“9. The Mayor, upon ratification of this Declaration by a 3/4th vote of the Town Council, is authorized to enter into agreements and contracts, and make purchases and expenditures without adhering to state and local procurement requirements, including those in Mont. Code Ann. Titles 7 and 18 and to the Town’s purchasing policies. This authorization is limited only to agreements, contracts, purchases, and expenditures reasonably necessary to implement the Declaration and to no other agreements, contracts, purchases, or expenditures. See Mont. Code Ann. 7-5-4303.” Emphasis added.
tfa notes that TOWN COUNCIL RESOLUTION 499 is purported to have been signed by Mayor Miller on April 6, 2020. It however did not come into effect until after a unanimous Town Council vote on May 1, 2020. tfa finds no language whatsoever within said Resolution that indicates it was retroactive. tfa therefore suggests that Councilman Nottingham’s comment (per said 5.1.2020 meeting) where he basically says that Mayor Miller ‘has the power’, so to speak, is incorrect. As stated above, any power granted to Mayor Miller was “limited only to…implement the Declaration and to no other agreements, contracts, purchases, or expenditures.” Said Resolution certainly does not extend sole management of the entire affairs of the town for an extended period of over 57 days.
Expandable Google docs link: https://drive.google.com/open?id=16pbuTrxISUaUHRNjKOxJOquVNera_rXM