[HISTORY: Comes from Local Law No. 52-2018, adopted 6-5-2018, effective 6-14-2018.[1]]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Ethical standards — See Ch. 38.
[1]
Editor's Note: See § 39-5 regarding the effective time for compliance with this chapter.
The Board finds that it is in the best interests of the Town of Hempstead to conduct the operations and functions of Town government in a manner that achieves the highest standards of openness and transparency, facilitating public access to Town records, documents and information that is legally available, and in so doing, engendering greater awareness, input and public participation in the conduct of the affairs of Town government.
A. 
Subject to the provisions set forth in Subsection B herein, the Town shall publish the following documents and/or information on its website, in a manner that is searchable and machine-readable:
(1) 
All executed contracts that are currently in effect are to be published under the section of the Town website of the agency or Town department administering the agreement;
(2) 
The final financial, forensic and performance audits of the departments, agencies and operations of the Town, as conducted by the Town Comptroller, as well as the audited Consolidated Annual Financial Reports (CAFRs), for each of the past five years, all of which shall be redacted, if necessary, to comply with applicable law;
(3) 
The tentative budget, the preliminary budget and the annual budget as finally adopted;
(4) 
All job specifications, as established by the Town of Hempstead Civil Service Commission, for each civil service job position and title in the Town of Hempstead;
(5) 
The final adopted Capital Improvement Plan for the current year and each of the ensuing five years;
(6) 
All roadway rating surveys as conducted by the Highway Department for the current and prior year;
(7) 
The Town's procurement guidelines, including rules for contracting with bidders and instructions for submitting an RFP;
(8) 
The current collective bargaining agreement between the Town and the CSEA and any amendment thereto;
(9) 
Freedom of Information Law request form;
(10) 
A hyperlink to the text of the Freedom of Information Law[1] and Open Meetings Law;[2]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Public Officers Law § 85 et seq.
[2]
Editor's Note: See Public Officers Law § 100 et seq.
(11) 
A section designated to notices of public meetings (date, time, location), including public hearings and budget hearings, posted in advance of the meetings;
(12) 
A hyperlink to the Town's Ethics Law and guidelines;
(13) 
All fee schedules for use of Town parks or other facilities, permit application fees and variance fees;
(14) 
The date of any Town election;
(15) 
The names and terms of appointment for every board or commission member; and
(16) 
A link to the New York State Board of Elections campaign finance disclosure webpage.
B. 
Exceptions. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to obligate or compel the publication of any information that constitutes an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy or a violation of any laws governing the release of personal information. This section shall further not be construed to compel the publication of records or information that the Town would not otherwise be required to disclose under Public Officers Law Article 6 (the Freedom of Information Law). Any records or information required to be published pursuant to this chapter shall be reviewed and acted upon by the Town Attorney's office to ensure proper compliance with such law and, if necessary, proper redaction of protected information prior to publication.
The Supervisor of the Town shall act to ensure that each Town elected official, department heads, and their designees shall receive a copy of this chapter, except that failure to receive a copy shall not absolve any person from his or her obligation to fully comply with its provisions. The Supervisor of the Town shall additionally, upon the effective date of this chapter, cause the contents thereof to be published upon the Town website.
If any clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision, section or part of this chapter, or the application thereof to any person, individual, corporation, firm, partnership, entity or circumstance, shall be adjudged by any court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unconstitutional, such order or judgment shall not affect, impair, or invalidate the remainder thereof but shall be confined in its operation to the clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision, section or part of this chapter or in its application to the person, individual, corporation, firm, partnership, entity, or circumstance directly involved in the controversy in which such judgment or order shall be rendered.
To afford sufficient time for compliance with the provisions of this chapter, the provisions contained herein shall take effect 180 days after filing with the Secretary of State.