Lower Towamensing Township supervisors continued discussion about expenditure approval Tuesday night.

The situation resumes from the August meeting when Supervisor Ron Walbert brought up concerns about overspending in the township.Chairman Brent Green was absent due to illness, and Supervisor Jesse Mendez didn't feel comfortable discussing it without him present.Green was present Tuesday and solicitor James Nanovic read a proposed resolution to provide steps for the supervisors to follow when dealing with expenditures less than $10,300.According to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, the authority and municipal bidding thresholds for 2017 are:• No formal bidding or written or telephone quotations are required for purchases and contracts below $10,700.• If the cost is between $10,700 and $19,700 for the purchases or contracts, three written or telephone quotations are required.• Formal bidding is required for purchases and contracts more than $19,700.The amounts were adjusted 1.5 percent for inflation in accordance with Act 90 of 2011 that provides for an annual inflation adjustment based on the Consumer Price Index.For Lower Towamensing Township the problem was that the municipality's code does not provide any guidance for the approval of purchases below the $10,700 mark.Nanovic said supervisors can poll the board for input.Nanovic said the purchasing resolution establishes the township secretary as the contact person for the purchase.The decision to make a purchase must be discussed at a public meeting, unless the item needs to be purchased in an emergency."It sets forth a policy for handling (expenses) under the bid limits," he said.The resolution says the secretary may want to consult with the roads maintenance director about purchases needed for his department.Following some discussion, the idea of allowing the roads director to make the purchase for his department was discussed."I think that's a good idea," Walbert said.Green, on the other hand, didn't see how the resolution would help the township's overall purchasing issues."It's really up to us to enforce it," he said.Green thought they should discuss what should be in the resolution, then have it drafted and vote on it."This is a blueprint for now," Walbert replied. "We're not tying your hands in any way.""I think we should table it for now," he said. "And eliminate the petty cash card account."The petty cash account became a bone of contention when the limit was temporarily raised in order to allow for the township to purchase $8,000 in office equipment. The account typically has about $1,000 in it.Discussion continued and members of the audience asked questions about how much money is in the petty cash account, the supervisors' opinions about bringing expenditures to a public meeting and one man was heard saying, "It's taxpayer money and we want to know where it's going to go."Walbert made a motion to pass the proposed purchasing resolution, but neither Green not Mendez seconded it.The motion died, but the resolution can be brought up again at the next meeting.Green then made a motion to close the petty cash account, which was seconded and passed by all three supervisors.