LEGISLATIVE HAPPENINGS

ULSTER COUNTY CHARTER OVERVIEW

July 24, 2006

The Charter Commission after about a 1-½ years of deliberation and consideration of all aspects of county government delivered a document to the Ulster County Legislature in April 2006. The Efficiency, Reform and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee reviewed suggested changes from legislators, county departments, independent boards, regional agencies and the general public. The full legislature will be voting on the proposed charter on August 9, and if the vote of legislature is successful, Ulster County voters will have the opportunity to vote on the proposed charter on Election Day, November 7, 2006.

Adopting a charter will allow Ulster County to define our own government structure rather than as specified in state law. The Charter Commission did an excellent job studying several other counties and their governments and then recommending and documenting a County Executive form of government, which will provide much more accountability then our present legislature form of government.

A summary of key provisions of the proposed charter follows.

1. Strong County Executive — The cornerstone of the proposed charter is a County Executive who would be elected countywide. The core principle of the executive form is that county government officials would be held accountable for their performance. Under the Charter all Department heads are appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the County Executive, subject, only, to confirmation by the County Legislature at the time of their appointment. The position of County Executive creates a single source for public accountability, and creates a top County position that is filled by all of the people of Ulster County, giving the position a public mandate. Under the current system, the top County position is chairman of the Legislature chairman who is elected by the 33 members of the County Legislature from among its ranks.

2. Stronger financial oversight — The Charter revamps and strengthens the county's financial oversight by providing for an elected Comptroller for auditing and policy‑making ‑ as well as an appointed Commissioner of Finance to administer policy and taxes, receive and disburse funds and draft the county's annual budget statement. They replace the County Treasurer, an elected position, and the appointed County Administrator.

3. Reapportionment Commission – The Charter provides for the creation of an independent 7 person Reapportionment Commission which will have the sole power and authority to conduct the decennial reapportionment of the Legislature required by the State Municipal Home Rule Law. Of the seven, two members are to be chosen by the Legislature's majority leader and two chosen by the minority leader, with those four to select the remaining three members from a list of names compiled by the County Executive. None of the seven members can live in the same municipality, but all must be Ulster County residents. In addition, members must be eligible to vote, cannot hold public office or be employed by the county, and cannot be an officer of a political party or a registered lobbyist.

4. County Legislature – The Charter ratifies the provisions of the 2003 local law which provided that effective as of the November 2011 election, the Legislature will consist of 23 single seat districts. The Legislature would continue to function as the county’s legislative branch. The Legislators shall be part-time and shall be elected for a two-year term in odd numbered years. There is no provision in the Charter for term limits.

5.Periodic Compensation Review Committee -- The Charter creates a five‑member Periodic Compensation Review Committee to review and make recommendations on the salaries of county elected officials every two years. The Committee would make a recommendation to the Legislature based on an index.

6. Inter‑Municipal Collaboration Council — To enhance collaboration and cooperation between town and county communities, the Charter creates an Inter-municipal Collaboration Council, whose membership would include the county executive; presiding officer and minority leader of the Legislature; mayor of the city of Kingston; two appointed by the Ulster County Supervisors Association; and a Board of Cooperative Educational Services representative.

7. Charter Revision Commission--- The Charter provides for the creation of a Charter Revision Commission, which no later than five years after the charter's enactment is required to review and if it so chooses, make recommended changes.