NILES — Niles officials and city workers now must follow very strict guidelines when throwing out anything of value owned by the city.

City council has approved the new policies for disposal of city-owned property and use of consumable inventory.

“This will make sure no one is disposing of property without the knowledge of the proper department head,” said Mayor Steve Mientkiewicz.

The disposal policy sets up distinct procedures for surplus items, items to be sold by internet auction, scrap material, records, disposal of real property, and disposal by donation, transfer and trade, among other categories.

“I did notice over the past year as we’re trying to clean and update our buildings, we’ve accumulated obsolete items,” said Mientkiewicz, comparing the city’s unneeded items to what people might find in their basement.

A second related policy also approved last week outlines city use of consumable inventory, or stock material and supplies such as salt, sand, mulch, gasoline and cleaning items. The policy said that use of consumable inventory must come with approval from the department supervisor and is not intended for personal use or on privately owned property. Adequate records of inventory must be kept and made available for audit, the policy states.

At the same meeting, council approved the sale by GovDeals.com of an obsolete police department 2012 Honda Civic.

In other business, council also:

l Appropriated $300,000 for the Difford Drive waterline replacement project;

l Approved $22,815.85 for repairs to the roof and inside of the SCOPE Senior Center, which was damaged in a storm;

l Approved request for proposals to insurance companies to provide the city’s liability, property and casualty service needs;

l Approved a six-month contract with the state auditor’s office for assistance with tax reconciliation at $50 per hour as needed. The city had a prior six-month contract for the same service, said Treasurer Stephen Telego;

l Accepted amounts and rates determined by the Trumbull County budget commission;

l Approved the appropriation of $20,000 for repairs to the Niles Greenway bike trail. The city is responsible for three miles of trail and has not spent money on maintenance since the trail’s creation, Mientkiewicz said during a previous meeting.

avugrincic@tribtoday.com