Referred to: The Laws and Rules, Governmental Services Committee (Chairman

Roberts and Legislators Belfiglio, Donaldson, Lopez, Loughran, R. Parete and

Rodriguez)

Legislator Chris Allen offers the following:

WHEREAS, the Rules of Order of the Ulster County Legislature govern the

selection process and accompanying terms of service associated with the committee

assignments for individual legislators on Standing Committees within the Ulster

County Legislature; and

WHEREAS, the current procedure for committee assignments calls for

Legislators to submit committees of interest in rank order of preference which is then

turned into the respective Caucus leaders and submitted for consideration by the

Chairman of the Legislature; and

WHEREAS, after considering all input, the Chairman of the Legislature then

makes committee assignments which typically set the composition, make-up and

structure of Standing Committees for only 12 months of the 24 month legislative

term; and

WHEREAS, the term of service for individual legislators on Standing

Committees affects how much continuity and chemistry can be affectively utilized

towards the expression of ideas and the facilitation of debate and analysis of monthly

resolutions, and towards the advancement of legislative initiatives by individual

legislators; and

WHEREAS, the chemistry, continuity and structure of Standing Committees

increases over time when the same committee members have an opportunity to serve

continuously, making a 24-month term of service more valuable while also

increasing the effectiveness of debate, analysis and the advancement of legislative

initiatives; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, that Section G. of RULE 5. STANDING AND SPECIAL

COMMITTEES OF THE LEGISLATURE AND CALENDARING OF THE

LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS, is hereby amended to read as follows:

G. In making appointments to each Standing Committee:

 (a) Within seven (7) days after the Legislature’s Annual Organizational

Meeting, FIRST ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING FOR EACH NEW

COUNTY LEGISLATURE, every Legislator shall inform the appropriate

Majority or Minority Leader and the newly appointed Chairperson, in writing,

his/her five Committees of interest in rank order of preference.

(b) Within seven (7) days after the Legislature’s Annual Organizational

Meeting, FIRST ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING FOR EACH NEW

COUNTY LEGISLATURE, the Chairperson shall inform the appropriate

Majority and Minority Leader of the whole number of seats available on each

standing committee.

(c) The Majority and Minority Leaders will meet with the newly

appointed Chairperson to present the Legislator requests and provide insight to

the Chairperson regarding each Legislator’s knowledge, experience, expertise

and interests.

(d) The Chairperson of the Legislature shall consider each legislator’s

knowledge, experience, expertise, and/or interests, and will assign each

legislator at least one of their requested Committees. Other assignments will

be at the discretion of the Chairperson.

(e) Nothing shall preclude the Chairperson from removing a

Legislator from a Committee for health reasons or non-attendance, with

the consent of the Legislator’s party leader.

(f) In the event that there is a change of Chairperson after a

Chairperson is elected at the first organizational meeting for a new body,

nothing shall preclude the new Chairperson from altering committee

assignments in consultation with the Majority and Minority leaders.

and, be it further

RESOLVED, that pursuant to Rule 2, entitled “AMENDMENT OF RULES,”

of the Rules of Order of the Ulster County Legislature, this resolution and the

amendment proposed herein shall be read at two consecutive meetings of the Ulster

County Legislature, and, be it further 

RESOLVED, that this rule change shall take effect upon an affirmative vote

of this body subsequent to two consecutive readings,

and moves its adoption.

FIRST READING:

SECOND READING:

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES: NOES:

Postponed in Committee: Laws and Rules, Governmental Services on December 19,

2016

Postponed in Committee: Laws and Rules, Governmental Services on February 15,

2017

Passed Committee: Laws and Rules, Governmental Services on ____________.

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

NONE