Council Makes Changes in Authorization of Checks

The treasurer of South Gate is no longer required to authorize city checks under a resolution approved by a 3-2 vote of the City Council during a special meeting Tuesday.

Before the vote, city checks had to be signed by a representative of the mayor or vice mayor, the finance director and the treasurer. From now on, however, the city manager’s signature can be substituted for that of either the finance director or the treasurer.

City Manager Andrew Pasmant said the measure was needed to avoid potential legal problems that arose recently when City Treasurer Albert Robles refused to authorize a city loan to a developer that had been approved by the council earlier this year.

Robles, a former city councilman elected to the treasurer’s position in March, criticized the change as a dangerous shift in the city’s checks and balances system.