In pursuance of the provisions of § 369 of the County
Law, pertaining to the audit and payment of claims, and the provisions
of § 209 of the County Law wherein the County Legislature
is empowered to conduct investigations into matters within its jurisdiction,
including the power to issue subpoenas and examine persons in interest,
it shall be the duty of the Legislature, directly or by committee,
to cause all claims to be thoroughly investigated, and the Legislature
or any member of the committee so delegated shall have the power to
issue subpoenas in pursuance of § 209 of the County Law
to compel the attendance of the claimant or any other person or persons
to appear to be sworn or affirmed and testify before the Legislature
or a committee delegated by the Legislature relative to such claim
and when so sworn to answer as to any facts relative to the justness
of the same; the result of such examination shall be filed with this
Legislature. Such subpoenas shall be served at any place provided
by statute within the State of New York, and in the same manner in
which subpoenas issued out of the courts of record are served. Proceedings
to punish for any failure to comply therewith shall be taken pursuant
to Article 23 of the Civil Practice Law and Rules.
The Chair of the Legislature or any member of said committee
may administer the oath to any witness, and adjournments may be taken
from time to time. The power to compel witnesses to testify as provided
in this section is for the sole benefit of the County of Dutchess
and no transcript of testimony given or record or records of proceedings
had in any examination pursuant to this section shall be subject to
or available for public inspection, except upon court order upon good
cause shown; provided, however, that a claimant shall be permitted
to inspect such transcript or record with respect to his/her own claim
and to make, obtain or be furnished with a copy thereof at his/her
own expense without court order.