City Manager Margaret Silveira took to the council a resolution to add more city administrative staff to the list of those who can sign city checks. Two signatures are needed to issue the checks, according to city staff.
The mayor, mayor pro tem, city manager, finance director and city clerk were the approved signatories, with Silveira asking to add the community development and administrative services director.
Silveira also brought up the city's use of a signature stamp for the second signature in some cases. It was a practice that she said had raised comments from both the Lake County Grand Jury and the city's auditors.
“I also felt personally more comfortable not using that stamp,” said Silveira, despite the fact that there are a large number of checks to sign.
She asked the council to consider removing use of the stamp and adding the two additional signatories. Silveira said the city has no finance director, and Mayor Jim Irwin pointed out that that position was not listed among the approved signatories in the resolution.
Councilman Bob Rumfelt said the signature stamp usage had started several years ago at his suggestion after he was asked to sign checks, which he said he doesn't mind doing. However, he had suggested using the stamp would be more efficient, especially when signing a couple hundred checks.
He suggested allowing signatories to use stamps with their own signatures.
Silveira said the grand jury in its most recent report recommended that a stamp should only be used by the person whose name is on it. The city's auditors, however, still weren't crazy about it, she said.
She suggested that it's a more secure practice without the stamp even though it's more efficient. Rumfelt didn't see a problem with continuing the use of the stamp.
Silveira noted that in some larger government organizations embossed stamps are used, but they're kept locked up. Rumfelt said he was sure that the governor didn't actually sign everything that comes before him.
Councilman Ron Bertsch asked Silveira if she wanted his stamp back.
“I think that the auditors would prefer for us to do it this way,” Silveira said of using more live signatures. Silveira said if there are a large number of checks she can break the signing up between more than just two people.
Irwin said the resolution didn't say anything about using the stamp.
Rumfelt said the stamp wasn't meant to be used by anyone other than the person whose name was on it.
“Apparently that got changed a little bit through time,” said Silveira.
Councilman Roy Parmentier agreed with Rumfelt that the city should go ahead and use the stamp. Bertsch suggested leaving the stamp issue alone and just adding the extra names.
“I think there's enough checks and balances, just not enough people,” said Rumfelt.
Council member Suzanne Lyons said she's not signed the checks before but she felt that seven people approved for check signing duties was too many. Rumfelt said the staffers are responsible people.
City Clerk Janel Chapman told Lyons that if any staff are out it can present issues. “If we had another staff member we're not having to bother the mayor or the mayor pro tem to come down and sign this stack of checks.”
Rumfelt moved to approve adding the two new signatories, which passed 4-1, with Parmentier voting no.
In other news, the council unanimously reappointed Steve Jones to the Traffic Safety Advisory Committee and appointed Vicki Cole to fill the second vacancy on the committee.
Cole does not live in the Lakeport city limits, but Silveira said city rules allow for one person who doesn't reside within the city limits but in Lakeport's larger sphere of influence.
Also up for consideration was filling two imminent vacancies on the Lakeport Planning Commission.
The terms of commissioners Ross Kauper and Harold Taylor are expiring this week, and both men had applied for reappointment. John Thompson and Judith Lanfranco also had applied, with Thompson later withdrawing from consideration.
Lanfranco and Kauper were both out of town and unable to attend the meeting, but Taylor was present and briefly spoke to the council.
Noting that he's just finished his second four-year term, Taylor said, “I think I've done a great job,” adding that he's worked well with staff and the redevelopment agency.
Irwin thanked him for his service thus far.
Rumfelt nominated Taylor and Lanfranco, but his motion died for lack of a second.
Parmentier moved to reappoint Taylor and Kauper, which Lyons seconded. The motion was approved 4-1, with Rumfelt voting no.
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