SAFFORD — How and when the City Clerk can use a stamp instead of getting a signature from the mayor or a City Council member was the topic of a recent Safford City Council work session.
City Clerk Beatrice Driver explained the city doesn’t have a policy in writing, and during the final days of the late Mayor Jason Kouts, when he was unavailable due to medical treatments, the city found itself without an a clear direction.
A signature of the mayor or council member is required for resolutions, ordinances, contracts and correspondence; and a stamp of the signature of the mayor or council member could be used when that person is not available.
“The only other time we might use it (a signature stamp) is if one of the council members can’t make it in to sign a birthday card and they still to be able to have their signature on the birthday cards for the employees,” Driver said. “We’ll use it then, but other than that, there’s really not any major use for it.”
Under the proposed policy, the City Clerk would have the sole authority to use and maintain signature stamps, and could only be used with temporary authorization from the council member who was unable to provide an actual signature. It could not be used for any personal transaction or correspondence.
An actual signature — not a stamp or electronic facsimile — is required for the recording of deeds and rezonings.
“Sometimes, common sense plays into a lot of these little things like that,” said Mayor Richard Ortega.
The City Council will be asked to take formal action on whether to adopt or reject the proposed policy at a future meeting.
