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LABOR AND POLICY Investment Policy— 11-19-18
RESOLUTION ADOPTING TOWN OF QUEENSBURY
INVESTMENT POLICY
RESOLUTION NO.: , 2018
INTRODUCED BY:
WHO MOVED ITS ADOPTION
SECONDED BY:
WHEREAS, in furtherance of recommendations from the Office of the State Comptroller,
the Queensbury Town Board wishes to adopt a Town Investment Policy applying to all moneys
and financial resources available for deposit and investment by the Town on its own behalf or on
behalf of any other entity or individual, with the primary objectives of the Town's investment
activities to conform with all applicable Federal, State and other legal requirements, adequately
safeguard principal (safety), provide sufficient liquidity to meet all operating requirements
(liquidity) and obtain a reasonable rate of return (yield), and
WHEREAS, a proposed Investment Policy has been presented at this meeting,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Queensbury Town Board hereby adopts the Town of Queensbury
Investment Policy substantially in the form presented at this meeting, and
BE IT FURTHER,
RESOLVED, that the Town Board further authorizes and directs the Town Supervisor,
Town Counsel and/or Town Budget Officer to take any actions necessary to effectuate the terms
of this Resolution.
Duly adopted this 19'' day of November, 2018, by the following vote:
AYES
NOES
ABSENT :
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MISCELLANEOUS\Investment Policy— t I-19-18
TOWN OF QUEENSBURY
INVESTMENT POLICY
I. SCOPE
This Investment Policy applies to all moneys and other financial resources available for
deposit and investment by the Town of Queensbury on its own behalf or on behalf of any other
entity or individual.
II. OBJECTIVES
The primary objectives of the Town of Queensbury's investment activities are, in priority
order:
• To conform with all applicable Federal, State and other legal requirements (legality);
• To adequately safeguard principal (safety);
• To provide sufficient liquidity to meet all operating requirements (liquidity) and
• To obtain a reasonable rate of return (yield).
III. DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY
The Queensbury Town Board's responsibility for administration of the investment program
is delegated to the Town Supervisor as Chief Fiscal Officer and the Town Budget Officer who shall
establish written procedures for the operation of the investment program consistent with these
investment policies. Such procedures shall include internal controls to provide a satisfactory level
of accountability based upon records incorporating the description and amounts of investments, the
fund(s) for which they are held, the place(s) where kept, and other relevant information, including
dates of sale or other dispositions and amounts realized. In addition,pthe internal control procedures
shall describe the responsibilities and levels of authority for key individuals involved in the
investment program.
IV. PRUDENCE
All participants in the investment process shall seek to act responsibly as custodians of the
public trust and shall avoid any transaction that might impair public confidence in the Town of
Queensbury to govern effectively.
Investments shall be made with prudence, diligence, skill, judgment and care, under
circumstances then prevailing, which knowledgeable and prudent persons acting in like capacity
would use, not for speculation, but for investment, considering the safety of the principal as well as
the probable income to be derived.
All participants involved in the investment process shall refrain from personal business
activity that could conflict with proper execution of the investment program or which could impair
their ability to make impartial investment decisions.
V. DIVERSIFICATION
It is the Policy of the Town of Queensbury to diversify its deposits and investments by
financial institution, by investment instrument, and by maturity scheduling.
The Town Board shall establish appropriate limits for the amount of investments which can
be made with each financial institution or dealer, and shall evaluate this listing at least annually.
VI. INTERNAL CONTROLS
It is the Policy of the Town of Queensbury for all moneys collected by any officer or
employee of the government to transfer those funds to the Town Supervisor within 31 days of
deposit, or within the time period specified in law, whichever is shorter.
The Town Supervisor, as Chief Fiscal Officer, and the Town Budget Officer are responsible
for establishing and maintaining internal control procedures to provide reasonable, but not absolute,
assurance that deposits and investments are safeguarded against loss from unauthorized use or
disposition, that transactions are executed in accordance with management's authorization, properly
recorded, and managed in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
VII. DESIGNATION OF DEPOSITARIES
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The banks and trust companies that are authorized for the deposit of moneys and the
maximum amount which may be kept on deposit at any time, are:
Depository Name Maximum Amount Officer
Glens Falls National Bank $30,000,000 Town Supervisor/Budget Officer
NYCLASS $10,000,000 Town Supervisor/Budget Officer
VIII. SECURING DEPOSITS AND INVESTMENTS
All deposits and investments at a bank or trust company, including all demand deposits,
certificates of deposit and special time deposits (hereinafter, collectively, "deposits") made by
officers of the Town of Queensbury that are in excess of the amount insured under the provisions of
the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, including pursuant to a Deposit Placement Program in
accordance with law, shall be secured by:
1. A pledge of"eligible securities" with an aggregate "market value" (as provided by
the GML §10) that is at least equal to the aggregate amount of deposits by the
officers. See Schedule A of this Policy for a listing of"eligible securities."
2. A pledge of a pro rata portion of a pool of eligible securities, having in the aggregate
a market value at least equal to the aggregate amount of deposits from all such
officers within the State at the bank or trust company.
3. An "eligible surety bond" payable to the government for an amount at least equal to
100 percent of the aggregate amount of deposits and the agreed-upon interest, if any,
executed by an insurance company authorized to do business in New York State,
whose claims-paying ability is rated in the highest rating category by at least two
nationally recognized statistical rating organizations. The Town Board shall approve
the terms and conditions of the surety bond.
4. An "eligible letter of credit," payable to the Town of Queensbury as security for the
payment of 140 percent of the aggregate amount of deposits and the agreed-upon
interest, if any. An "eligible letter of credit" shall be an irrevocable letter of credit
issued in favor of the Town of Queensbury, for a term not to exceed 90 days, by a
qualified bank (other than the bank where the secured money is deposited). A
qualified bank is either one whose commercial paper and other unsecured short-term
debt obligations (or, in the case of a bank which is the principal subsidiary of a
holding company, whose holding company's commercial paper and other unsecured
short-term debt obligations) are rated in one of the three highest rating categories by
at least one nationally recognized statistical rating organization, or one that is in
compliance with applicable federal minimum risk-based capital requirements.
5. An "irrevocable letter of credit" issued in favor of the Town of Queensbury by a
federal home loan bank whose commercial paper and other unsecured short-term
debt obligations are rated in the highest rating category by at least one nationally
recognized statistical rating organization, as security for the payment of 100 percent
of the aggregate amount of deposits and the agreed-upon interest, if any.
IX. COLLATERALIZATION AND SAFEKEEPING
Eligible securities used for collateralizing deposits made by officers of the Town of
Queensbury shall be held by (the depositary or a third party) bank or trust company subject to
security and custodial agreements.
The security agreement shall provide that eligible securities (or the pro rata portion of a pool
of eligible securities) are being pledged to secure such deposits together with agreed-upon interest,
if any, and any costs or expenses arising out of the collection of such deposits upon a default. It
shall also provide the conditions under which the securities (or pro rata portion of a pool of eligible
securities) held may be sold, presented for payment, substituted or released and the events of default
which will enable the local government to exercise its rights against the pledged securities.
In the event that the pledged securities are not registered or inscribed in the name of the
Town of Queensbury, such securities shall be delivered in a form suitable for transfer or with an
assignment in blank to the Town of Queensbury or the custodial bank or trust company. Whenever
eligible securities delivered to the custodial bank or trust company are transferred by entries on the
books of a federal reserve bank or other book-entry system operated by a federally regulated entity
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without physical delivery of the evidence of the obligations, then the records of the custodial bank
or trust company shall be required to show, at all times, the interest of the local government in the
securities (or the pro rata portion of a pool of eligible securities) as set forth in the security
agreement.
The custodial agreement shall provide that pledged securities (or the pro rata portion of a
pool of eligible securities) will be held by the custodial bank or trust company as agent of, and
custodian for, the Town of Queensbury, will be kept separate and apart from the general assets of
the custodial bank or trust company and will not be commingled with or become part of the backing
of any other deposit or other bank liability. The agreement shall also describe how the custodian
shall confirm the receipt, substitution or release of the collateral and it shall provide for the
frequency of revaluation of collateral by the custodial bank or trust company and for the substitution
of collateral when a change in the rating of a security causes ineligibility. The security and
custodial agreements shall also include all other provisions necessary to provide the Town of
Queensbury with a perfected security interest in the eligible securities and to otherwise secure the
local government's interest in the collateral, and may contain other provisions that the governing
board deems necessary.
X. PERMITTED INVESTMENTS
As provided by General Municipal Law §11, the Town Board authorizes the Town
Supervisor, as Chief Fiscal Officer, and the Town Budget Officer to invest moneys not required for
immediate expenditure for terms not to exceed its projected cash flow needs in the following types
of investments:
• Special time deposit accounts in, or certificates of deposit issued by, a bank or trust
company located and authorized to do business in the State of New York;
• Through a Deposit Placement Program, certificates of deposit in one or more
"banking institutions", as defined in Banking Law §9-r;
• Obligations of the United States of America;
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• Obligations guaranteed by agencies of the United States of America, where the
payment of principal and interest are guaranteed by the United States of America;
• Obligations of the State of New York;
• With the approval of the State Comptroller, obligations issued pursuant to Local
Finance Law §24.00 or §25.00 (i.e., Tax Anticipation Notes and Revenue
Anticipation Notes) by any municipality, school district or district corporation in the
State of New York other than the Town of Queensbury; and
• Obligations of the Town of Queensbury, but only with moneys in a reserve fund
established pursuant to General Municipal Law §6-c, 6-d, 6-e, 6-f, 6-g, 6-h, 6 j, 6-k,
6-1, 6-m, or 6-n.
All investment obligations shall be payable or redeemable at the option of the Town of
Queensbury within such times as the proceeds will be needed to meet expenditures for purposes for
which the moneys were provided and, in the case of obligations purchased with the proceeds of
bonds or notes, shall be payable or redeemable in any event at the option of the Town of
Queensbury within two years of the date of purchase. Time deposit accounts and certificates of
deposit shall be payable within such times as the proceeds will be needed to meet expenditures for
which the moneys were obtained, and shall be secured as provided in Sections VIII and IX herein.
Except as may otherwise be provided in a contract with bondholders or noteholders, any
moneys of the Town of Queensbury authorized to be invested may be commingled for investment
purposes, provided that any investment of commingled moneys shall be payable or redeemable at
the option of the Town of Queensbury within such time as the proceeds shall be needed to meet
expenditures for which such moneys were obtained, or as otherwise specifically provided in
General Municipal Law §11. The separate identity of the sources of these funds shall be maintained
at all times and income received shall be credited on a pro rata basis to the fund or account from
which the moneys were invested.
Any obligation that provides for the adjustment of its interest rate on set dates is deemed to
be payable or redeemable on the date on which the principal amount can be recovered through
demand by the holder.
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XI. AUTHORIZED FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND DEALERS
All financial institutions and dealers with which the Town of Queensbury transacts business
shall be creditworthy, and have an appropriate level of experience, capitalization, size and other
factors that make the financial institution or the dealer capable and qualified to transact business
with the Town of Queensbury. The Town Supervisor, as Chief Fiscal Officer, and the Town Budget
Officer shall evaluate the financial position and maintain a listing of proposed depositaries, trading
partners, and custodians. Recent Reports of Condition and Income (call reports) shall be obtained
for proposed banks, and security dealers that are not affiliated with a bank shall be required to be
classified as reporting dealers affiliated with the New York Federal Reserve Bank, as primary
dealers.
The Town of Queensbury shall maintain a list of financial institutions and dealers approved
for investment purposes and establish appropriate limits to the amounts of investments that can be
made with each financial institution or dealer.
XII. PURCHASE OF INVESTMENTS
The Town Supervisor, as Chief Fiscal Officer, and the Town Budget Officer are authorized
to contract for the purchase of investments:
1. Directly, from an authorized trading partner.
2. By participation in a cooperative investment agreement with other authorized
municipal corporations pursuant to Article 5-G of the General Municipal Law and in
accordance with Article 3-A of the General Municipal Law.
All purchased obligations, unless registered or inscribed in the name of the local
govermnent, shall be purchased through, delivered to and held in the custody of a bank or trust
company. Such obligations shall be purchased, sold or presented for redemption or payment by
such bank or trust company only in accordance with prior written authorization from the officer
authorized to make the investment. All such transactions shall be confirmed in writing to the Town
of Queensbury by the bank or trust company.
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Any obligation held in the custody of a bank or trust company shall be held pursuant to a
written custodial agreement as described in General Municipal Law §10(3)(a). The agreement shall
provide that securities held by the bank or trust company, as agent of, and custodian for, the Town
of Queensbury, will be kept separate and apart from the general assets of the custodial bank or trust
company and will not be commingled with or become part of the backing of any other deposit or
other bank liability. The agreement shall also describe how the custodian shall confirm the receipt
and release of the securities. Such agreement shall include all provisions necessary to secure the
local government's perfected interest in the securities, and the agreement may also contain other
provisions that the governing board deems necessary. The security and custodial agreements shall
also include all other provisions necessary to provide the Town of Queensbury with a perfected
interest in the securities.
The Town Supervisor, as Chief Fiscal Officer, and the Town Budget Officer, where
authorized, can direct the bank or trust company to register and hold the evidences of investments in
the name of its nominee, or may deposit or authorize the bank or trust company to deposit, or
arrange for the deposit of any such evidences of investments with a federal reserve bank or other
book-entry transfer system operated by a federally regulated entity. The records of the bank or trust
company shall show, at all times, the ownership of such evidences of investments, and they shall be,
when held in the possession of the bank or trust company, at all times, kept separate from the assets
of the bank or trust company. All evidences of investments delivered to a bank or trust company
shall be held by the bank or trust company pursuant to a written custodial agreement as set forth in
General Municipal Law §10(3)(a), and as described earlier in this section. When any such
evidences of investments are so registered in the name of a nominee, the bank or trust company
shall be absolutely liable for any loss occasioned by the acts of such nominee with respect to such
evidences of investments.
XIII. COURIER SERVICE
The Town Supervisor, as Chief Fiscal Officer, and the Town Budget Officer may, subject to
the approval of the Town Board by Resolution, enter into a contract with a courier service for the
purpose of causing the deposit of public fiends with a bank or trust company. The courier service
shall be required to obtain a surety bond for the full amount entrusted to the courier, payable to the
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Town of Queensbury and executed by an insurance company authorized to do business in the State
of New York, with a claims-paying ability that is rated in the highest rating category by at least two
nationally recognized statistical rating organizations, to insure against any loss of public deposits
entrusted to the courier service for deposit or failure to deposit the full amount entrusted to the
courier service.
The Town of Queensbury may agree with the depositary bank or trust company that the
bank or trust company will reimburse all or part of, but not more than, the actual cost incurred by
the Town of Queensbury in transporting items for deposit through a courier service. Any such
reimbursement agreement shall apply only to a specified deposit transaction, and may be subject to
such terms, conditions and limitations as the bank or trust company deems necessary to ensure
sound banking practices, including, but not limited to, any terms, conditions or limitations that may
be required by the Department of Financial Services or other federal or State authority.
XIV. ANNUAL REVIEW AND AMENDMENTS
The Town of Queensbury shall review this Investment Policy annually and it shall have the
power to amend this Policy at any time.
XV. DEFINITIONS
The tenns "public funds," "public deposits," "bank," "trust company," "eligible securities,"
"eligible surety bond," and "eligible letter of credit" shall have the same meanings as set forth in
General Municipal Law §10.
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Schedule A
Schedule of Eligible Securities for Collateralizing Deposits and Investments in Excess of
FDIC Coverage-(See Investment Policy,Section VIII)
"Eligible Securities" for Collateral For purposes of determining aggregate"market value,"eligible
securities shall be valued at these percentages of"market value":
(i)Obligations issued,or fully insured or guaranteed as to the payment 100%
of principal and interest,by the United States of America,an agency
thereof or a United States government-sponsored corporation.
(ii)Obligations issued or fully guaranteed by the International Bank 100%
for Reconstruction and Development,the Inter-American
Development Bank,the Asian Development Bank and the African
Development Bank.
(iii)Obligations partially insured or guaranteed by any agency of the 100%
United States of America,at a proportion of the market value of the
obligation that represents the amount of the insurance or guaranty.
(iv)Obligations issued or fully insured or guaranteed by the State of 100%
New York,obligations issued by a municipal corporation,school
district or district corporation of this State or obligations of any public
benefit corporation which under a specific State statute may be
accepted as security for deposit of public moneys.
(v)Obligations issued by states(other than the State of New York)of 100%if rated in the highest category;90%for 2nd highest:80%for
the United States rated in one of the three highest rating categories by 3rd highest.
at least one nationally recognized statistical rating organization.
(vi)Obligations of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico rated in one of 100%if rated in the highest category;90%for 2nd highest;80%for
the three highest rating categories by at least one nationally 3rd highest.
recognized statistical rating organization.
(vii)Obligations of counties,cities and other governmental entities of 100%if rated in the highest category;90%for 2nd highest;80%for
another state having the power to levy taxes that are backed by the full 3rd highest.
faith and credit of such governmental entity and rated in one of the
three highest rating categories by at least one nationally recognized
statistical rating organization.
(viii)Obligations of domestic corporations rated in one of the two 80%
highest rating categories by at least one nationally recognized
statistical rating organization.
(ix)Any mortgage-related securities,as defined in the Securities 70%
Exchange Act of 1934,as amended,which may be purchased by
banks under the limitations established by federal bank regulatory
agencies.
(x)Commercial paper and bankers'acceptances issued by a bank 80%
(other than the bank with which the money is being deposited or
invested)rated in the highest short-term category by at least one
nationally recognized statistical rating organization and having
maturities of not longer than 60 days from the date they are pledged.
(xi)Zero-coupon obligations of the United States government 80%
marketed as"Treasury STRIPS."
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