[Amended 12-15-2020 by L.L. No. 1-2021]
A. There is hereby created a Department of the Environment, the head
of which shall be the Director of the Department of the Environment
who shall be appointed on the basis of his or her experience and qualifications
as specifically set forth in the civil service class specifications
for that position.
B. Prior to December 31, 2008, the Director of the Department of the
Environment shall be appointed by the Ulster County Legislature and
shall serve at the pleasure of the Ulster County Legislature, and
such appointment shall not extend beyond December 31, 2008. Thereafter,
commencing January 1, 2009, the Director of the Department of the
Environment shall be appointed by the County Executive subject to
confirmation of the County Legislature, and such appointee shall serve
at the pleasure of the County Executive.
C. The Director of the Department of the Environment shall execute environmental
policy for the County and shall be responsible for the development
of environmental policy subject to approval by the Ulster County Legislature
prior to December 31, 2008, and thereafter subject to approval by
the County Executive.
[Amended 12-15-2020 by L.L. No. 1-2021]
The Director of the Department of the Environment shall:
A. Have the authority to appoint and remove all officers and employees
of the Department of the Environment, except as such power and authority
are specifically limited by local law or New York State statute.
B. Coordinate environmental policy and resource planning for all interrelated
County departments and the Ulster County Environmental Management
Council.
C. Supervise the efforts of the Department of the Environment employees
and coordinate with the efforts of other interrelated County departmental
staff on all environmental projects.
D. Review the progress of environmental projects through oversight of
the duties of technical staff assigned and make recommendations to
ensure the project is on time and the goals of the Environmental Management
Council are being met.
E. Provide administrative and technical assistance to the Environmental
Management Council.
F. Review ongoing County projects and/or activities with environmental
implications and assure that the requirements and guidelines of the
project are followed in context with established policies and procedures.
G. Act as administrative liaison with personnel in other County departments
as well as with federal, state, regional and private environmental
planning agencies, consultants and other interested parties involved
with environmental issues.
H. Formulate and prepare the annual departmental budget.
I. Prepare plans, reports, informational material and administrative
documents designed to support or implement environmental objectives
of Ulster County and the Environmental Management Council to meet
both state and federal requirements.
J. Coordinate the efforts of County departments and municipalities to
utilize geographic information system (GIS) equipment and software
as well as global positioning equipment to compile, collect, organize
and analyze geographic information relative to the focus and planning
objectives of Ulster County and the Environmental Management Council.
K. Prepare and present oral, written and multi-media reports to the
County Legislature, municipal officials, the media and the public.
L. Have all the powers and perform all the duties now or hereafter conferred
or imposed by local law or resolution of the Ulster County Legislature.
[Amended 12-15-2020 by L.L. No. 1-2021]
A. The Director of the Department of the Environment shall have the
power to appoint one or more Deputy Directors of the Department of
the Environment within the limits of appropriations therefor. Every
appointment shall be in writing and filed in the office of the County
Clerk and the Clerk of the Ulster County Legislature.
B. The term of office of any deputy appointed hereunder shall coincide
with that of the Director of the Department of the Environment, provided
that such appointment may be revoked at any time by the Director of
the Department of the Environment by written revocation filed with
the County Clerk. All positions of Deputy Director shall be in the
exempt class of civil service.
C. Deputy Directors of the Department of the Environment shall perform
such duties pertaining to the office of the Department of the Environment
as the Director of the Department of the Environment may direct and
shall act generally for and in such place of the Director and perform
such other and further duties as the Director may assign and direct.
D. If there is but one deputy, he or she shall possess the powers and
perform the duties of the Director of the Department of the Environment
during the absence or inability of the Director of the Department
of the Environment to act. If there is more than one deputy, the Director
of the Department of the Environment shall designate in writing and
file in the office of the County Clerk and the Clerk of the Legislature
the order in which they are to serve during his or her absence or
inability to act.
E. In the event of a vacancy in the office of the Director of the Department
of the Environment, such deputy, or the deputy so designated, shall
possess the power to perform the duties of his or her principal until
the disability is removed or, in the case of a vacancy, until a successor
is appointed and has qualified. If no designation shall have been
made and filed, the senior deputy shall act.
This chapter shall take effect upon the appointment by the Ulster
County Legislature of a Coordinator of the Environment by resolution
adopted subsequent to the date of adoption of this chapter and compliance
with the requirements of law.