Referred to:  The Laws and Rules, Governmental Services Committee (Chairman Donaldson and Legislators Archer, Heppner, Roberts, and Ronk), and The Ways and Means Committee (Chairwoman Archer and Legislators Donaldson, Gerentine, Maio, Joseph Maloney, Petit, and Ronk)

Legislators Kenneth J. Ronk, Jr. and Joseph Maloney offer the following:

WHEREAS, restricting appointees of Ulster County elected officials from holding any elective public office of any City, Town or Village within Ulster County is an effective way to ensure the appointee gives primacy to the interests of Ulster County in the discharge of that appointee’s duties for the County, and to assist in avoiding any conflicts of interest, division of loyalty, and/or appearances of impropriety; and

WHEREAS, the Ulster County Legislature believes that prohibiting appointees of County elected officials from holding any such elective public offices would directly protect Ulster County residents by ensuring Ulster County departments and agencies operate to advance first the best interests of Ulster County to the exclusion of the interests of other local governmental entities; now, therefore be it

           RESOLVED, that the holding of any elective public office of any City, Town or Village within Ulster County by any appointed members of the County Executive’s staff, including Deputy County Executives, Department Heads, and all other assistants, officers, and employees of the County Executive’s office; the Commissioners of the Board of Elections and all employees of the Board of Elections; and any appointees of the Comptroller, County Clerk, District Attorney, Sheriff and Ulster County Legislature is hereby prohibited; and, be it further

            RESOLVED, that this policy shall not apply to appointees of uncompensated Boards and Commissions; and, be it further

RESOLVED, that the holding of an elective public office of any City, Town, or Village within Ulster County shall not include Fire Districts, School Districts, or Library Districts; and, be it further

           RESOLVED, that this policy shall be effective December 31, 2019,

and move its adoption.

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES:                        NOES:    

Postponed in Committee: Laws and Rules, Governmental Services on August 19, 2019 with consent

Postponed in Committee without consent: Laws and Rules, Governmental Services as amended on September 16, 2019

Passed Committee: Laws and Rules, Governmental Services as amended on October 7, 2019

Passed Committee: Ways and Means on October 10, 2019

Referred back to Laws and Rules, Governmental Services Committee at Legislative Session on October 15, 2019

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

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

NONE