Work Done without Intervention of Public Contract.
Milwaukee City Charter § 7-23
in effect7-23. Work Done without Intervention of Public Contract.
1. COMMON COUNCIL APPROVAL. Whenever the commissioner of public works deems it for the interest of the city, or whenever in the prosecution of any public work, the commissioner is of the opinion that the proposed work can be better and more cheaply done without the intervention of a formal contract, the commissioner shall report the same to the common council with the reason therefor, and the common council may, by resolution, authorize the commissioner to procure the necessary materials therefor and to employ workers to do such work. Such authority shall not be given unless approved by the votes of at least 3/4 of the members of the common council at the time of the vote. Such authority shall not be exercised unless the comptroller shall, as provided in s. 19, subch. 5, ch. 184, laws of Wisconsin for 1874, as amended by s 16, ch. 324, laws of Wisconsin for 1882 and s. 1, ch. 23, laws of Wisconsin for 1887, advise the commissioner that there are sufficient funds available for such proposed work or purchases.
2. FUNDS TO BE APPROPRIATED. Whenever the commissioner of public works is authorized by the vote of at least 3/4 of the members of the common council at the time of the vote, the commissioner may let a contract or contracts or enter into an agreement for the doing of any work for which such necessary materials have been purchased, without the intervention of a formal contract. In case such resolutions shall thereafter be duly passed by the vote aforesaid by the common council and take effect, the money so appropriated may, upon itemized statements duly audited by the commissioner of public works and city comptroller be drawn out of the city treasury upon the order of the mayor and clerk, countersigned by the city comptroller.
3. REPORT TO COMPTROLLER. It shall be the duty of the said commissioner of public works, before causing such work to be done, to deliver to the comptroller a statement in writing of the work authorized and proposed to be done as provided in s. 18, subch. 5, ch. 184, laws of Wisconsin for 1874, as amended by s. 16, ch. 324, laws of Wisconsin for 1882, showing the nature and estimated costs thereof, and the fund to which the same is chargeable; and it shall be the duty of the comptroller to enter such statement in the record mentioned in s. 15, subch. 5, ch. 184, laws of Wisconsin for 1874; and in case the comptroller shall be satisfied that the cost of such proposed work will exceed the amount available for the purpose of the fund out of which the same is to be paid, it shall be his duty to so advise the commissioner of public works, and the resolution of the common council, passed as provided in s. 18, subch. 5, ch. 184, laws of Wisconsin for 1874, as amended, shall be inoperative.
(HISTORY: Section 7-23 am. Ch. Ord. 310, File #64-4089, Apr. 6, 1965. 7-23-1 and 2 am. Ch. Ord. 564, File #86-802, Feb. 3, 1987; eff. Apr. 20, 1987.)
Source: City of Milwaukee Legislative Reference Bureau, Milwaukee City Charter and Code of Ordinances (city.milwaukee.gov master PDFs)URL: https://city.milwaukee.gov/ImageLibrary/Groups/ccClerk/Ordinances/CH7.pdf#page=8Fetched: 10/26/2026