RESOLUTION NO. 196
AMENDING THE ALBANY COUNTY LEGISLATIVE RULES OF ORDER FOR THE LIMITED PURPOSE OF CREATING A CONSENT AGENDA PROCESS FOR DISTRIBUTING AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT GRANT AWARDS
Introduced: 5/8/23
By A. Joyce and Feeney:
WHEREAS, In response to the ongoing effects of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government passed the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which allocated millions of dollars to state and local governments to provide direct relief to Americans, fight COVID-19 and support economic growth, and
WHEREAS, Albany County has been allocated a substantial amount of federal funding under this plan, which is governed by numerous regulations established to ensure the funding is allocated and spent according to the provisions of the program, and
WHEREAS, Albany County has created an ARPA Executive Committee and associated subcommittees made up of various County elected officials, department heads and administrative staff, to evaluate and award funding under this program and to comply with all Federal reporting requirements, and
WHEREAS, A significant number of Resolutions will be necessary to distribute said monies, which will create significant time delays during the Legislature’s regular monthly meetings, and
WHEREAS, Amendments to the Rules of Order, which govern the standard methods for introduction and adoption of Resolutions, are necessary to streamline the process to adopt the ARPA award Resolutions and mitigate delay during Legislative meetings, and
WHEREAS, The amendments contained herein are applicable only to this new subclass of Resolutions, and all other Resolutions will follow the regular Legislative Procedure rules as outlined under Rule 11 of the Rules of Order, now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, By the Albany County Legislature, that the Legislative Rules of Order are hereby amended to create Rule 40 as follows:
“RULE 40 - AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT RESOLUTION PROCEDURES
The consideration of Resolutions solely related to the awarding and distribution of federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding shall be eligible for special consideration under a consent calendar, hereinafter known as a consent agenda. A Consent agenda allows for the consideration of multiple resolutions on a single motion. The consent agenda shall be considered at the beginning of any regular, annual or special Legislative meeting called for such purpose, before Previous Business, and shall include only ARPA funding resolutions as described herein.
Unless at least one (1) Legislator objects to the placement of a Resolution on the consent agenda, then all Resolutions on the consent agenda may be acted upon by a single vote. If an objection is made by at least one (1) Legislator to the inclusion of a specific Resolution(s) on the consent agenda, then each Resolution so objected to shall be subjected to an individual separate vote by the entire County Legislature, immediately following the vote on the remaining Resolutions on the consent agenda. Legislation on the consent agenda shall be considered in a single vote, without intervening motion, amendment, or debate, and before other legislation is considered. In considering the consent agenda, members may ask brief questions of clarification on consent agenda Resolutions. Any member who would like an item discussed more substantively in the regular order of business may object to said item being included in the consent agenda.
All Resolutions offered for consideration on a consent agenda must be by the ARPA Executive Committee. An ARPA Resolution shall reflect that the resolution is introduced on behalf of the ARPA Executive Committee, and otherwise fully comply with all Legislative rules regarding resolutions.
Resolutions removed from the consent agenda after objection shall be voted on, either affirmatively or negatively, immediately following the vote on the remaining Resolutions on the consent agenda.
This process for ARPA Resolutions and use of the consent agenda, where inconsistent with any other Rules stated herein, shall supersede all other rules in conflict related to such inconsistency.”
And, be it further
RESOLVED, That this Resolution shall expire and be repealed, null and void on December 31, 2024, and, be it further
RESOLVED, that the Clerk of the Legislature forward a certified copy of this resolution to the Chairman of the Legislature and the appropriate County Officials.
Referred to Rules Reform Committee - 5/8/23
Favorable Recommendation Rules Reform Committee - 5/24/23