Referred to: The Ways and Means Committee (Chairman Gavaris and Legislators Collins, Hansut, Kovacs, Nolan, and Roberts)

Chair of the Legislature, Peter J. Criswell, offer the following:

WHEREAS, pursuant to § C-20 of the Ulster County Charter and §A2-15 of the Administrative Code, there shall be Legislative Counsel and Minority Counsel who shall provide legal counsel to the Legislature and Minority Caucus, respectively; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to § C-20 (D) of the Ulster County Charter and §A2-15(D) of the Administrative Code, the Legislature may retain Special Counsel where it deems it necessary notwithstanding the provisions of § C-72 of the County Charter; and

WHEREAS, due to the diverse nature of the legal matters currently confronting Ulster County, the Legislature deems it appropriate for Legislative and Minority Counsel to consult with outside counsel from time to time specializing in area(s) of law relevant to Legislative initiatives; and

WHEREAS, the Chair of the Legislature is the appointing officer for Counsel to the Legislature; and

WHEREAS, the Chair of the Legislature does not wish to appoint an individual to Position No. 10401110 LEG COUNS, but intends to keep Position No. 10401110 LEG COUNS listed within the 2024 Ulster County Budget, as well as future budgets; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature deems it appropriate and necessary to utilize the funds available from keeping Position No. 10401110 LEG COUNS vacant for 2024 to retain the services of specialized outside legal counsel, in consultation with Legislative and Minority Counsel, to obtain expert legal advice on certain matters confronting the Legislature; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the 2024 Ulster County Budget is hereby amended as follows: 

                                                            DECREASE                              AMOUNT

AA.1040.1006-1400.1400                 Part Time Pay                            $32,811.00

(App. #)

AA.1040.1006-8000.8000                 Retirement                                 $  5,076.00

(App. #)

AA.1040.1006-8010.8010                  Social Security / FICA              $  2,510.00

(App. #)

AA.1040.1006-8020                          Health Insurance                        $ 8,471.00

(App. #)

                                                             INCREASE                              AMOUNT

AA.1040.1006-4300                          Professional Services                $ 48,868.00

(App. #)

and moves its adoption.

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES:                    NOES:      

Passed Committee: Ways and Means on ________________.

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

NONE