[Amended 4-20-2010 by L.L. No. 2-2010]
The elected officers of the City shall consist of the following:
Mayor
Commissioner of Finance
Commissioner of Public Works
Commissioner of Public Safety
Commissioner of Accounts
Two Supervisors
Each officer shall be elected for a term of two years, from
and including the first day of January next succeeding the election
until the election and qualification of his or her successor.
The Mayor and each Commissioner shall receive a salary of $14,500
per year, except that for the year 2010 their salary shall be reduced
10% each pay period effective March 26, 2010, for the remainder of
that calendar year, at the request of the City Council and due to
the current fiscal crisis. The Supervisors shall receive the salary
enacted by the County Law.
Before assuming duties, each officer shall take and file the
constitutional oath of office.
No person shall be eligible to serve as an elective officer
unless at the time of election the individual is a resident elector
of the City and is duly qualified pursuant to the requirements of
the Public Officers Law.
The Mayor and Commissioners shall constitute the City Council,
and shall be the legislative body of City government. The Council
shall propose and enact legislation, establish policy, adopt a comprehensive
City Budget, adopt a Comprehensive Plan and land use legislation,
assess lawful taxes, fees, rents, and utility rates, provide for public
health, safety and welfare, and oversee fundamental operations, finances,
and property of City government.
The Council shall be vested with the powers granted to the City
under New York State General City Law and other applicable laws; the
Council may delegate such powers lawfully. Each Council member shall
perform all duties imposed on him or her by this Charter and the ordinances
and local laws of the City, and the laws of the State of New York
and the United States. No matter before the Council shall be finally
decided unless and until it has been moved and voted on at an open
Council meeting. Three members shall constitute a quorum; a lesser
number may adjourn. The vote of three members shall be necessary to
pass any matter, unless otherwise provided in the Charter.
The Council has the authority to enact, amend, or repeal local
laws, ordinances, and resolutions not inconsistent with the laws of
the state or this Charter, for the government of the City and the
management of its business, for the preservation of good order, peace,
and health, for the safety and welfare of its inhabitants, and for
the protection and security of their property.
The Council shall conduct open meetings in accordance with provisions
of the Public Officers Law, and shall keep a public record of its
proceedings. The Council shall state and enter into the record the
reason(s) for closing to the public any part of any meeting. Members
of the public shall be scheduled to speak at Council meetings at times
and in such manner as the Council shall establish. Time shall be allotted
at every Council meeting for the public to speak.
Regular meetings of the Council shall be on the first and third
Tuesday of each month; other meetings shall be held at such times
the Council may schedule. Agendas for regular meetings shall be finalized
and filed in the City Clerk's office for public review no later than
noon the day preceding such meeting. Agendas for meetings other than
regular meetings shall be prepared and filed for public review to
the extent practicable. Matters not listed on the agenda for a meeting
may not be finally acted on at that meeting, unless one or more Council
members shall propose an unlisted matter be finally acted upon, and
shall state on the record the reason why such matter was not listed
on the agenda, and the Council shall, by motion and vote, find that
immediate final action on the matter is necessary.
The Council or any member thereof may create such ad hoc committees
and appoint members thereto as deemed necessary in the public interest.
The Council shall have authority to establish bond for any elected
official, public officer, or City employee.
Supervisors shall represent the City at the Saratoga County
Board of Supervisors.
Supervisors shall sit at all meetings of the Council and shall
regularly report to and seek advice from the Council on matters affecting
City residents and taxpayers that are coming before the County Board
of Supervisors. Supervisors may submit agenda items for public information
and discussion, and may request the Council conduct a public hearing
on County issues of interest to the City and taxpayers that are before
the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors.
Nothing in this Charter shall be construed as prohibiting any
person from simultaneously holding the office of County Supervisor
and the office of a Council member.
A vacancy in an elective office shall exist upon the death of
the incumbent, the incumbent's resignation or removal from office,
or occurrence of events specified in § 30 of New York State
Public Officers Law.
In case of a vacancy caused by other than expiration of term,
the Council shall appoint a person to fill such vacancy until the
end of the official year in which said vacancy occurs. If the term
of office of the officer vacating the office continues beyond the
official year in which said vacancy occurs, a person shall be elected
at a special election held after the occurrence of such vacancy to
fill such vacancy for the remainder of the unexpired term.
There shall be a Civil Service Commission. The Council shall
appoint three Civil Service Commissioners to serve for six-year staggered
terms, without compensation. No two members of the Commission shall
be affiliated with the same political party.
The Council shall fill vacancies for unexpired terms. No Civil
Service Commissioner shall hold concurrently another City office or
City employment.
The Civil Service Commission shall prepare its annual budget,
and the Mayor shall present it to the Council.
The Civil Service Law of New York State shall govern the acts
of the Commissioners and powers of the Commission.
The Mayor and each Commissioner shall be entitled to such deputies
and employees as the Council may determine. The Council shall establish
appropriate compensation for each deputy and employee. Each Council
member shall appoint deputies and employees serving his or her Department.
2.6.1
Deputies. Deputies shall be public officers. Each deputy
shall serve at the pleasure of, and not longer than the term of, the
Council member making the deputy's appointment. The Council may establish
appropriate qualifications for any deputy.
2.6.2
Employees of City entities. Whenever it is provided
in this Charter or other law that any agency, board, commission, or
other entity shall have authority to hire one or more employees, such
employees shall be hired in coordination with the Human Resources
Administrator, and their employment shall be consistent with the provisions
of Civil Service Law.
The Council shall adopt a Code of Ethics to guide the actions
of elected and appointed City officers and employees. The Code of
Ethics adopted shall be consistent with Article 18 of the General
Municipal Law of the State of New York. The City Code of Ethics shall
be updated as needed pursuant to § 806 of the General Municipal
Law.
No Council member shall be eligible to hold any appointive office,
position, employment, or contract with the City or any of its entities
for which compensation was established or increased by the Council
while the member served, until one year from the date the Council
member ceased to serve.
The Mayor, Commissioners, and Supervisors may be removed from
office for cause by the Governor in the manner provided for removal
of the Chief Executive Officer of a City in § 33 of the
New York Public Officers Law.
Any appointee or employee may be removed by the officer appointing
such person in a manner consistent with provisions of the New York
Civil Service Law.
