[HISTORY: Adopted by the Suffolk County Legislature 11-13-1990 by L.L. No.
35-1990.[1] (Ch. 149 of the 1985 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.
Uncodified sections of local laws amending these provisions are included
at the end of this chapter.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Ethics and accountability — See Ch. 77.
Open meetings of advisory boards — See Ch. 172.
[1]
Editor's Note: This local law was adopted by the Legislature
after disapproval by the Executive on 10-25-1990.
A.
This Legislature hereby finds and determines that County Legislators,
the elected representatives of the people of this County, repeatedly
learn of actions taken by, for or against County government after
the fact or actual occurrence because of a breakdown in the lines
of communication between County departments and County agencies and
County Legislators.
B.
This Legislature also finds and determines that inquiries made by
County Legislators are not always replied to in a timely fashion by
administrators, thereby leading to an inability on the part of County
Legislators to provide complete and forthright responses to the concerns
and inquiries raised by the citizens and taxpayers of this County.
C.
This Legislature further finds and determines that the County Executive,
with increasing frequency, is declining to enforce, implement and
carry out duly enacted legislation of the County of Suffolk, especially
when such legislation results from the override of executive vetoes.
D.
Therefore, the purpose of this chapter is to establish a requirement
that all inquiries made by County Legislators to County departments
or County agencies be responded to within five business days and also
to require periodic reporting on the status of legislation that the
County Executive decides not to enforce.
Any request, inquiry or demand made by a County Legislator for
information, data, answers or responses to questions, inquiries, requests,
demands, suggestions or problems on behalf of the residents, citizens
and taxpayers of the County of Suffolk to any County department, County
office or County agency shall be responded to and answered within
five business days of the request, inquiry or demand. Such answer,
response, data or information may include a statement that additional
time is required to obtain a full and complete response, answer, data
or information based on the complexity, difficulty or interplay of
other levels of government involved, in which case such agency, department
or County office shall periodically report back to said Legislator
no later than every 10 business days regarding the status of such
inquiry, demand or request until such inquiry, demand or request has
been fully responded to or complied with to the satisfaction of the
County Legislator.
The County Executive shall issue a written report to each member
of the County Legislature on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December
31 of each year outlining the status of Suffolk County legislation
which takes effect during the prior three-month period, including
but not limited to a written statement as to which laws or resolutions
the County Executive has determined not to implement, enforce, administer
or carry out, together with the reasons, if any, for not implementing,
enforcing, administering or carrying out such laws or resolutions.
This chapter shall apply to all inquiries, requests or demands
made on or after the effective date of this chapter and to all laws
which shall take effect subsequent to the effective date of this chapter.
