By Local Law No. 1 of the year 2010, Cayuga County Legislature
repealed Local Law No. 1 of 2006 and established the office of County
Administrator for Cayuga County and set forth the powers and duties
of said position. The Cayuga County Legislature now desires to revise
the powers and duties and the minimum qualifications set forth in
said local law and by this article shall set forth the powers, duties,
mode of selection and removal, and term of office of the County Administrator.
The County Administrator shall oversee, provide leadership for
and have general supervision over all departments, offices, and agencies
within the County government structure, though the County Administrator
may from time to time delegate this responsibility to the department's
head(s). The County Administrator shall act as representative of the
County Legislature. Within the limits of his or her authority, he
or she shall be responsible to the County Legislature for the overall
administration of County government and shall provide a full range
of staff services to the County Legislature and its various committees.
He or she shall coordinate the activities of the several officers,
employees, agents, departments, boards, and agencies so that the policies
and programs enunciated by the Cayuga County Legislature, as well
as programs mandated by other governmental authority, are implemented
in a cost-effective manner for the most benefit to the citizens served.
The County Administrator shall be the Budget Officer and shall be
responsible for the overall administration of County government, as
directed by the County Legislature or pursuant to policies adopted
by the County Legislature, and shall provide and coordinate staff
services to the County Legislature, the Chair of the Legislature,
and the committees of the Legislature. The County Administrator shall
perform all the duties now and hereafter conferred or imposed upon
the office by law and directed by the County Legislature and shall
have all the powers and perform all the duties necessarily implied
or incidental thereto. Among such powers and duties, but not by way
of limitation, are the following:
A. To appoint such office staff as may be authorized by the Legislature.
B. Act as the Budget Officer and facilitate the preparation of the annual
budget and provide for appropriate budgetary controls and to promote
the effective, efficient and economical management of appropriated
funds. Oversee and monitor the budget for the County and be responsible
for the development of the County budget with the Budget Office and
department heads within the fiscal guidelines established by the County
Legislature, and for the presentation of this budget annually at the
public hearing. The County Administrator shall also be responsible
for the development and recommendation of a budget program that includes
long-range capital budgeting and annual operating capital budgets
under the direction of the County Legislature.
C. To make recommendations to the appropriate committees of the Legislature,
or the Chair of the Legislature, for appointments by the Legislature
of all department heads of County government not administered by an
elected official.
D. To coordinate the activities of County department heads and the administration
of all units of County government in order to most efficiently implement
the directives of the Legislature.
E. To supervise all County departments and agencies except as otherwise
required by law. All department and agency heads shall be responsible
to and report to the County Administrator, except as otherwise required
by law.
F. To report annually to the County Legislature concerning the administration
and performance of County departments and agencies.
G. To aid the County Legislature in evaluating proposals presented to
it and make recommendations concerning such proposals.
H. To serve as an advisor to the County Legislature and to develop policy
and procedural recommendations for consideration by the Legislature
which will promote economy and efficiency in the operation of County
government.
I. To undertake administrative and management studies and submit to
the Legislature reports and recommendations regarding governmental
operations as he or she may deem appropriate or the Legislature may
request.
J. To assume line authority over and have day-to-day supervision over
the purchasing group, the Department of Information Technology and
to supervise and administer the Risk Management and Insurance Programs
of County government.
K. To initiate, administer and oversee the collective bargaining process
in County negotiations with organized employee organizations.
L. To represent the County Legislature in contacts with other political
subdivisions and state and federal officials and agencies.
M. To serve as liaison between the County Legislature and the various
boards, commissions and advisory committees and component agencies
established by the County Legislature.
N. To have such other powers and to perform such other duties as may
now or hereafter be conferred or imposed by the County Legislature.
O. Prepare resolutions as directed by the standing committees.
P. Evaluate on an annual basis all department heads, excluding elected
department heads and those appointed department heads who by statute
report directly to the Legislature, and shall make recommendations
on annual salaries/benefits.
Q. To prepare for Legislative approval an evaluation and review process
for those department heads who by statute report directly to the Legislature
and to support the Legislature in implementation of that process.
R. Conduct regular meetings with department heads and others as deemed
necessary.
S. Have the administrative responsibility of approving the organization
within any specific department, or agency or operation subject to
his/her direct administrative control and shall have administrative
control of other temporary assignments within the same department,
agency, or operation or from one department, agency or operation to
another;
T. Have such other powers and perform such other duties as may now or
hereafter be conferred or imposed upon him or her by resolution of
the County Legislature.
The County Administrator shall be evaluated by the Chair of
the Legislature, Majority Leader, Minority Leader(s) and the Chair
of the Government Operations Committee during the thirty-day period
prior to October 1 of each year. The annual performance review shall
be chaired by the Chair of the Government Operations Committee who
shall be responsible for developing a framework for performance review
that will be approved by the Committee and by the Administrator. Such
framework shall be in place no later than January 1 of each year except
in year one of the Administrator's hire, in which year a framework
will be put in place as soon as practicable.
Nothing contained in this article shall operate or be construed
to divest the Legislature of Cayuga County of any of its functions,
powers or duties.
If any clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision, section or
part of this article shall be adjudged by any court of competent jurisdiction
to be invalid, such judgment, decree or order shall not affect, impair
or invalidate the remainder thereof, but shall be confined in its
operation of the clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision, section,
or part thereof directly involved in the controversy in which such
judgment, decree or order shall have been rendered.