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

Roberts and Legislators Donaldson, Haynes, Heppner, and James Maloney)

Legislator David B. Donaldson and Legislator Maloney (Joseph) offer the following:

WHEREAS, pursuant to Resolution 24 of 2018, the Ulster County Legislature

established a policy prohibiting the use of public funds to place the likeness or name

of elected officials on public service announcements, non-commercial and nonpolitical advertising, and

WHEREAS, there has been a practice in government to use public funds in

promoting elected officials on government facilities and signage, including the Ulster

County website and other County property at various locations other than the

particular official’s office or web page; and

WHEREAS, elected officials are otherwise prohibited by Public Officers Law

73-b from appearing in any advertisement or promotion, including public or

community service announcements, published or broadcast through any print or

electronic media (including television, radio and internet) by any private or

commercial entity or any other entity that publishes such advertisement for a fee, if

the advertisement or promotion is paid for or produced in whole or in part with

public funds; and

WHEREAS, there is no true public benefit to the taxpayers when public

resources are spent on the practice of placing the name and likeness of elected

officials on all promotional and informational signage on County owned property;

and

WHEREAS, the appropriate expenditure of public money does not include

this use, but rather should be used to fund government services to improve the

welfare, health and safety of Ulster County residents; and

WHEREAS, this practice amounts to free and inappropriate political

advertising for incumbent elected officials not otherwise covered by State Law, and

as Ulster County has the power to regulate the expenditure of public funds on its own

signs, property and publications; now, therefore be it 

RESOLVED, that it is the policy of Ulster County that on and after the

effective date hereof, no County elected official shall appear by likeness, picture, or

be named, or otherwise be identified or referenced on any promotional and

informational signage on County owned property, where same is paid for or

produced in whole or in part with public funds of any kind including grant funds;

and, be it further

RESOLVED, that this policy shall not apply to the appearance of an elected

official’s name and/or likeness on his or her office or his or her official web page, or

in the County Directory, and shall not apply to appearances during a declared state of

emergency or otherwise required or permitted by law; and, be it further

RESOLVED, that this Resolution shall take effect immediately,

and move its adoption.

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES: NOES:

Postponed in Committee: Laws and Rules, Governmental Services on July 16, 2018

Postponed in Committee: Laws and Rules, Governmental Services on August 13,

2018

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

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

NONE