The Clark County council took a step toward home-rule charter implementation Tuesday with an ordinance establishing the county manager’s procurement authority.
The ordinance grants the county manager the authority to sign contracts without seeking full board approval in certain cases. For example, any contracts for the procurement of professional services less than $200,000 can be signed outright by the county manager, but anything above that must go to the board for approval.
“One of the bases of the charter is that the county manager has certain authorities outright without necessarily review by the council,” Councilor Jeanne Stewart said.
The ordinance also added a new chapter to Clark County Code establishing policies implementing the county charter, which voters approved last November.
This marks the first time the council has adopted an ordinance related to the charter.
The charter grants the county manager the power to “sign or cause to be signed county contracts.” Acting County Manager Mark McCauley has previously called that language unclear.
The county council, however, will still have the opportunity to weigh in on any contracts the county manager signs. The manager has to provide a copy of any staff reports or contracts to the county councilors for review and cannot sign off on those contracts for one week. During that time, the council can ask for further discussion on any of those contracts.
Charter advocate Chuck Green, who is also a Democratic contender for the county council District 2 race, was the only person who commented on the ordinance. Green has previously criticized the council for being slow to implement the charter.
Green said he was in favor of the ordinance, but suggested that the council consider future ordinances extending the county manager’s ability to sign contracts.
“The ‘sign or cause to be signed’ language is not just in purchasing,” Green said. “It’s also in deeds, documents and other materials that the county enters into either by agreement or acquisitions.”
The ordinance passed unanimously.
