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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOD-054-08~~]]I~~ ~rjjrr j, VlU1JIJ~~ u~g~Wa~ REPORT CORPORATE SERVICES DEPARTMENT Meeting: GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE Date: October 6~h, 2008 Resolution #: f ~~~~'bg Report #: COD-054-08 File #: By-law #: Subject: PRICE HEDGING AGREEMENTS (COMMODITIES) STATEMENT OF POLICIES AND GOALS Recommendations: It is respectfully recommended to the General Purpose and Administration Committee recommended to Council the following: 1. THAT Report COq-054-08 be received; and 2. THAT Commodity Price Hedging Agreements, Statement of Policies and Goals for the Municipality of Clarington, as detailed in Schedule B, and required under the Municipal Act prior to entering into any hedging agreements be approved. Submitted by: Reviewed by: ~-"-' arie Marano, H.B.Sc., C.M.O. Franklin Wu, Dire r of Corpor t€ Se ices Chief Administrative Officer ancy T to , B. .A., Director of Finance/Treasurer MMWDBUcm CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON 40 TEMPERANCE STREET, BOWMANVILLE, ONTARIO L1C 3A6 T (905)623-3379 F (905)623-4169 REPORT NO.: COD-054-08 PAGE2 1.0 BACKGROUND 1.1 In the coming months the municipality will be undertaking a review of its energy requirements and consumption with a view to reducing consumption through the use of energy efficient equipment and conservation. In addition, we will be reassessing our procurement strategy with a view to minimize cost and reducing risk of increased and fluctuating cost due to market volatility. Products included in the review will be electricity, natural gas and possibly fuel (gasoline, diesel and heating oil). 1.2 One of the options available to us to assist with achieving the above is the opportunity to enter into long term supply contracts (hedging agreements). However, in order to take this approach and remain compliant with the Municipal Act we are required to establish a hedging policy as follows: "Section 6.1 of Ontario Regulation 653/05 of the Municipal Act 2001 requires that before a municipality passes a by-law authorizing a commodity price hedging agreement, the Council of the Municipality shall adopt a statement of policies and goals relating to the use of financial agreements to address commodity pricing and costs.° A copy of Regulation 653/05 is attached as Schedule "A'. 1.3 The recommended Statement of Policies and Goals, attached as Schedule "B", will address the above. 2.0 2.1 Regulations 653/05 Section (2) sets out the following matters to be considered when preparing the statement of policies and goals: (1) The types of projects for which commodity price hedging agreements are appropriate. (2) The fixed costs and estimated costs to the municipality resulting from the use of such agreements. (3) Whether the future price or cost to the municipality of the applicable commodities will be lower or more stable than they would be without the agreements. REPORT NO.: COD-054-08 PAGE3 (4) A detailed estimate of the expected results of using such agreements. (5) The financial and other risks to the municipality that would exist with, and without, the use of such agreements. (6) Risk control measures relating to such agreements, such as, I. credit exposure limits based on credit ratings and on the degree of regulatory oversight and the regulatory capital of the other party to the agreement, II. standard agreements, and III. ongoing monitoring with respect to the agreements. 2.2 Under the recommended policy the Director of Finance/Treasurer, Director of Corporate Services and the Manager of Purchasing have a number of responsibilities as follows: (1) Treasurer The Treasurer is responsible for determining whether a particular commodity price hedging agreement is advantageous for the Municipality and shall consider or complete the following: a) a need to protect pricing of a commodity that is in a market subject to fluctuation; b) an analysis that confirms the benefits and cost savings to the Municipality; c) that the financial position of the Municipality will be enhanced by use of such an agreement; d) that the all-inclusive contracted price and cost to the Municipality of the associated commodity will be lower and/or more stable than it would be without the agreement; e) determine the financial and other risks to the Municipality that would exist with the use of such an agreement and if such a risk would be lower than the financial and other risks to the Municipality that would exist without such an agreement; and f) ensure ongoing monitoring in conjunction with the Corporate Services Department with respect to the commodity price hedging agreements. REPORT NO.: COD-054-0~ PAGE 4 (2) Director of Corporate Services The Director of Corporate Services will be authorized to: a) enter into contracts for the purpose of engaging a Contract Agent in accordance with the Municipality's Purchasing Policies; b) enter into commodity price hedging agreements, co-signed by the Directors of Finance and Corporate Services, as deemed appropriate; c) execute commodity procurement contracts, co-signed by the Directors of Finance and Corporate Services, execute and enter into commodity transactions in accordance with the policy; d) meet with the Treasurer, as required, and provide written reports regarding the past performance of commodity price hedging agreements, future strategies and other issues as requested; e) notify the Treasurer, in writing, of any significant changes in the commodity price hedging philosophies or policies and organization; f) provide an annual list of commodity price hedging agreements and such other information as may be requested by the Treasurer. (3) Manager of Purchasing The Manager of Purchasing, under the direction of the Director of Corporate Services will be authorized to: a) develop a prudent commodity procurement mix and specrfic procurement objectives and policies; b) act as Director of Corporate Services designate and as necessary execute commodity procurement contracts and enter into commodity transactions in accordance with the policy; REPORT NO.: COD-054-08 PAGES c) assist the Director of Corporate Services, meet with the Treasurer, as required, and provide written reports regarding the past performance of commodity price hedging agreements, future strategies and other issues as requested; d) advise or make recommendations to the Director of Corporate Services and Treasurer with respect to any significant changes in the commodity price hedging philosophies or policies and organization; e) maintain a list of commodity price hedging agreements and such other information as may be required for submission to the Treasurer. 2.3 As noted in Section 1 above, it is anticipated that the municipality will be entering into new agreements in the not to distant future for the purchase of natural gas and electricity. In each case the goal will be to ensure continuous supply and product at a competitive price and avoid the cost fluctuations brought about by a volatile market. With the increasing cost of oil it may be necessary to enter into long term supply agreements for vehicle and heating fuel in order to ensure supplies and stabilize prices. In anticipation of this possibility, petroleum products have been included in the proposed policy. 3.0 CONCLUSION 3.1 The Regulation and by extension the proposed policy requires a high standard for monitoring, analysis, risk assessment and reporting for the municipality. 3.2 With the introduction of a new Hedging Policy coupled with evolving procurement strategies the Municipality will be in a position to move forward and deal with energy acquisitions as required. Attachments: Attachment 2 -Schedule "A", Regulation 653/05 Attachment 1 -Schedule "B", Statement of Policies and Goals SCHEDULE "A" Municipal Act, 2001 Loi de 2001 sur les municipalites ONTARIO REGULATION 653/05 DEBT-RELATED FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND FINANCIAL AGREEMENTS Consolidation Period: From January I, 2007 to the e-Laws currency date. Last amendment: O.Reg. 604/06. This Regulation is made in English only. Skip Table of Contents CONTENTS I. Interpretation INTERPRETATION BOND FORWARD AGREEMENTS 2. Bond forward agreements 3. Statement of policies and goals re bond forward agreements 4. Report nn bond forward agreements COMMODITY PRICE HEDGING AGREE.bI ENTS 5. Commodiy price hedging agreements 6. Statement of policies and goals re commodity price hedging agreements Z.. Report on commodity price hedging agreements LEASE FINANCING AGREEMENTS 8. Lease financing agreements, capital undertakings 9. Statement of policies and goals re lease financing agreements 10. Advice to council re lease financing agreements II. Report on lease financing agreements INTERPRETATION Interpretation 1. (I) In this Regulation, "bond forward agreement" means a financial agreement described in section 2; "commodity" means, whether in the original or a processed state, an agricultural product, a forest product, a product of the sea, a mineral, a metal, a hydrocarbon fuel, electricity, a precious stone or other gem and other physical goods but does no[ include chattel paper, a document of title, an instrument, money or securities; "commodity price hedging agreement" means a financial agreement described in section 5; "lease financing agreement" means a financial agreement described in section 8. O. Reg. 653/05, s. 1 (1). (2) For the purposes of this Regulation, a lease financing agreement has a material impact on a municipality if the costs or risks associated with the agreement significantly affect the municipality's deb[ and financial limit determined in accordance with Ontario Regulation 403/02 (Deb[ and Financial Obligation Limits) made under the Act, or would reasonably be expected to have a significant effect on that limit. O. Reg. 653/05, s. I (2); O. Reg. 604/06, s. 1. BOND FORWARD AGREEMENTS Bond forward agreements 2. (]) A municipality that has passed a by-law authorizing the issue or refinancing of debentures denominated in Canadian currency may enter a bond forward agreement in order to minimize the cost or risk associated with the debentures because of fluctuations in interest rates. O. Reg. 653/05, s. 2 (1). (2) A bond forward agreement shall provide for the following matters: 1. Borrowing and selling one or more debt instruments issued by the Govemment of Canada or the Province of Ontario ("government debt instruments"). SCHEDULE "A" 2. Buying back the government debt instruments. 3. Specifying a settlement day, which is a specified future date or the date on which a specified future event occurs. 4. Requiring a settlement payment to be payable on [he settlement day if there is a difference between [he price at which the government debt instruments are sold as described in paragraph I and the price at which [hey are bought back as described in paragraph 2. 5. Specifying that delivery of a document evidencing the government debt instrument is not required under the agreement. O. Reg. 653/05, s. 2 (2). (3) A municipality shall not enter a bond forward agreement if the total value of the principal of the government debt instruments borrowed and sold as described in pazagraph 1 of subsection (2) exceeds the total value of the principal of the debentures whose cost or risk the agreement is intended to minimize. O. Reg. 653/05, s. 2 (3). (4) A municipality that enters a bond forward agreement shall monitor the value of the government debt instruments described in pazagraph 1 of subsection (2) on each business day after the agreement is executed and before the settlement day described in paragraph 3 of subsection (1), but the municipality shall not obtain the information about the value of the instruments from any person who has a financial interest in the agreement or in the instruments. O. Reg. 653/05, s. 2 (4). (5) A municipality shall not enter a bond forward agreement under which the settlement day described in pazagraph 3 of subsection (2) is 60 days or more after the day on which the agreement is executed. O. Reg. 653/05, s. 2 (5). (6) A municipality shall not enter a bond forward agreement under which the settlemem payment exceeds the difference in price described in paragraph 4 of subsection (2). O. Reg. 653/05, s. 2 (6). (7) A municipality shall not enter a bond forward agreement except with a bank listed in Schedule I, II or III to the Bank Act (Canada) and only if the bank's long-term debt obligations on the day the agreement is entered are rated, (a) by Dominion Bond Rating Service as "A(high)" or higher; (b) by Fitch Ratings as "A+" or higher; (c) by Moody's Investors Service Inc. as "Al" or higher; or (d) by Standard and Poor's as "A+" or higher. O. Reg. 653/05, s. 2 (7). (8) A municipality shall not sell or lend a bond forward agreement. O. Reg. 653/05, s. 2 (8). (9) If the bond forwazd agreement relates to debentures [o be issued or refmanced for the purposes of another municipality, the interested municipalities may enter one or more agreements relating to the costs of the bond forwazd agreement and relating to other matters arising from the bond forwazd~agreement. O. Reg. 653/05, s. 2 (9). (10) A municipality shall not use the proceeds from a bond forward agreement except for the following purposes: 1. To pay the interest or repay the principal of the debentures to which the agreement relates. 2. For any purpose for which the debentures were issued. 3. To pay the interest or repay the principal of any outstanding temporary borrowing made under section 405 or 406 of the Act in connection with the debentures. 4. To pay the interest or repay the principal of any other outstanding borrowing by the municipality for a capital expenditure. O. Reg. 653/05, s. 2 (10). Statement of policies and goals re bond forward agreements 3. (1) Before a municipality passes a by-law authorizing a bond forward agreement, the council of the municipality shall adopt a statement of policies and goals relating [o the use of bond forward agreements. O. Reg. 653/05, s. 3 (1). (2) The council of the municipality shall consider the following matters when preparing the statement of policies and goals: 1. The types of projects for which bond forward agreements aze appropriate. 2. The fixed costs and estimated costs to the municipality resulting from the use of such agreements. 3. A detailed estimate of the expected results of using such agreements. 4. Risk control measures relating to such agreements, such as, i. credit exposure limits based on credit ratings and on the degree of regulatory oversight and the regulatory capital of the other party to the agreement, ii. standard agreements, and iii. ongoing monitoring with respect to the agreements. SCHEDULE "A" 5. The financial and other risks to the municipality that would exist with, and without, the use of such agreements. O. Reg. 653/05, s. 3 (2). Report on hood forward agreements 4. (1) If a municipality has entered any bond forward agreements in a fiscal yeaz, the treasurer of the municipality shall prepare and present to the municipal council once in that fiscal year, or more frequently if the council so desires, a detailed report on all of [hose agreements. O. Reg. 653/05, s. 4 (1). (2) The report must contain the fallowing information and documents: 1. A statement comparing the expected and actual results of using bond forward agreements during the period of the report. 2. A statement by the treasurer indicating whether, in his or her opinion, alt of the bond forward agreements entered during the period of the report are consistent with the municipality's statement of policies and goals relating to the use of bond forward agreements. 3. Such other information as the council may require. 4. Such other information as the treasurer considers appropriate to include in [he report. O. Reg. 653/05, s. 4 (2). COMMODIi"Y PRICE HEDGING AGREEMENTS Commodity price hedging agreements 5. (1) A municipality that has entered, or plans to enter, anagreement under Par[ II of the Act for the supply of a commodity required for a municipal system may enter into one or more financial agreements to minhnize the cost or financial risk associated with incurring debt for the commodity. O. Reg. 653/05, s. 5 (1). (2) The financial agreement must fix, directly or indirectly, or enable the municipality to fix the price or range of prices to be paid by the municipality for the future delivery of some or all of the commodity or the future cost to the municipality of an equivalent quantity of the commodity. O. Reg. 653/05, s. 5 (2). (3) Subject to subsection (4), the municipality shall not sell or otherwise dispose of [he financial agreement or any interest of the municipality in the agreement. O. Reg. 653/05, s. 5 (3). (4) The municipality may sell or otherwise dispose of a financial agreement or an interest of the municipality in the agreement if, in the opinion of the treasurer of the municipality, the sale or disposition is in the best interests of the municipality and if either of the following conditions is satisfied: 1. The sale or disposition is part of a transaction for the sale of real property by the municipality relating to a change in the use of the property by the municipality. 2. The municipality has ceased to carry on any activity relating to the municipal system for which the commodity was being acquired. O. Reg. 653/05, s. 5 (4). Statement of policies and goals re commodity price hedging agreements 6. (1) Before a municipality passes a by-law authorizing a commodity price hedging agreement, [he council of the municipality shall adopt a statement of policies and goals relating [o the use of financial agreements to address commodity pricing and costs. O. Reg. 653/05, s. 6 (1). (2) The council of the municipality shall consider the following matters when preparing the statement of policies and goals: 1. The types of projects for which commodity price hedging agreements are appropriate. 2. The fixed costs and estimated costs to the municipality resulting from the use of such agreements. 3. Whether the futwe price or cost to the municipality of the applicable commodities will be lower or more stable than they would be without the agreements. 4. A detailed estimate of [he expected results of using such agreements. 5. The financial and other risks to the municipality that would exist with, and without, the use of such agreements. 6. Risk control measures relating [o such agreements, such as, i. credit exposure limits based on credit ratings and on the degree of regulatory oversight and the regulatory capital of the other party to the agreement, ii. standard agreements, and iii. ongoing monitoring with respect to the agreements. O. Reg. 653/05, s. 6 (2). Report on commodity price hedging agreements SCHEDULE "A" 7. (1) If a municipality has any subsisting commodity price hedging agreements in a fiscal yeaz, the treasurer of the municipality shall prepare and present to the municipal council once in that fiscal yeaz, or more frequently if the council so desires, a detailed report on all of those agreements. O. Reg. 653/05, s. 7 (1). (2) The report must contain [he following information and documents: 1. A statement about the status of [he agreements during the period of the report, including a comparison of the expected and actual results of using the agreements. 2. A statement by [he treasurer indicating whether, in his or her opinion, all of [he agreements entered during the period of the report aze consistent with the municipality's statement of policies and goals relating to the use of financial agreements to address commodity pricing and costs. 3. Such other information as the council may require. 4. Such other information as the treasurer considers appropriate to include in the report. O. Reg. 653/05, s. 7 (2). LEASE FINANCING AGREEMENTS Lease financing agreements, capital undertaldnge S. (1) A municipality may enter lease financing agreements for the purpose of obtaining long-term financing of a capital undertaking of the municipality. O. Reg. 604/06, s. 2. (2) If a lease financing agreement described in subsection (1) includes terms that require, or may require, the municipality to make payments after the expiry of the term for which the council authorizing the agreement was elected, sections 9, 10 and 11 apply to the agreement. O. Reg. 604/06, s. 2. (3) A lease fmancing agreement must include a schedule of all fixed payments, if any, required by the agreement and that may be required by any extension or renewal of the agreement. O. Reg. 604/06, s. 2. Statement of policies and goals release financing agreements 9. (1) Before a municipality passes a by-law authorizing a lease financing agreement, the council of the municipality shall adopt a statemenC of policies and goals relating to the use of lease financing agreements. O. Reg. 653/05, s. 9 (1). (2) The statement of policies and goals, (a) must include a discussion of the financial and other risks to the municipality of using lease financing agreements; and (b) may provide for a category of lease financing agreements composed of agreements which, in the opinion of both the council of the municipality and the treasurer, would not result in a material impact for [he municipality. O. Reg. 653/05, s. 9 (2). Advice to wuncil re lease financing agreements 10. (1) Before a municipality enters into a lease financing agreement, the municipality shall, (a) have its treasurer prepare a report with a recommendation, assessing, in the opinion of the treasurer, the costs and financial and other risks associated with the proposed agreement, including, (i) a comparison between the fixed and estimated costs and the risks associated with the proposed agreement and those associated with other methods of financing (ii) a statement summarizing, as may be applicable, the effective rate or rates of financing for the agreement, the ability for agreement payment amounts to vary, and the methods or calculations, including possible financing rate changes, that may be used to establish that vaziance under the agreement, (iii) a statement summarizing any contingent payment obligations under the agreement that in the opinion of the treasurer would result in a material impact for the municipality, including agreement termination provisions, equipment loss, equipment replacement options and guarantees and indemnities, (iv) a summary of the assumptions applicable to any possible variations in the agreement payment and contingent payment obligations, and (v) any other matters the treasurer or council considers advisable; (b) obtain legal advice and financial advice with respect to the proposed a~eement; (c) consider if the scope of the proposed transaction warrants obtaining legal advice or financial advice with respect to the proposed agreement that is from a source independent of the source of the advice mentioned in clause (b); (d) advise in writing the regional municipality of which it forms a part of the proposed agreement before the agreement is entered into, in the case of a lower-tier municipality; and SCHEDULE "A" (e) consider and give its assessment of the report prepared under clause (a), including whether, in its opinion, the costs of financing for the proposed agreement are lower than other methods of financing available to the municipality, and whether the risks associated with the proposed agreement are reasonable. O. Reg. 653/05, s. 10 (1). (2) The costs and risks associated with a proposed lease financing agreement in a report made under subsection (1) shall be assessed as of the date the report is made. O. Reg. 653/05, s. 10 (2). (3) At any time afrer a report under subsection (1) is made, but before the proposed lease financing agreement is entered into, if the treasurer becomes of [he opinion that a changed circumstance with respect to the proposed agreement may result in a material impact for the municipality, the treasurer shall as soon as is reasonably possible update the report and present the updated report to the council. O. Reg. 653/05, s. 10 (3 ). (4) A report made under subsection (1) shall summarize the information required by that subsection for the entire term of the proposed lease financing agreement, including any possible extensions or renewals. O. Reg. 653/05, s. ] 0 (4). (5) Despite this section, a municipality may enter into a lease financing agreement without complying with the requirements of subsection (1) if, (a) the statement of policies and goals for lease financing agreements includes the category referred to in clause 9 (2) (b); and (b) in the opinion of the treasurer and the council, the proposed agreement is within that category, and its costs and risks, in combination with all the others agreements of that category entered into or proposed to be entered into in that year by the municipality, would not result in a material impact for the community. O. Reg. 653/05, s. 10 (5). (6) In this section, "costs" includes the costs of any advice obtained under clause (1) (b) or (c). O. Reg. 653/05, s. 10 (6). Report on lease Flnancing agreemen[e 11. (1) If a municipality has one or more lease financing agreements subsisting in a fiscal year, the treasurer of the municipality shall prepare and present [o council of the municipality once in that fiscal year, or more often if the council so desires, a detailed report containing the information described in subsection (2). O. Reg. 653/05, s. 11 (1). (2) The detailed report mentioned in subsection (1) shall contain, (a) a description of the estimated proportion of the total financing arrangements of the municipality that is undertaken through lease financing agreements to the total long-term debt of the municipality and a description of the change, if any, in that estimated proportion since the previous year's report; (b) a statement by the treasurer as to whether, in his or her opinion, all lease financing agreements were made in accordance with the statement of leasing policies and goals adopted by the municipality; and (c) any other information that the council may require or that, in the opinion of the treasurer, should be recorded. O. Reg. 653/05, s. 11 (2). Back to top Clam ~ Leading the Way ~~ COMMODITY PRICE HEDGING AGREEMENTS STATEMENT OF POLICIES AND GOALS September 2008 Interpretation Schedule "B" This policy is to be interpreted and applied in accordance with the requirements of the Municipal Act, 2001 ("the Act") and any regulations passed thereunder ("the regulations"). Terms used in this policy have the meanings applicable to those terms in the corresponding sections of the Act and the regulations. Definitions For the purpose of this Statement of Policies and Goals, the following definitions shall apply: a) "Commodity" means electricity, natural gas and/or petroleum products (fuel). b) "Contract Agent" means an independent individual or organization acting on behalf of the Corporation as an independent contractor external to the Municipality to provide advice on price hedging strategy, commodity related reporting and when authorized to execute agreements and transactions. c) A "price hedging agreement" means a financial agreement to minimize the cost or financial risk associated with the purchase of a commodity. Purpose of Statement This Statement of Policies and Goals (the "Policy") provides the framework relating to the use of financial agreements to address commodity price hedging by the Municipality of Clarington. Statement of Policies and Goals Page 1 of 4 The Municipality of Clarington ("Municipality") will consider commodity price hedging agreements as a means of fixing, directly or indirectly, or enabling the Municipality to fix the price or range of prices to be paid by the Municipality for the continuous supply and future delivery of some or all of a commodity, where it is advantageous for the Municipality to do so. Delegation of Responsibilities The Director of Finance/Treasurer or designate ("Treasurer") is responsible for the financial administrative matters pertaining to commodity price hedging. The Treasurer may delegate certain administrative duties and/or responsibilities to internal staff. The Director of Corporate Services or designate ("Director") is responsible for the procurement and contractual administrative matters pertaining to commodity price hedging. The Director may delegate certain administrative duties and/or responsibilities to internal staff and external agents. Director of FinancelTreasurer The Treasurer is responsible for determining whether a particular commodity price hedging agreement is advantageous for the Municipality and shall consider or complete the following: a) a need to protect pricing of a commodity that is in a market subject to fluctuation; b) an analysis that confirms the benefits and cost savings to the Municipality; c) that the financial position of the Municipality will be enhanced by use of such an agreement; d) that the all-inclusive contracted price and cost to the Municipality of the associated commodity will be lower and/or more stable than it would be without the agreement; e) determine the financial and other risks to the Municipality that would exist with the use of such an agreement and if such a risk would be lower than the financial and other risks to the Municipality that would exist without such an agreement; and f) ensure ongoing monitoring in conjunction with the Corporate Services Department with respect to the commodity price hedging agreements. Statement of Policies and Goals Page 2 of 4 Director of Corporate Services The Corporate Services Director or designate is authorized to: a) enter into agency agreements and/or contracts with Contract Agents in accordance with the Municipality's Purchasing Policies; b) enter into commodity price hedging agreements, co-signed by the Directors of Finance and Corporate Services, as deemed appropriate; c) execute commodity procurement contracts and transactions, co-signed by the Directors of Finance and Corporate Services, in accordance with the policy; d) meet with the Treasurer, as required, and provide written reports regarding the past performance of commodity price hedging agreements, future strategies and other issues as requested; e) notify the Treasurer, in writing, of any significant changes in the commodity price hedging philosophies or policies and organization; f) provide an annual list of commodity price hedging agreements and such other information as may be requested by the Treasurer. Manager of Purchasing The Manager of Purchasing, under the direction of the Director of Corporate Services will be authorized to: a) develop a prudent commodity procurement mix and specific procurement objectives and policies; b) act as Corporate Services Director's designate and as necessary execute commodity procurement contracts and enter into commodity transactions in accordance with the policy; c) assist the Corporate Services Director, meet with the Treasurer, as required, and provide written reports regarding the past performance of commodity price hedging agreements, future strategies and other issues as requested; d) advise or make recommendations to the Corporate Services Director and Treasurer with respect to any significant changes in the commodity price hedging philosophies or policies and organization; and Statement of Policies and Goals Page 3 of 4 e) maintain a list of commodity price hedging agreements and such other information as may be required for submission to the Treasurer. Contract Agent The Contract Agent will be authorized to act within the scope of delegated authority under any executed contract and/or Agency Agreement and provide a number of services to the Municipality, which may include: a) assisting the Manager of Purchasing in developing a prudent commodity procurement mix and specific procurement objectives and policies; b) monitoring, analyzing and reporting on the Municipality's commodity purchases, financial position and supporting the Manager of Purchasing with respect to commodity procurement related matters; c) assisting in the selection of commodity suppliers; d) meeting with the Manager of Purchasing, as required; and e) entering into commodity transactions or commodity procurement agreements on behalf of the Municipality with commodity suppliers and/or distribution utilities when so directed and authorized by the Manager of Purchasing, Treasurer and Director of Corporate Services and where a proper Agency Agreement has been executed with the Municipality. Statement of Policies and Goals Page 4 of 4