
reports to the Mayor.
B.
Affix a certification to all contracts and agreements
for the expenditure of public funds entered into by any official of
the city government certifying that an amount has been appropriated
for the particular purpose and is available therefor or has been authorized
to be borrowed pursuant to the Local Finance Law and no such contract
or agreement shall be valid until so certified by him. This shall
not prevent the making of a contract for a term exceeding one (1)
year, nor require the city to pay during a fiscal year any amount
larger than is due during that year under the terms of the contract.
C.
Review estimates of revenues submitted to him, prepare
other estimates of revenue, prepare a statement of debt service requirements,
and give such other assistance in the preparation of the budget as
may be required of him by the Mayor.
D.
Transmit to the Mayor, at least monthly, statements
of cash on hand and of classified unencumbered appropriation balances
for the city as a whole, and such other financial statements as the
Mayor may from time to time require. He shall keep all departments,
boards, commissions or other agencies currently informed of its classified
unencumbered appropriation balances.
E.
Receive and have custody of all moneys paid to the
city, and shall disburse city moneys upon warrant, or as otherwise
provided by this Charter or by law.
F.
Demand and receive all moneys and fees owing to the
city whenever any person is indebted to the city in any manner and
where the means of collection of such debt is not otherwise provided
for by law. When any claim shall not be collectible by other methods,
he shall report the same to the City Attorney for collection.
G.
Keep all general accounts of the city, and of the
respective departments, offices, boards, commissions and agencies
thereof and keep separate accounts for the items of appropriation
contained in the city budget showing the amount of the appropriation,
the amount paid therefrom, the unpaid obligations against it and the
unencumbered balance. He shall keep and administer all notes, bonds
and other evidence of indebtedness, and keep and administer all securities,
and other forms of negotiable instruments owned by or belonging to
the city.
H.
He shall issue all checks for payment of money by
the city, and of the respective departments, offices, boards, commissions
and agencies thereof. No claim against the city, except for a fixed
salary, or for the principal of or interest on indebtedness, shall
be paid unless an itemized voucher therefor, certified by or on behalf
of the claimant, in such form as the Commissioner of Finance shall
prescribe, shall have been presented to the Department of Finance.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Charter, no claim other
than a claim for a sum certain due by contract for goods delivered
or services rendered shall be paid unless and until such claim shall
also have been presented to and approved by the Common Council; or
such claim shall have been ordered paid by a court of law.
I.
Contract for and purchase all supplies, materials,
equipment and contractual services required by any department, office,
board, commission, or agency of the city, upon receiving a signed
requisition, from the head of the department, office, board, commission
or agency whose appropriation is to be charged and pursuant to such
rules and regulations as may be established by the Common Council.
The Deputy Commissioner of Finance shall possess
all the powers of and perform the same duties as the Commissioner
of Finance under the direction of the Commissioner of Finance or the
Mayor.
