Referred to: Laws, Rules and Government Services Committee (Chairman Heppner and Legislators Gavaris, Levine, Roberts, and Ronk), and The Ways and Means Committee (Chairman Gavaris and Legislators Cahill, Criswell, Roberts, and Ronk)

Legislator Herb Litts offers the following:

WHEREAS, the Ulster County Legislature, pursuant to Ulster County Charter §C-11, is the legislative, appropriating and policy-determining body of the County; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Ulster County Administrative Code §A3-4(Q) the County Executive shall be responsible for the preparation of Grants proposals and applications; and

WHEREAS, Ulster County Administrative Code §A3-4(Q) does not give the County Executive unfettered authority to submit Grants proposals and applications, but only the responsibility for their preparation; and

WHEREAS, when such Grants require the appropriation of matching funds by the County, best practices require that Legislative approval be obtained before the application is submitted to the government office or entity awarding the Grant funds to ensure consistency with the enacted County Budget and conformity with the Legislature’s role as the sole appropriating body of the County; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that it shall be the policy of Ulster County that Legislative approval shall be obtained prior to the submission of any Grants proposal or application involving required matching County funds; and, be it further

RESOLVED, that a full copy of the Grants application along with any forms, guidance, back up or related materials be filed with the Clerk of the Legislature along with the resolution seeking Legislative approval of the Grant; and, be it further

RESOLVED, that this policy shall not apply to any Grants proposal or application seeking only reimbursement for County monies already budgeted or expended, nor to any Grants proposal or application that does not require any matching County funds; and, be it further

RESOLVED, that a waiver of this policy may be granted by the affirmative majority vote of the Ways and Means Committee; Such a waiver must be preceded by submission of a request to the Chair of the Ways and Means Committee, filed via the Office of the Clerk of the Legislature, including a detailed explanation as to why approval of the full Legislature cannot be obtained along with a full copy of the Grants application with any forms, guidance, back up or related materials,

and move its adoption.

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES:                   NOES:    

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

Passed Committee: Ways and Means on ________________.

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

NONE