MONROE - The city's new computer accounting system requires a slight change in how quickly bills can be presented to the Monroe City Council, and how quickly they will be paid.
The problem was with claims submitted after aldermen receive their packets of claims and resolutions on Fridays to review before the council meets the following Tuesday.
Some committees, like the Board of Public Works, have been reviewing and approving bills presented for payment at their meetings, sometimes only hours before the council meets, which is what happened Wednesday night. The council met one night later this week because of the New Year's holiday.
Council members need to review those new bills being presented that were not listed on the claims list in their packets.
But Casey Bradley, accountant for the city, said the new system can't do an "additional claims" list. Instead, the system includes all claims on one list, making it difficult for aldermen to distinguish the new bills.
However, with the council meeting only on the first and third Tuesdays of the month, some claims may now have to sit and wait for up to three weeks before aldermen see them and approve their payment.
The delay made some members of the Board of Public Works nervous about bills being paid in a timely manner.
"Is anybody being held up?" Board President Keith Ingwell asked. "About five years ago, we talked about this (changing bill payment procedures). We don't want this, not for this committee."
But member Mark Coplien told the committee that by state law, the city has 30 days to pay a bill before incurring interest charges.
"Sure, as a contractor, I don't want (my bills) to be held up," Coplien said. "I recommend we try it, and let's not hit or go beyond the 30 days."
Alderman Chuck Koch moved to set a Friday cutoff date before the council meets for bills to be submitted. That motion was amended to noon Friday, in order to give Bradley time to enter the bills and a claims list to be compiled for the aldermen's packets.
The following bills were approved by the Board, but will not be presented to the council until Jan. 15: Willet Hoffman and Associates - $22,643, Fehr-Graham - $1,666, SEH - $9,116.
In other action, the board approved the purchase of GPS surveying equipment budgeted for in 2007 and accepted a quote of $44,600 from Eastside Farm Equipment Sales, Inc. for the purchase of a bio-solids spreader replacement for the wastewater treatment plant.
The problem was with claims submitted after aldermen receive their packets of claims and resolutions on Fridays to review before the council meets the following Tuesday.
Some committees, like the Board of Public Works, have been reviewing and approving bills presented for payment at their meetings, sometimes only hours before the council meets, which is what happened Wednesday night. The council met one night later this week because of the New Year's holiday.
Council members need to review those new bills being presented that were not listed on the claims list in their packets.
But Casey Bradley, accountant for the city, said the new system can't do an "additional claims" list. Instead, the system includes all claims on one list, making it difficult for aldermen to distinguish the new bills.
However, with the council meeting only on the first and third Tuesdays of the month, some claims may now have to sit and wait for up to three weeks before aldermen see them and approve their payment.
The delay made some members of the Board of Public Works nervous about bills being paid in a timely manner.
"Is anybody being held up?" Board President Keith Ingwell asked. "About five years ago, we talked about this (changing bill payment procedures). We don't want this, not for this committee."
But member Mark Coplien told the committee that by state law, the city has 30 days to pay a bill before incurring interest charges.
"Sure, as a contractor, I don't want (my bills) to be held up," Coplien said. "I recommend we try it, and let's not hit or go beyond the 30 days."
Alderman Chuck Koch moved to set a Friday cutoff date before the council meets for bills to be submitted. That motion was amended to noon Friday, in order to give Bradley time to enter the bills and a claims list to be compiled for the aldermen's packets.
The following bills were approved by the Board, but will not be presented to the council until Jan. 15: Willet Hoffman and Associates - $22,643, Fehr-Graham - $1,666, SEH - $9,116.
In other action, the board approved the purchase of GPS surveying equipment budgeted for in 2007 and accepted a quote of $44,600 from Eastside Farm Equipment Sales, Inc. for the purchase of a bio-solids spreader replacement for the wastewater treatment plant.