[Amended 8-8-2016 by L.L. No. 7-2016, approved 11-8-2016, effective 1-1-2017]
The legislative branch of the government of the County shall consist of an elective governing body which shall be known as the "Albany County Legislature." Its members shall be known as "County Legislators." One person shall be elected from each of the districts into which the County shall be divided as provided in this Charter. The County Legislature shall constitute the legislative, appropriating and policy determining body of the County.
It is not the intention of this Charter to abolish, supersede, curtail or in any way affect any powers or rights heretofore conferred upon or delegated to the prior County Legislature, nor shall the provisions of this Charter be construed as superseding any provisions of any law, resolution, or enactment having the effect of law, relating to the functions, powers, duties, rights, methods or procedures of the prior County Legislature, unless a contrary intention is clearly manifested from the express provisions of this Charter.
All County Legislators shall be electors of the County and have been residents continuously in the County and the district represented for at least one (1) year prior to taking office. Each County Legislator shall reside in the district from which that County Legislator seeks election at the time of nomination for office, and continue to be a resident of the County and of the district within the County which she represents for the entire term of her office, subject, however, to the following exception: in the case of an election immediately following the reapportionment of County Legislative Districts, the incumbent County Legislator representing a district redrawn in such reapportionment shall be eligible for nomination for election in either the district of residence, or any newly drawn district which is contiguous to the district of residence, provided that the County Legislator shall become a resident of the district represented prior to taking office. Members of the County Legislature shall be nominated at the primary election in the same manner other County officers are nominated pursuant to the provisions of the Election Law.
Except as provided in this Section 202, or as otherwise provided by law, the term of office for each member of the County Legislature shall begin on January 1 following the member's election. The elections for County Legislators shall be conducted at the general election of 1995 and at general elections every fourth year thereafter.
[Amended 8-8-2016 by L.L. No. 7-2016, approved 11-8-2016, effective 1-1-2017]
(a) 
The County Legislature shall meet on or before January 8th following its election, and in each even-numbered year thereafter, for the purpose of organization and for the transaction of such other business as may come before it. Written notice shall be given to each Legislator by the Clerk of the County Legislature not later than five (5) days prior to such meeting. In the event of a vacancy in the office of the Clerk of the County Legislature, or his or her inability or failure to act in accordance with the provisions of this section, notice shall be given by the County Clerk. After such organizational meeting, the County Legislature shall hold monthly meetings on the days designated in the rules of the County Legislature, and at such other times as it may fix by resolution, duly adopted by a vote of a majority of the whole number of the County Legislature, or as authorized by its rules.
(b) 
At the organizational meeting of the County Legislature a permanent Chairperson shall be elected. The Chairperson shall serve until the next organizational meeting of that County Legislature. In case of her death, removal, resignation or retirement from the County Legislature, a successor Chairperson shall be elected for the unexpired term. In the event of a failure to elect a permanent chairperson on any day provided in this Charter, the County Legislature shall adjourn from day to day, Sundays and holidays excepted, until a Chairperson is elected. The Clerk shall preside until such time as a Chairperson has been elected.
(c) 
The Chairperson shall have and may cast the vote to which she is entitled as a member of the County Legislature.
(d) 
At the organizational meeting of the County Legislature in January, and at each organizational meeting thereafter, the County Legislature shall appoint a Clerk, a Deputy Clerk, and such Majority and Minority Counsels as it may deem appropriate, together with such other employees as it may deem necessary. Such officers and employees of the County Legislature shall serve until the next organizational meeting of the County Legislature. Any Majority and Minority Counsels which may be appointed shall be appointed in the manner provided for in the rules of the County Legislature. The Deputy Clerk shall perform the duties of the Clerk in the Clerk's absence and such other duties in connection with that office as directed by the County Legislature or Clerk. The Clerk and Deputy Clerk shall each give a bond in amount, and with such sureties as the County Legislature shall require. The Counsel to the Majority and Counsel to the Minority shall be appointed in accordance with the rules of the County Legislature, and their compensation shall be within the limits of appropriations approved by the County Executive. At the time of their appointments, and throughout their time in office, the Majority Counsel and Minority Counsel shall be duly admitted to practice law in the State of New York. The rules of the County Legislature shall provide for the method and procedure of the appointment and retention of staff and employees of the County Legislature within the limits of appropriation approved by the County Executive. The Majority Counsel and staff shall serve at the pleasure of the Majority Leader, and the Minority Counsel and staff shall serve at the pleasure of the Minority Leader. Majority Counsel and Minority Counsel shall prepare resolutions, legislation, legalizing acts, local laws and ordinances to be presented for action by the County Legislature, together with notices and other items in connection herewith.
(e) 
The County Legislature shall have power to enact local laws, resolutions or rules fixing the dates and time of its sessions, which shall govern the conduct of the members at such sessions and the manner of transacting business, prescribe penalties for the failure of members to attend stated or adjourned meetings and the manner of enforcing or collecting such penalties, and fix the time when and the form in which reports shall be made to the County Legislature by any officer of the County.
(f) 
The standing committees prescribed by the rules of the County Legislature, or by any local law adopted by the County Legislature, or which may hereafter be adopted by the County Legislature, shall be appointed by the Chairperson within twenty (20) days of the Chairperson's election. Such appointments shall be in writing and filed with the Clerk of the County Legislature, who shall give notice of such appointments to the members of the County Legislature. The committee members shall continue in office until successors have been appointed, but no member of the County Legislature whose term shall have expired, or who shall have resigned or been removed from office, shall continue to serve on any committee after she has ceased being a member of the County Legislature.
(g) 
The rules of the County Legislature shall indicate the proportionate make-up of majority and minority members of committees.
[Amended 8-8-2016 by L.L. No. 7-2016, approved 11-8-2016, effective 1-1-2017]
The County Legislature shall have the power to fix the compensation of its members and the Chairperson, which compensation shall be a stated annual salary to be paid in equal monthly installments by the Commissioner of Management and Budget. The County Legislature may, however, fix the initial compensation of the County Legislature prior to the next election of such County Legislature. The compensation of the members and the Chairperson shall not be increased nor decreased during the term of office.
Expenses actually incurred by any County Legislator under the authority or direction of the County Legislature, outside the limits of the County, may be paid in the manner as other County charges, but no claims for expenses shall be audited or allowed which are not fully itemized and verified by affidavit of the claimant in the manner prescribed by law.
The Clerk, Deputy Clerk, and any majority and minority counsels and other employees of the County Legislature shall each receive a stated annual salary which shall be fixed by the County Legislature and paid in the same manner as other County salaries are paid.
The County Legislature shall have sole responsibility for the organization, appointment and removal of its staff. The County Legislature shall also have responsibility for the compensation to be paid for such legislative staff positions within the appropriations approved by the County Executive for such staff.
A vacancy in the County Legislature shall be filled by appointment by a majority of the remaining members of the County Legislature within forty (40) days of the vacancy. The appointee shall serve until the January 1 following the next general election, at which election such vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired term. Any successor so appointed or elected shall possess all the qualifications required of members of the County Legislature as set forth in this Charter.
Any vacancy in any committee of the County Legislature shall be filled by appointment by the Chairperson.
[Amended 12-2-2002 by L.L. No. 7-2002, approved 12-20-2002; 8-28-2003 by L.L. No. 4-2003, approved 9-5-2003; 10-12-2004 by L.L. No. 2-2004, approved 10-28-2004; 5-23-2011 by L.L. No. 1-2011, approved 6-6-2011; 6-8-2015 by L.L. No. 5-2015, approved 7-8-2015]
For the purpose of electing County Legislators, the County shall be divided into thirty-nine (39) districts. One County Legislator shall be elected to the County Legislature of Albany County from each of said districts. The thirty-nine (39) districts within the County of Albany are as follows.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: The current list and descriptions of legislative districts are included as an attachment to the Charter.
[Amended 5-13-2019 by L.L. No. 8-2019, approved 6-6-2019]
(a) 
A Commission on Redistricting (identified in this local law as "the Commission") shall be established to make recommendations to the County Legislature on whether and how the County Legislature should be redistricted when required. Triggering events include but may not be limited to: 1) upon publication of the results of the federal decennial census for Albany County, 2) upon publication of census tracts and block statistics based upon any federal or special population census taken pursuant to Section 20 of General Municipal Law, and held not more than once every five years, or any annexation which has the effect of increasing or decreasing the population of any legislative district by more than 10%. This process shall be completed before the next County legislative election following the federal decennial census.
(b) 
Commission composition.
(i) 
The Commission shall consist of nine members who are County residents, registered voters in New York State, but shall not have been in the last four years immediately preceding the creation of the Commission: 1.) a publicly elected official, which shall mean any individual elected to local, County, state or federal office, excluding school board members and library trustees, but including those elected as members of political parties; 2.) a state employee who serves as a political appointee or legislative employee; 3) a political party chairperson or officer. Further exclusions of individuals that may not serve on the Commission are fully identified in Section F.
(ii) 
The Commission Members shall be selected to reflect the diversity of the residents of this County with regard to race, ethnicity, gender, language, and geographic residence (including representative of rural/small communities). In selecting Commission Members, the Legislature shall consult with organizations devoted to protecting the voting rights of minority voters as recognized by the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 (as amended). These requirements will ensure that the Commission's members are both independent, representative of the County's diverse communities, and sensitive to the critical importance to voters of fair and proper district lines.
(iii) 
The Commission shall be constituted prior to the formation of the MMD Subcommittee.
(c) 
Majority Minority District Redistricting Subcommittee - Intent and Functions.
(i) 
To ensure that the voting interests of minority residents and voters are adequately and appropriately incorporated into a redistricting proposal, a special Majority Minority District (MMD) Redistricting Subcommittee (identified further as the MMD Subcommittee) will be also established that will work collaboratively and in tandem with the Commission. The MMD Subcommittee will be created as a vital component of the Commission's work and efforts and shall make recommendations to the Commission regarding the configuration of minority districts, with the goal of protecting voting rights of minority residents and ensuring electoral representation of minority residents residing in MMDs. The unique focus of the MMD Subcommittee shall be to ensure the representation of Albany County minority communities in all aspects of the redistricting process.
(ii) 
The MMD Subcommittee shall have the authority and funds to contract its own outside legal/redistricting consultant.
(iii) 
The intent of the work of the MMD Subcommittee shall be to fully examine the issues unique to the MMD communities and their residents and shall be presented for inclusion into the final report of the Commission.
(d) 
MMD Redistricting subcommittee composition, appointment process and function.
(i) 
The MMD Subcommittee shall consist of seven members who are representative of the minority communities. MMD Subcommittee Members shall be County residents, registered voters in New York State, but shall not have been in the last four years preceding the creation of the MMD Subcommittee: 1.) a publicly elected official, which shall mean any individual elected to local, County, state or federal office, excluding school board members and library trustees, but including those elected as members of political parties; 2.) a state employee who serves as a political appointee or legislative employee; 3) a political party chairperson or officer. Further exclusions of individuals that may not serve on the MMD Subcommittee are fully identified in Section F.
(ii) 
Appointments to the MMD Subcommittee may be made in the year of the census, after extensive, repeated solicitation by the Albany County Legislature of potential appointees that are knowledgeable, capable, interested and experienced in the redistricting field. The Albany County Legislature shall use all communication means necessary to educate the public on the Commission and MMD Subcommittee process and need for appointees.
(iii) 
After a County-wide solicitation of potential appointees, the Chair of the LBC shall make advisory recommendations to the Chair and Members of the Commission regarding qualified candidates to serve on the MMD Subcommittee. The Commission Members, by a majority vote, appoint three representatives who shall serve on the MMD Subcommittee. Subsequently, those Members, after examining the recommendations of the Chair of the LBC, shall select the remaining members of the MMD Subcommittee, by a majority vote. The MMD Subcommittee shall select its own leadership by voting on a Chairperson at its first meeting.
(iv) 
The MMD Subcommittee will be required to hold its own hearings and public forums to collect and consider the inputs from impacted communities, as well as the County communities at large. The subsequent work products of the MMD subcommittee, including the drawing of the maps of the MMD districts, shall be presented for inclusion into the final report of the Commission. The Commission shall, upon the receipt of the report from the MMD, reflect its consideration and prepare a written report to the Legislature that documents its consideration of the recommendations of the MMD Subcommittee prior to the submission of the final report to the Legislature for vote. Should the Commission elect to exclude material elements and recommendations of the MMD Subcommittee's report and work product, it shall provide a detailed justification and rationale regarding its decision, which shall be part of the official record of the Commission and its deliberations.
(e) 
Commission membership and process.
(i) 
In the year of the census, the Albany County Legislature shall solicit interest widely throughout Albany County for knowledgeable, interested and capable individuals to serve on the Commission. To encourage interest of the widest possible pool of qualified and knowledgeable individuals, the County Legislature shall regularly use all communication means necessary to solicit interest in serving on the Commission and the MMD Redistricting Subcommittee. Interested individuals shall provide to a designated County email or mailing address information that shall include but not be limited to: resume, credentials, any relevant expertise in the redistricting and legal fields, community background and experience and other important information regarding the individual's capacity and interest in serving on the Commission.
(ii) 
It is the intent of the Legislature that because the Commission appointees will reflect a cross section of backgrounds, expertise, interests and credentials, a broad solicitation of diverse individuals is required. The members of the Commission shall reflect the diversity of the residents of Albany County with respect to socio-economic status, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and geographic residence, including the representation of rural and small communities.
(f) 
Commission independence.
(i) 
To further ensure that the Commission's Members adhere to the highest ethical standards, the following individuals shall not be eligible to serve:
[1] 
Within the four years immediately preceding the creation of the Commission, or any subsequent Commissions under this law, or through their term of service on the Commission, neither the applicant, nor a member of his or her immediate family, may have done any of the following:
[1] 
Been appointed to, elected to, or have been a candidate for federal, state, County, or local office, excluding school board members, library trustees, and fire Commissioners;
[2] 
Served as an officer, employee, or paid consultant of a political party or of the campaign committee of a candidate for elective federal, state, County, or local office;
[3] 
Served as a paid Congressional or State political appointee or employee of the State Legislature;
[4] 
Been an Albany County employee, or paid consultant;
[5] 
Serve as a registered lobbyist in the State of New York.
[2] 
Staff and consultants to, persons under a contract with, or any person with an immediate family relationship with any County or publicly elected official, excluding school board members, library trustees and fire Commissioners, are not eligible to serve as commission members. As used in this subdivision, a member of a person's "immediate family" is one with whom the person has a bona fide relationship established through blood or legal relation, including spouse, parents, children, siblings, and in-laws.
(g) 
Timing of commission appointments.
(i) 
All appointments to the Commission or the MMD Redistricting Subcommittee may be made in the year of the census, after extensive solicitation of appointees that are expert, knowledgeable and experienced in the redistricting field. Initial appointments to the Commission from the pool of interested parties gathered in this manner shall represent various geographic areas of the County and must be made by the time the census data becomes available. The (nine) Appointments shall be made to the Commission in the following manner: The Majority Leader, Minority Leader, Chairperson of the Legislature, Chairperson of the Legislative Black Caucus shall each make one appointment to the Commission (comporting with the other exclusions contained in this local law). These four individuals shall make the remaining five appointments to the Commission (also comporting with other exclusions of this local law). In making the five appointments, the four Commission Members shall make every effort to reach consensus on each Commission selection, but selections shall be made by majority vote. The Commission shall select its own leadership by voting on a Chairperson at its first meeting, from among the five independently selected Commission Members.
(ii) 
Vacancies in the membership of the Commission shall be filled within 30 days by a manner determined by the remaining Commission Members.
(h) 
Request for proposal process.
(i) 
The Commission and MMD Subcommittee shall expeditiously issue two Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for map drawing services, one for Majority Minority districts (MMD) and the other for the entirety of Albany County. Together with the Albany County Division of Purchasing, the Committee and Subcommittee shall be empowered to create and draft RFP's consistent with Article 13 of the Albany County Charter, the Albany County Procurement Policy, and any relevant state or federal laws. Both RFPs (the Commission and the MMD Subcommittee) shall be evaluated based on their ability to produce maps and supporting data, and engage in publicly informed and participatory processes that eventually produce successfully drawn maps that reflect the goals identified in Section I. Out of the RFP Process, the selected entities shall provide map drawing expert resources, modeling of districts, data-driven analysis that shall assist the Commission and MMD Subcommittee in fully understanding and determining the impact of the redistricting process.
(i) 
Compliance and Adherence with Appropriate Federal Laws and Equal Representation Goals.
(i) 
The Commission, the MMD Redistricting Subcommittee, staff and the consultant(s) hired under the RFP shall comply with the requirements of 52 U.S.C. 1001 (Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965) and in all subsequent relevant statutes and case law.
(ii) 
The Commission and the MMD Subcommittee shall be guided by the goal of equal and fair representation of all people in Albany County, consistent with established state and federal law as interpreted by courts of appropriate jurisdiction. Factors to consider include, but shall not be limited to:
[1] 
Whether such lines would result in the denial or abridgement of racial or language minority voting rights, and districts shall not be drawn to have the purpose of, nor shall they result in, the denial or abridgement of such rights. Districts shall be drawn so that, based on the totality of the circumstances, racial or minority language groups do not have less opportunity to participate in the political process than other members of the electorate and to elect representatives of their choice;
[2] 
Shall minimize population variance, to the extent practicable, among districts in accordance with federal law, but in no instance shall a district's population exceed 105% or be less than 95% of the ideal district size;
[3] 
Each district shall consist of contiguous territory;
[4] 
Each district shall be as compact in form as practicable;
[5] 
Districts shall be consistent with existing municipal and rural boundaries, and neighborhoods within Albany County; and balance and reasonableness for the diversity of citizens residing in all parts of the County;
[6] 
The places of residences of incumbents or candidates shall not be identified or considered;
[7] 
Party registration shall be excluded from all phases of the mapping process but may be used to test maps for compliance with the above goals with party voting history and participation included.
(j) 
Commission and MMD Subcommittee Appropriations, Staffing and Operations:
(i) 
In the fiscal year prior to the establishment of the Commission, the Legislature shall appropriate funding for all aspects of the activities of the Commission and the MMD Subcommittee. These funds shall provide for all expenses of the work of the Commission and MMD Subcommittee, funds for the compensation of consultants, members and staff, as well as funding for any duties that the County Legislature shall deem necessary to facilitate the performance of the Commission and MMD Subcommittee's duties identified in this Local Law. The Commission and MMD Subcommittee shall establish clear criteria for the securing and overseeing of staff and consultants, communications protocols and processes, and a code of conduct. The Commission shall apply the conflicts of interest listed in subdivision F to the hiring of staff to the extent practicable. The Commission shall require that legal counsel hired by the Commission have demonstrated and extensive experience and expertise in redistricting processes, and in the implementation and enforcement of the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1971 et seq.).
(ii) 
Commission and MMD Subcommittee members and staff shall exercise the highest standards of conduct, and disclose to Commission/MMD Subcommittee colleagues substantive communications with elected officials, staff and other public officials that occur outside public hearings or meetings of the Commission and MMD Subcommittee.
(iii) 
The Commission and the MMD Subcommittee will work in a process that allows for timely input from the County Legislature and its members and allows for the maximum amount of public participation, engagement, and comment. The Commission and the MMD Subcommittee will be committed to full transparency and accountability including the timely posting of its meetings, agendas, minutes, data and any relevant reports or information that is included in the body of work of the Commission and the MMD Redistricting Subcommittee.
(iv) 
All meeting minutes, notes, documents, reports, and any work product of the Commission and MMD Subcommittee shall be maintained and preserved as official documents of the redistricting process and housed by the Office of the Clerk of the Albany County Legislature. The Commission and MMD Subcommittee will work collaboratively and closely together, with full discussion and dialogue taking place between the two structures. The Commission and MMD shall have the authority to solicit information and expert opinion from government agencies and staff as they see fit.
(k) 
Commission and MMD Redistricting Subcommittee Hearings/Public Comment Periods and Public Access to Information:
(i) 
During the preparation of the redistricting plan, the Commission working closely and in collaboration with the MMD Subcommittee shall conduct not less than four public hearings throughout the County. The MMD Subcommittee shall be empowered to hold its own public hearings for additional community input. These public hearings shall be publicized widely, with ample notice to ensure the maximum level of citizen participation and engagement. The purpose of the public hearing process is to promote a high level of understanding of the process and its implications to the public, to provide expert presentations and access to Commission and MMD leaders, staff and consultants, allow for ample public comment, and to communicate the process of the redistricting process to the public. All public hearings should be publicized and information about the meetings should be widely disseminated. The Albany County website shall be the venue for the collection of all information regarding the work of the Commission and MMD Subcommittee.
(ii) 
The Commission and the MMD Subcommittee shall make available to the public, on the Albany County website and through electronic media efforts, any draft redistricting plans and concepts, relevant data, and related information. Such plans, data, and information shall be in a form that allows and facilitates their use by the public to review, analyze, and comment upon such plans. The Commission can adjust its redistricting outline based on input received from the public. Prior to the final redistricting plan being presented for adoption by the Legislature, the Commission shall conduct a final public hearing to ensure that the residents of Albany County have ample opportunity to understand, provide comment and feedback on the final report. The Commission shall report the findings of all public hearings in a written report to the legislature upon submission of the final redistricting plan.
(l) 
Final report of the commission.
(i) 
The Commission shall submit its final report in the form of a proposed local law to the Clerk of the County Legislature within 30 days after the final report is completed for distribution to the members of the Legislature. This report, and any and all subsequent changes to it, will be part of the official public records of the Commission's work and available on the designated webpage of the Albany County website.
(ii) 
No later than 30 days after receiving the final report, the Chairperson of the County Legislature shall submit to the County Legislature, the Commission's final redistricting report in the form of a proposed local law, for consideration by the full Legislature. No later than 60 days after its submission by the Chairperson, the proposed local law shall be forwarded to the full legislature for consideration. The County Legislature may then by a majority vote of the whole number of its members choose to adopt such proposed local law on legislative districts. If such proposed local law is not adopted, the Commission shall be empowered to continue its work through subsequent amendment processes to ensure legislative passage and enactment in a timely manner. The Commission shall submit a revised report to the Legislature no later than 60 days after the proposed local law has been returned to it. The Legislature may provide feedback and recommendations to the Commission in order to assist the Commission in providing an updated redistricting report. The Commission shall call another public hearing if the modifications are considered to be (by Commission Members) of a significant or material nature. The revised report shall be submitted and subsequently introduced in accordance with the requirements of Section L (1) and (2) respectively. The County Legislature shall consider the recommendations included in any updated report.
(iii) 
The County Legislature, in applying its responsibility for redistricting, will ensure that the federal requirement of one person, one vote is achieved with the redistricting plan outlined in this Local Law.
(iv) 
The County Executive may either approve or veto the legislation. If vetoed, the Executive shall prepare and submit in writing to the Legislature and the Commission, his or her rationale for vetoing the final redistricting report. This will become part of the public record of the Commission's deliberations. The Legislature may either override the veto or request the Commission continue its deliberations to provide the Legislature with another redistricting plan, which shall be considered by the Legislature as outlined in Section.
(v) 
The Commission and its MMD Subcommittee shall be discharged upon the successful conclusion of the Albany County redistricting process.
(m) 
Effective date.
(i) 
This Local Law shall take effective immediately upon filing with the Secretary of State. Pursuant to Municipal Home Rule Law Section 33, this Local Law, amending the present Albany County Charter shall not become operative unless and until this Local Law is approved by the duly qualified voters of Albany County in the manner prescribed by law at the general election of November 5, 2019.
The County Legislature shall have and exercise all of the powers and duties conferred upon the County Legislature as set forth in this Charter and now or hereafter generally conferred by applicable law, as well as all powers necessarily incidental thereto, and shall, for the purposes of general laws conferring powers upon boards of supervisors, be deemed a board of supervisors, and be the policy-making body of the County.
The County Legislature shall also have, but not by way of limitation, the following powers and duties:
(a) 
Determining policy for the County and to adopt all necessary rules and regulations for its conduct and procedure;
(b) 
Making appropriations, levy taxes, and incur indebtedness;
(c) 
Equalizing real property taxes consistent with standards prescribed by state law and on the basis of information supplied by the New York State Board of Equalization and Assessment and the County Real Property Tax Service Agency;
(d) 
Exercising all powers of local legislation in relation to enacting, amending or rescinding local laws, legalizing acts, ordinances or resolutions, subject to the veto of the County Executive as set forth in Section 309 of this Charter;
(e) 
Adopting, amending or repealing by local law an Administrative Code, subject to the veto of the County Executive as set forth in Section 309 of this Charter, which shall set forth the details of administration of the County government, consistent with the provisions of this Charter. The Administrative Code may contain revisions and restatements of special laws, local laws, resolutions, rules and regulations as are consistent with this Charter;
(f) 
Establishing a schedule of compensation for officers and employees paid from County funds. This schedule of compensation may establish a minimum and maximum for any class of employees, and an increase in compensation, within the limits provided for by any class of employees, as may be granted at any time by the County Executive or other appointing authority;
(g) 
Fixing the amount of bonds of officers and employees paid from County funds;
(h) 
Legalizing and validating any act had and taken in connection with a lawful municipal purpose by the governing board or other local body, officer or agency of a municipality wholly within the County, in the manner provided by Section 227 of the County Law;
(i) 
Exercising legislative oversight of County programs and administrative units;
(j) 
Adopting a budget in the manner set forth in the Charter;
(k) 
[1]Creating, altering, combining or abolishing administrative units within County government, provided that such administrative units are not headed by elected officials;
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection (k), regarding the Legislature's authority to confirm administrative unit heads appointed by the County Executive, was repealed 8-8-2016 by L.L. No. 7-2016, approved 11-8-2016, effective 1-1-2017. This local law also redesignated the remaining subsections as Subsections (k) through (o).
(l) 
Approving contracts for the purchase and sale of real property, contracts for intergovernmental services and collective bargaining agreements, and those contracts subject to and in accordance with Article 13 of this Charter;
(m) 
Determining and making provision for any matter of County government not otherwise provided for;
(n) 
Preparing a legislative operational budget; and
(o) 
Designating, on an annual basis, official newspapers for the publication of all enactments, notices and other matters required by law to be published.
[Added 8-8-2016 by L.L. No. 7-2016, approved 11-8-2016, effective 1-1-2017]
A proposed appointment to County office by the County Executive that requires confirmation by the County Legislature under provisions of this Charter shall be presented by the County Executive to the Clerk of the County Legislature in writing in sufficient time to allow the Clerk to inform the full County Legislature of the proposed appointment at least two (2) weeks prior to the County Legislature's next scheduled meeting. If the County Legislature fails to confirm such proposed appointment within sixty (60) days after filing with the Clerk, the appointment shall be deemed confirmed. When an appointment is rejected by the County Legislature, the appointment of the same individual for the same position may not be resubmitted by the County Executive without the approval of the County legislature.
[Added 8-8-2016 by L.L. No. 7-2016, approved 11-8-2016, effective 1-1-2017]
(a) 
Except as otherwise provided in this Charter, the County Executive shall have power, within ten (10) days, or in the case of a local law thirty (30) days, after its presentation to him or her by the Clerk, to veto any legislation passed by the County Legislature, except local laws and any such legislation which relates to the internal organization and operation of the County Legislature, and appointments made by the Legislature, including, but not limited to:
(i) 
The creation, operation, funding and abolition of standing and special committees of the County Legislature, standing boards and commissions created pursuant to this Charter and temporary studies, commissions, committees, task forces or other such groups created by the County Legislature;
(ii) 
The appointments to boards, commissions or other such bodies by the Chairperson or the County Legislature, where the legislation creating such bodies authorizes the appointment of members to such bodies by the Chairperson or the County Legislature;
(iii) 
The day-to day operations of the County Legislature;
(iv) 
The organization of the County Legislative staff, including the creation and abolition of positions for such staff and the compensation to be paid for such positions; and the appointment and removal of such County Legislative staff; and
(v) 
The adoption, amendment or repeal of rules of the County Legislature.
A copy of such legislation shall immediately after its passage be separately certified by the Clerk and filed by the Clerk with the County Executive within five (5) days after its passage.
(b) 
If the County Executive approves it, he or she shall sign it and return it to the Clerk, and the legislation shall thereupon take effect. If the County Executive vetoes it, he or she shall return it to the Clerk with his or her objections stated, in writing, and the Clerk shall present the same with such objections to the County Legislature at its next regular or special meeting called for that purpose, and such objections shall be entered upon its record, journal or minutes of the proceeding.
(c) 
Except as otherwise provided in this Charter, the County Legislature, within forty- five (45) days after its return to the Clerk, may, by a three-fifths (3/5) vote of the whole number of its members, override such veto. Only one (1) vote shall be had to override such veto, which shall be taken by roll call and entered upon its record, journal or minutes of the proceeding. Wherever, as provided for in this Charter, a three-fifths (3/5) vote of the whole number of the County Legislature's members is required to override a certain action taken by the County Executive, if a fraction exists in the computation of such three-fifths (3/5), then it will be required to round up to the next whole number for determination of such three-fifths (3/5) vote.
(d) 
If any of such legislation shall not be returned by the County Executive within ten (10) days after it shall have been presented to him or her, or if it shall be returned within such period without the County Executive's approval or veto, it shall be deemed to be adopted with like effect as if he or she had approved and signed it.
(e) 
The procedures to be followed and the powers of the County Executive and County Legislature relative to the passage and veto of local laws shall be governed by and in accordance with Article 3 of the Municipal Home Rule Law of the State of New York.
[Added 8-8-2016 by L.L. No. 7-2016, approved 11-8-2016, effective 1-1-2017]
The County Legislature shall enact and amend an Administrative Code organizing the administration of County government, and setting forth the details thereof, consistent with the provisions of this Charter. The Administrative Code may contain revisions, simplifications, consolidations, modifications and restatements of special laws, local laws, ordinances, resolutions, rules and regulations consistent with this Charter or amendments thereto. All local laws and ordinances shall be included in the Administrative Code, together with any resolutions designated for that purpose by either the County Legislature or the County Executive. It shall be the responsibility of the County Clerk to compile, publish, and disseminate the Administrative Code, and recommend revisions thereto, in a continuing program to provide greater efficiency and economy in the operation of government.
[Added 8-8-2016 by L.L. No. 7-2016, approved 11-8-2016, effective 1-1-2017]
(a) 
A local law is a law adopted pursuant to this Charter within the power granted by the New York State Constitution, act of the Legislature or provision of this Charter and shall not include a resolution, ordinance or legalizing act.
(b) 
The County Legislature may adopt, amend or repeal local laws by a majority vote of the whole number of its members. Each local law shall embrace only one (1) subject and may relate to property, affairs or government of the County, or any other subject of County concern. In the exercise of such power, and within the limitations provided by Article 4 of the Municipal Home Rule Law of the State of New York, the County may change, supersede or amend any act of the State Legislature.
(c) 
Except as may otherwise be provided in this Charter, all procedural details relating to the adoption, amendment and repeal of local laws, including the conduct of mandatory and permissive referenda in connection therewith, shall be as provided in the Administrative Code or other applicable law.
(d) 
Every local law shall become effective when filed in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of New York, or on such later date as may be provided in the local law.
[Added 8-8-2016 by L.L. No. 7-2016, approved 11-8-2016, effective 1-1-2017]
The filing and publication of local laws shall be as provided by Section 27 of the Municipal Home Rule Law of the State of New York, and the court shall take judicial notice of all local laws and of rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto. Within five (5) days after the taking of effect of a local law, the Clerk shall file a certified copy thereof in the office of the County Clerk, and three (3) copies in the office of the Secretary of State. Such certified copy shall contain the text only of the local law without the brackets and the matter within the brackets, or the italicizing or underscoring, if any, to indicate the changes made by it. At the same time the Clerk shall cause to be published at least once as a County charge in the designated official newspaper a notice that such local law was adopted, a brief description of such local law and that the full text of such local law may be examined during regular business hours in the office of the Clerk of the County Legislature, provided that failure to do so shall not affect the validity of such local law.
[Added 8-8-2016 by L.L. No. 7-2016, approved 11-8-2016, effective 1-1-2017]
(a) 
The County Legislature may adopt, amend and repeal resolutions by a majority vote of the whole number of its members. Each resolution shall embrace only one (1) subject and may relate to property or any other subject of County concern not required by this Charter or applicable law to be provided by local law. Resolutions shall not be subject to referenda.
(b) 
Except as otherwise provided in the Charter, all procedural details relating to the adoption, amendment and repeal of resolutions shall be as provided in the Administrative Code or applicable law.
[Added 8-8-2016 by L.L. No. 7-2016, approved 11-8-2016, effective 1-1-2017]
Ordinances may be adopted by the County Legislature, and the procedure shall be the same as herein provided for the adoption of local laws, except that an ordinance shall not be subject to referendum, mandatory or permissive, except also for any filing requirements. An ordinance may provide for any subject matter of County concern not required to be provided by local law, legalizing act or resolution of the County Legislature. Such ordinance may provide for its enforcement by legal or equitable proceedings in a court of competent jurisdiction, may prescribe that violations thereof shall constitute offenses or misdemeanors and may provide for punishment of violations by civil penalty or by fine or imprisonment or by two (2) or more such penalties or punishments. Ordinances and their application, including particular subjects and form, may be further provided in the Administrative Code.