(a) The City Council shall prior to the close of each financial year employ by contract a public accountant to examine the financial statements of the funds of the City.(b) Annual examination of the financial statements shall be conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and the financial and compliance standards for audit of governmental organizations, programs, activities, and functions. For the purpose of examination and audit authorized by the City, all records, account books, papers, reports, and returns of all departments, including the trustees and custodians of trust funds and all officers and employees who receive or disburse funds for the benefit of the City, shall be made available for audit. It shall also be the duty of each City officer or employee to provide oral explanatory information when required by the public accountant.(c) As a matter of policy, the City Council shall solicit public bids from public accountants at least once in every three-year period.24 Appendix V.S.A. § 1-312