Resolution No. ___, June 13, 2007
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REQUESTING STATE ASSISTANCE AND ESTABLISHING INTER-MUNICIPAL COLLABORATION COUNCIL AS PROVIDED IN ULSTER COUNTY CHARTER
The Efficiency, Reform and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee (list) offer the following:

WHEREAS, The Commission on Local Government Efficiency and Competitiveness was established by Governor Spitzer to address the issues of local government merger, consolidation, regionalized government, shared services and smart growth as a collaborative venture with local officials, and

WHEREAS, the Commission is asking county leaders to coordinate the task of identifying initiatives and to submit proposed initiatives, and

WHEREAS, the Commission is looking for significant proposals that go beyond traditional implementation of inter-municipal agreements, and are requesting that counties take on difficult or far-reaching projects, and

WHEREAS, the Commission staff, with the help of the Interagency Task Force, will select proposals that are most substantial, innovative and hold the greatest promise for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of local government, and

WHEREAS, the Commission staff will serve as consultants for county projects, providing legal and logistical advice, or identify knowledgeable experts, facilitate discussions at the local level or mediate differences of opinion, and provide other assistance to selected projects, and

WHEREAS, the Efficiency, Reform and Intergovernmental Committee has met and outlined the following projects:
• Study of sharing resources, inter-municipal agreements, collaborative efforts and combination of Town and County Highway Departments.
• Study of the most effective and efficient methods of delivering police services to Ulster County.
• Study of office / administrative departments and functions at town and county level, and opportunities for shared services, inter-municipal agreements and possible combination / consolidation.
• Consolidation of Ulster County Economic Development efforts.

WHEREAS, proposals must be submitted by to the Commission by June 15th, 2007, so staff was directed by the Efficiency, Reform and Intergovernmental Committee to submit proposals based on the list above that will include:
• A description of the project
• Goals we hope to achieve
• Municipalities that will be involved
• Problems we anticipate

WHEREAS, The Ulster County Legislature supports the establishment of an Inter-Municipal Collaboration Council as called for in the Ulster County Charter, and

WHEREAS, The Public Works Committee has met and reviewed said request with a majority of members voting approval, and

WHEREAS, the Inter-Municipal Collaboration Council work on the above proposals as well as proposals they identify taking advantage of assistance by The Commission on Local Government Efficiency and Competitiveness, therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the Chairman be authorized to appoint an Inter-Municipal Collaboration Council consisting of one member recommended by Legislature Chairman, one member recommended by Legislature Majority Leader, one member recommended by Legislature Minority Leader, one member recommended by Mayor of the City of Kingston, one member recommended by Ulster County BOCES, and two members recommended by Ulster County Supervisors Association, one member recommended by Ulster County Highway and Bridges head, and one member recommended by Ulster County Planning Department, and

FURTHER RESOLVED, that Inter-Municipal Collaboration Council work with Ulster County staff to submit proposals to The Commission on Local Government Efficiency and Competitiveness, and interface with the Commission, and

FURTHER RESOLVED, that Inter-Municipal Collaboration Council be directed to make recommendations to Ulster County Legislature, Ulster County Towns and City of Kingston regarding government collaborative efforts, consolidations or inter-municipal agreements that they identify as beneficial to Ulster County citizens, and to make recommendations as to how to implement said recommendations, and

FURTHER RESOLVED, that Inter-Municipal Collaboration Council is directed to complete this phase of work by the end of 2007.

FINANCIAL IMPACT:
None