Monroe County, NY Article V Standing Committees

§ 545-20 Appointments.

A. The members of the following standing committees shall be appointed by the President within 20 days after his/her election at the organizational meeting of the Legislature:

(1) Ways and Means.

(2) Intergovernmental Relations.

(3) Recreation and Education.

(4) Agenda/Charter.

(5) Public Safety.

(6) [1]Human Services.

[1] Editor's Note: Former Subsection A(6), Public Works, was repealed 12-13-1994 by Res No. 595-1994. Said resolution also provided for the renumbering of former Subsection B(7), (8), (9) and (10) as Subsection B(6), (7), (8) and (9), respectively.

(7) Transportation.

(8) Planning and Economic Development.

(9) Environmental and Public Works.

[Added 12-15-1992 by Res. No. 449-1992; amended 12-13-1994 by Res. No. 595-1994]

B. The Legislature may create and abolish such standing committees as it deems appropriate. All standing committees shall consist of at least five members of the Legislature.

C. The following shall be the functions of the above-named standing committees:

[Amended 12-15-1992 by Res. No. 449-1992; 1-20-1993 by Res. No. 5-1993; 12-13-1994 by Res. No. 595-1994; 1-13-2009 by L.L. No. 3-2009]

Standing Committee	Responsibilities/Administrative Oversight
Agenda/Charter	Revisions to the Monroe County Charter and Administrative Code; Rules of the Monroe County Legislature, procedures; appointments to County boards and commissions; work program for the Legislature
Environmental and Public Works	Environmental problems, concerns and related programs, such as, but not limited to, land use and open space studies; Environmental Management Council (EMC); Department of Environmental Services; drainage and sanitation; solid waste disposal; recycling; landfill; hazardous materials; pure waters; health and environmental impact studies and public works projects and related programs; Greater Rochester International Airport; engineering; Water Authority; buildings and grounds
Human Services	Social services and related programs and agencies; Office for the Aging, and related programs, agencies; Health Department and related programs, agencies; Mental Health Department and related programs, agencies; Monroe Community Hospital; Medical Examiner; Veterans' Services Agency; Rochester/Monroe County Youth Bureau; Human Relations Commission
Intergovernmental Relations	Issues related to the intergovernmental relationships among County, city, town, village, state, federal governments
Planning and Economic Development	Planning Department and related programs, agencies; community development; economic development, Industrial Development Agency; cultural district; tourism; job training programs; agricultural districts; lakeshore and bay development; Comprehensive Development Plan
Public Safety	Public safety and related programs, agencies; Sheriff's Department, DWI, probation, District Attorney, Public Defender; Fire Bureau, mutual aid, arson control; traffic safety; emergency preparedness; public safety communications, 911; Public Safety Laboratory; jails, contracts; weights and measures
Recreation and Education	Recreation and related programs and agencies; parks, conservation; education and related programs and agencies; Monroe Community College; Monroe County Library System; special events, the arts, zoo
Transportation	Transportation issues and related agencies; roads; traffic signals, streetlighting; bridges, RGRTA
Ways and Means	Financial, budgetary matters, capital improvement program,county budget; OTB, County Clerk; meet annually, by September 1 of each year, with the County’s independent auditors to review their report and responsibilities in performing the audit and the Department of Finance to review the County’s financial statements for the prior year

D. Oversight responsibilities. It shall be the responsibility of each standing committee to exercise oversight of those departments, agencies, boards and commissions within its jurisdiction. Such oversight shall include but is not limited to the following: an annual review with the head of each agency of the agency's past and present work program; a review of the agency's annual budget submission; a periodic review and evaluation of each agency's programs as to their effectiveness and compliance with legislative direction and intent.

§ 545-21 Special committees.

In accordance with § C2-4 of the Monroe County Charter, the President shall appoint the members and chairpersons of such special committees as may be created by the Legislature, subject to confirmation by the Legislature.

§ 545-22 Procedure.

The procedure under which committees shall operate shall be as follows:

A. In accordance with § C2-9 of the Monroe County Charter, each standing or special committee shall meet at the call of its Chairperson at a time and place to be designated in the meeting notice.

B. Committee shall operate under the rules of the Legislature, except that to be recognized a member need not stand but may hold up his/her hand, and the member may speak while seated.

C. In accordance with the State Open Meetings Law,[1] meetings of committees shall be public except when, by a vote of a majority of the members of the committee, the committee shall meet in executive session.

[1] Editor's Note: See the Public Officers Law § 100 et seq.

D. In accordance with the State Open Meetings Law, minutes of all committee meetings shall be made public and shall promptly be furnished to Legislators.

E. The Chairperson of each committee shall possess the same powers with respect to his/her committee as possessed by the presiding officer of the Legislature, except where otherwise set forth in these rules.

F. The Chairperson of each committee shall determine the agenda for each of his/her committee meetings, unless a majority of all said committee members request further material be added to the agenda. Notwithstanding the above, all matters which have been referred to a committee by the President or presiding officer shall be placed on the agenda of such committee at its next meeting.

G. The Chairperson of a committee shall have the power to hold or postpone action on any item that is on such committee's agenda in the absence of an objection from any member of the Committee.

§ 545-23 Reports of committees.

Committees may report to the Legislature in two ways.

A. Formal reports. Formal reports of committees shall be in writing with the names of the members concurring in or dissenting from such report endorsed thereon, and they shall be read in the regular order of business as provided in § 545-14A.

B. Informal reports. Informal reports of committees shall consist of a favorable recommendation of a resolution or local law which shall be reported in detail in the minutes of the committee meeting, but which recommendation need only be endorsed at the foot of each local law or resolution so recommended.

§ 545-24 All matters to be referred to committees.

A. All resolutions and local laws shall be referred to a standing or special committee of the Legislature for consideration before being considered by the Legislature, except the following:

(1) A resolution approving a bond issue of another municipality or special district.

(2) A resolution confirming an appointment made by the President.

(3) A resolution or local law with a statement of urgency endorsed thereon by the President or presiding officer (as to which a motion to commit under § 545-17C lies); or

(4) A resolution or local law excused from this rule by a vote of two-thirds (2/3) of all Legislators (i.e., 20).

B. All matters referred to committee shall be referred by the President or presiding officer.

C. Normally, referrals to committee shall be made at a preceding meeting of the Legislature, but referrals need not be made at a meeting of the Legislature if, at the discretion of the President or presiding officer, the matter is of sufficient importance to warrant its referral between legislative meetings.

D. No resolution or local law which has been referred to committee shall be acted upon by the Legislature unless it shall have been reported upon favorably by a standing or special committee of the Legislature to which such resolution or local law has been referred, unless such resolution or local law has been discharged in accordance with § 545-17G.

E. If a matter is referred to more than one committee, the President or presiding officer shall designate a lead committee. If conflicting reports or recommendations have been made by two or more committees concerning matters which have been referred to such committees, the report or recommendation of the lead committee shall be the report or recommendation introduced to the Legislature for consideration.