[Amended 12-6-2012 by L.L. No. 8-2012]
The County of Dutchess shall be a social services district,
as defined in § 61, Subdivision 2, of the Social Services
Law. There shall be a Department of Community and Family Services
under the direction of a Commissioner of Community and Family Services,
who shall be appointed by the County Executive subject to confirmation
by the County Legislature. He/She shall be appointed on the basis
of his/her professional experience and other qualifications for the
responsibilities of his/her office. He/She shall be directly responsible
to and, unless otherwise required by law, serve at the pleasure of
the County Executive.
[Amended 12-6-2012 by L.L. No. 7-2012]
Except as may otherwise be provided in this Charter, the Commissioner
shall manage and supervise all social services institutions and facilities
owned or operated by the County. In addition, he/she shall have all
the powers and perform all the duties conferred or imposed by law
upon a county commissioner of social services and county department
that provides youth services to its residents; he/she shall supervise
the Division of Youth Services and perform such other and related
duties required by the County Executive or County Legislature.
The Commissioner of Community and Family Services shall have
the power to appoint such Deputy Commissioners, assistants and employees
of his/her department as shall be authorized by the County Legislature.
Such persons shall meet the qualifications prescribed by the Social
Services Law and the Commissioner of Social Services of the State
of New York. Except as otherwise provided in this Charter, the Administrative
Code or applicable law, all such appointees shall be directly responsible
to, and serve at the pleasure of, the Commissioner.
The Commissioner of Community and Family Services, subject to
approval by the County Executive, shall designate in writing, and
in order of succession, the Deputy Commissioners and assistants who
shall be Acting Commissioner of Community and Family Services in the
event of his/her absence from the County or inability to perform and
exercise the powers and duties of his/her office. Such designation
shall be filed with the County Clerk and the Clerk of the County Legislature
and may be revoked at any time by the Commissioner filing a new written
designation and order of succession. The Acting Commissioner of Community
and Family Services shall have all the powers and perform all the
duties of the Commissioner.
