Working from the virtual 5/19/2020 agenda, Council was asked to approve Resolution 83-2020 that called for ratification of 182 separate payments totaling $12.4M that the resolution said could be seen at 2 “see attachments” – but the attachments were missing!
The image to the left is of the Resolution in its entirety as it appeared in the 5/19 agenda on the website and was distributed to Council members. But, again, the attachments were nowhere to be found in the agenda.
Technological Glitch, he said: When pressed, the Teaneck CFO, Issa Abbasi said it was a technological mistake and that the missing lists would be available the next day on the Town website – and they were. (However, the lists were simply added to the website’s prior agenda without any notice that the agenda had been amended.) So where can you look at that list?
TTT has excerpted that amended Resolution 83-2020 from the Town website agendas and it is found in its entirety here. You will need to control/click it twice to see it in a readable font.
REVISED 2020-05-019-Res3 Ratify
It should be noted that the information provided by those lists is dramatically “abbreviated” from what is available on a normal “bill list” which Council normally approves monthly prior to cutting Township checks. Indeed, we believe that the information “missing” from those lists is defined by the Town code – and that the information provided for both the “pre-payment” (bill list) and the “after-the -fact” (Rartify Payments) resolutions, should, according to Teaneck’s code, be more extensive than is the Town’s current practice. This issue is addressed below – after the video
TTT has created a video that excerpts the entire Council meeting discussion of this issue. It can be found below.
The pursuit of the missing lists of ratified payment has led us to focus on two important elements of Teaneck’s procedures in its management of financial matters: 1) why would Teaneck’s Council have proceeded to 
approve $12M+ of Township funds without knowing where they were all going. Although Councilman Pruitt originally insisted on obtaining the list, he went with the other Council members in approving a resolution only vaguely and incompletely described by CFO Abbasi. No Council exercising its fiscal responsibilities – and surely not one that claims, as does the current Council, to e rigorously careful and conservative in the use of tax payer money – should ever have proceeded until it had that information. But that “what information” question opens the door to a second issue: 2) Just what information is Council supposed to be given when making decisions about Township disbursements. It turns out that we have a code that governs that question – and it is short enough to be read in full.
What does the Teaneck Code Say about Payments their approval and after-the fact ratification?
Township of Teaneck, NJ / The Code / Finance and Taxation Article IIVouchers
Sec. 15-3Generally. [Ord. No. 1627, § 1]
(a) Any person or firm claiming payment from the Township shall submit to the Township department having knowledge thereof a voucher setting forth in detail the basis for the claim and giving full particulars as to the goods supplied and/or services rendered. Such voucher shall include a certification by the claimant that the same is correct in all particulars.
(b) To be considered for payment, the voucher shall include a certification by the department head, or his duly designated representative, or other Township official having knowledge of the facts, that the goods have been received by or the services rendered to the Township.
(c) It shall be the duty of the chief financial officer, or his duly designated representative, to audit, warrant and make recommendations on all claims, bills and demands, to ascertain that proper administrative procedures have been followed and that the services and/or goods are consistent with an existing contract or purchase order.
(d) After having been certified and audited, the voucher for such bill, claim or demand shall be presented to the Township Manager, or his duly designated representative, who, if satisfied that the claim is proper, shall approve same and direct the Township Clerk to include it on the agenda of the next immediate formal public meeting of the governing body. The claims shall be listed systematically, without preference, and the list made available to all members of the governing body and the public at least one full day prior to formal action by that body.
(e) The governing body shall approve payment of the claims or shall state its reason for rejecting same. Any disapproved claim shall be sent to the Township Manager, with the reason for refusal and instructions.
((e) & (f) not relevant to Council action
Sec. 15-4 Statutory payments, investments and periodic recurring payments. [Ord. No. 1627, § 2] Vouchers for statutory payments, investments and other periodic recurring payments required to be made by the Township between Council meetings may be certified by the chief financial officer and sent to the Township Treasurer for disbursement. All such payments shall require ratification by the governing body in the month following payment.
Sec. 15-5 Emergencies. [Ord. No. 1627, § 3] Where required by an emergency affecting public health, safety or welfare, a voucher may be certified by the chief financial officer with the approval of the Township Manager and sent to the Township Treasurer for disbursement. All such payments shall require ratification by the governing body in the month following payment.
