RESOLUTION NO. 44
AMENDING CHAPTER 364 OF THE ALBANY COUNTY CODE TO EXPAND THE ALBANY COUNTY FLAG POLICY
Introduced: 2/10/25
By Lockart, A. Joyce, Smith, Cunningham, Feeney, Reidy, Conway, Burgdorf, Plotsky, McLaughlin, Grimm, Whalen, Laurilliard, Alix, Cleary, Commisso, Efekoro, Ethier, Fein, Gillespie, Kuhn, Lane, Lekakis, Mayo, Miller, Pedo, Reinhardt, Ricard and Rosano:
WHEREAS, In 2007, the Albany County Legislature adopted Section 364 of
the Albany County Code, creating a Flag Policy for Albany County that required flags at County buildings to be flown at half-mast in the event that a member of the Armed Forces from Albany County was killed in action, and
WHEREAS, The Albany County Flag Policy, adopted in 2007, only specifically mentions members of the Armed Forces killed in the war on terror rather than all conflicts, and
WHEREAS, The Legislature seeks to honor not only all those members of the Armed Forces from Albany County killed in future conflicts, but also first responders who operate within the County, now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, By the Albany County Legislature that Section 364 of the
Albany County Code is amended to read as follows:
§ 364-1 Honoring fallen service members and first responders.
It shall be the policy of the County of Albany that the Flag of the United States be flown at half-staff at the various County buildings to honor members of the United States Armed Forces from Albany County who are killed while serving on active duty [in the war on terror on foreign soil.] and for first responders from Albany County who are killed in the line of duty. For the purpose of this Section, “first responder” shall mean a member of a law enforcement agency, emergency medical services agency, or fire department serving Albany County.
§ 364-2 County buildings.
The list of County buildings where national flags are flown includes, but is not limited to, the Court House, Harold L. Joyce County Office Building, Family Court, Judicial Center, 162 Washington Avenue, nursing homes, Correctional Facility, Hockey Facility, Sewer District, Public Works Department, Cornell Cooperative Extension and Sheriffs E-911 Unit.
§ 364-3 Notification.
The Veterans Service Bureau or Albany County Sheriff shall be responsible for informing the Department of General Services of the death of a member of the Armed Forces or first responder from Albany County, whereupon the Department will lower the flags to half-staff for the period from notification to burial.
§ 364-4 Proclamation to family.
The Clerk of the County Legislature is directed to send a suitably embossed proclamation expressing the sympathy of the citizens of Albany County to the family of the deceased.
and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the Clerk of the County Legislature is directed to forward certified copies of this resolution to the appropriate County Officials.
Referred to Law Committee - 2/10/25
Favorable Recommendation Law Committee - 2/26/25