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City of Waltham, MA
Middlesex County
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Cross references — Annual inventory of City property to be submitted to Mayor and auditor, § 2-2; annual reports by boards and officers to Mayor, § 2-9; turn over and accounting for funds, § 2-88; books and records to correspond to fiscal year, § 2-89.
[Gen. Ords. 1962, §§ 2-8, 2-86]
There is hereby established a principal department to be known as the "Purchasing Department."
[Gen. Ords. 1962, §§ 2-5, 2-7, 2-87—2-89; Ord. No. 23392, § 2, 3-26-1973]
(a) 
There is hereby established by the position of Purchasing Agent. The Purchasing Agent shall be appointed by the Mayor, subject to confirmation by the Council for a term of three years and until his successor in office is appointed and qualified. Such term shall commence on the first Monday in March, and the appointment shall be made by the Mayor on or before the first Monday in February.
State law reference — Increase of limit for which contracts must be publicly advertised to $4,000., MGLA c. 149, §§ 44-B—44.L.
(b) 
The Purchasing Agent shall be the head and have general supervision of the Purchasing Department.
(c) 
The City Purchasing Agent shall have had, prior to his appointment, at least one year of experience in a purchasing office of a public or private corporation in an executive capacity, or experience in a related field equivalent thereto.
(d) 
He shall give an official bond in form satisfactory to the City Solicitor, in the sum of $5,000.
(e) 
The Purchasing Agent shall perform all duties required by law, and shall have in addition the power and duty to:
(1) 
Purchase or contract for all supplies and contractual services needed by any using agency which derives its support wholly or in part from the City, in accordance with purchasing procedures as prescribed by this law, ordinance or order and such rules and regulations as the agent shall adopt for the internal management and operation of the Department.
Contractual services shall not mean and include, professional and other contractual services which are in the nature unique and not subject to competition.
Supplies shall mean and include all supplies, materials and equipment.
Using agency is any department, board, commission or other unit in the City government using supplies or procuring contractual services as provided in this article.
(2) 
Act to procure for the City the highest quality in supplies and contractual services at least expense to the City.
(3) 
Discourage uniform bidding and endeavor to obtain as full and open competition as possible on all purchases.
(4) 
Keep informed of current developments in the field of purchasing, prices, market conditions and new products, and secure for the City the benefits of research done in the field of purchasing by other government jurisdictions, national technical societies, trade associations having national recognition, and by private businesses and organizations.
Cross reference — Official bonds, § 2-5.
[Gen. Ords. 1962, § 2-90]
Except as otherwise provided, it shall be unlawful for any City officer or employee to order the purchase of any supplies or make any contract other than through the Purchasing Department, and any purchases ordered or contract made contrary to the provisions hereof shall not be approved by the City officials and the City shall not be bound thereby.