This Charter and all amendments hereto shall provide for and constitute the form of government for the County of Monroe and shall be known and may be cited as the "Monroe County Charter." Among the purposes of this Charter are the following:
A. 
To maintain a government representative of and responsible to all County residents.
B. 
To provide an effective and efficient means for the rendering of County governmental services.
C. 
To assure the accountability and responsiveness of County government to the express concerns of its residents.
D. 
To provide appropriate mechanisms for citizen participation in the affairs of County government.
E. 
To provide the responsibility and authority for County government to function effectively in matters of metropolitan concern and to encourage intergovernmental relationships for such purposes.
F. 
To provide a mechanism for a response to new needs of County residents.
G. 
To encourage any and all means allowed by law to accomplish these and other purposes for the benefit of the people of Monroe County.
A. 
The prime purpose of this Charter, as originally enacted, was to carry out the mandate of the Supreme Court of the Seventh Judicial Department of the State of New York, which on April 6, 1965, ordered the County of Monroe to provide a method of apportionment of its elective governing body in conformity with the "one person, one vote" concept of federal court decisions, and in compliance with equal protection clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution and Article I, §§ 1 and 11, of the New York State Constitution. In order to accomplish this, the County of Monroe was divided into legislative districts through the original enactment of this Charter, and remains so divided in accordance with § C2-12 of this Charter.
B. 
Since the Municipal Home Rule Law of the State of New York relating to the adoption of County charters requires that a charter meet certain specified requirements, this Charter, as originally enacted, contained the provisions of the Optional County Government Law of the State of New York,[1] which governed the County of Monroe prior to the adoption of said Charter, and certain general, special and local laws then in effect and applicable to the County of Monroe, without change of substance. As more fully set forth in § C8-2 of this Charter, it is the intent of this Charter that, with the exception of a properly apportioned governing body and the selection and powers of the Chief Executive Officer, the form of government of the County of Monroe shall continue as constituted at the time of the original enactment of this Charter.
[Amended 8-28-1980 by L.L. No. 5-1980]
[1]
Editor's Note: See now the Alternative County Government Law § 701, Subdivision 2.
The County of Monroe shall continue to be a municipal corporation exercising such powers and discharging such duties as may be imposed or conferred upon it by this Charter, by the Administrative Code as prescribed in § C2-8A(2) of this Charter, or by applicable law.
A. 
Elective officers; terms. The following officers shall be elected as provided by this Charter or by applicable law:
(1) 
County Executive. The voters of the County of Monroe shall elect a County executive who shall serve a term of office as prescribed in § C3-1 of this Charter.
[Added 8-28-1980 by L.L. No. 5-1980]
(2) 
County Legislator. The voters of each legislative district of Monroe County shall elect a County legislator who shall serve a term of office as prescribed in § C2-2 of this Charter.
[Amended 9-5-1979 by L.L. No. 3-1979[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: This local law was accepted for filing by the state as L.L. No. 5-1979.
(3) 
Sheriff. The voters of the County of Monroe shall elect a Sheriff, as set forth in Article 8, § 400, of the County Law of the State of New York; provided, however, that vacancies in the office of Sheriff shall be filled as prescribed in § C7-7 of this Charter.
[Amended 9-14-1983 by L.L. No. 3-1983[2]]
[2]
Editor's Note: This local law was accepted for filing by the state as L.L. No. 2-1983.
(4) 
County Clerk. The voters of the County of Monroe shall elect a County Clerk, as set forth in Article 8, § 400, of the County Law of the State of New York; provided, however, that vacancies in the office of County Clerk shall be filled as prescribed in § C7-1 of this charter.
[Amended 9-14-1983 by L.L. No. 3-1983[3]]
[3]
Editor's Note: This local law was accepted for filing by the state as L.L. No. 2-1983.
(5) 
District Attorney. The voters of the County of Monroe shall elect a District Attorney, as set forth in Article 8, § 400, of the County Law of the State of New York.
[Amended 9-14-1983 by L.L. No. 3-1983[4] ]
[4]
Editor's Note: This local law was accepted for filing by the state as L.L. No. 2-1983.
B. 
Appointive officers; terms. The County shall have appointive officers as may be provided in the Charter or as required by law or established or authorized by the County Legislature.
A. 
State laws. Within the limits prescribed in Article 4 of the Municipal Home Rule Law of the State of New York, wherever and whenever any law of the State of New York, general, special or local in effect, is inconsistent with this Charter, such law shall be deemed, to the extent of such inconsistency, to be superseded by this Charter insofar as the County of Monroe and its government are affected.
B. 
Local laws. Except to the extent that they are inconsistent with this Charter or are specifically superseded, amended or repealed hereby, all local existing laws and resolutions heretofore adopted by the prior Board of Supervisors and the County Legislature of the County of Monroe shall continue in force until amended, superseded or repealed as provided herein.
[Amended 9-14-1983 by L.L. No. 3-1983]
Wherever used in this Charter, unless otherwise expressly stated or unless the context or subject matter otherwise requires, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ADMINISTRATIVE HEAD
The head of any County agency.
AGENCY or COUNTY AGENCY
Any council, department, division, office, board, commission or other governmental unit of the County, excluding the County Legislature and its officers and any commission excluded by the provisions of this Charter.
AUTHORIZED AGENCY
A corporation, association, institution or agency authorized to receive and expend County moneys, including but not limited to those authorized by § 224 of the County Law of the State of New York.
CHARTER or COUNTY CHARTER
The Monroe County Charter and all amendments thereto.
CODE or ADMINISTRATIVE CODE
The Monroe County Administrative Code and all amendments thereto, as prescribed in § C2-8A(2) of this Charter.
COUNTY
The County of Monroe.
DISTRICT or LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
The districts provided for in § C2-12 of this Charter for the purpose of electing County legislators.
EMPLOYEE
Any person employed by the County or an agency thereof, but shall not include an independent contractor.
LAW
A statute of the State of New York, a charter, a local law or a resolution.
LEGISLATOR or COUNTY LEGISLATOR
An elected member of the County Legislature or a person appointed to fill a vacancy in the office of County Legislator.
LEGISLATURE or COUNTY LEGISLATURE
The elected legislative body of the County.
LOCAL LAW
A legislative act of the County Legislature, adopted pursuant to the Municipal Home Rule Law of the State of New York; but shall not mean or include a resolution or other similar act of the Legislature, of a County agency or of any other board or body of the County.
RESOLUTION
A legislative act of the County Legislature which is limited in its application or is of a temporary nature, or both, or as otherwise provided by law.