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Does the Board Have to Approve This?

August 18, 2011

A frequently asked question if there ever was one. It would be nice if the statutes that govern local government activities were consistent and clear about what specific decisions or activities require governing board approval. No such luck. But there … Continued

2011 Purchasing and Contracting Legislative Wrap-Up

July 1, 2011

The North Carolina General Assembly adjourned on June 18, 2011  and will reconvene next month on July 13th.  When it reconvenes in July, the legislature will only consider a narrow list of bills, namely redistricting, election laws, legislative appointments to boards and commissions, … Continued

Rejecting Bids – Who Can and When Can They?

April 13, 2011

Pauline Purchaser has advertised a contract and is pleased by the number of bids she’s received.  When she opens the bids, much to her dismay, she discovers that all are way over budget.  As Pauline regroups to figure out what … Continued

Binding Future Boards

November 25, 2009

In my last blog I said I would address the question of whether, after members-elect take office, the new board can undo things the “lame duck” board has done. This discussion includes the concept of “binding future boards,” although in … Continued

Signing Minutes and Ordinances

October 30, 2009

We occasionally get phone calls from local government officials who are concerned that the mayor – or in the case of a county, the chair of the board of commissioners – has not signed an ordinance or has not signed … Continued

“Approved as to Form”

October 21, 2009

I sometimes get questions about the ubiquitous “approved as to form,” which appears on official documents, signed by the local government attorney. Is this just typical boilerplate, or is it a legal requirement for a contract, ordinance, or other official … Continued

Before You Start Recycling Your Bid Files, Read This!

October 6, 2009

Your local government has just awarded a contract.  Now what are you supposed to do with all of the bids, bid tabulations, paperwork, and email generated by the bidding process?  Can you throw any of it away?  Do you have … Continued