Fredonia’s Board of Trustees will consider an emergency spending resolution at tonight’s meeting.

The resolution states the village “has had significant deficiencies within the budget” and “needs to adjust the processes in which monies are being expended.”

The measure goes on to require that all purchases face “a purchase requisition approval before the purchase is made, regardless of dollar amount.” It’s noted that the village financial handbook currently requires all purchases over $500 to face the approval.

Treasurer Erlyssa LeBeau is normally the person who approves the purchases.

The resolution also states, “There are to be no new contracts put in place, without prior board approval. No invoices which have not received prior approval will have payments processed by the village. Any contracts already in place have been accounted for and do not require monthly approvals.”

There was brief discussion about the resolution at Wednesday’s Board of Trustees workshop.

Trustee Nicole Siracuse wondered about keeping, but lowering, the monetary limit. “If (Department of Public Works head) Scott (Marsh) wants to buy a $5 pair of gloves… do we really need to harass him? Do you want to set a $50 limit or do you want every single cent?” she asked.

LeBeau responded, “I think, as much as it’s a pain, it would probably be better to do every cent at this point.” Siracuse OK’d that, stating she had wanted to save LeBeau a little work.

Fire Chief Josh Myers asked about the turnaround time for purchase approvals when LeBeau is on vacation. “I usually get back within half an hour, regardless of where I am,” she responded. “That’s why I sent you all an email when I went on vacation too, in case sometimes my emails don’t come through, so I (suggested) texting.”

Myers said, “It doesn’t happen all the time, but sometimes we have a serious call, we gotta restock medicine now, we gotta do it now. I’m just making sure I’m not expecting something of you that’s not realistic.”

LeBeau assured him she would be available.