RESOLUTION NO. 94
AMENDING THE ALBANY COUNTY LEGISLATIVE RULES OF ORDER FOR THE PURPOSES OF COMMITTEE CONSOLIDATION AND REFORM
Introduced: 3/10/25
By: Burgdorf
WHEREAS, Rule 21 of the Albany County Legislative Rules of Order establishes the Standing Committees that meet from month to month to review and approve legislation before this body, and
WHEREAS, The County Legislature currently has ten Standing Committees; and
WHEREAS, As currently composed, the ten Standing Committees of the Albany County Legislature have overlap of policy areas while some Committees are underutilized due to the assignment of relevant issues to portfolios of other Committees; and
WHEREAS, At least one current Standing Committee historically has not met for a majority of the months of the year; and
WHEREAS, The current Standing Committee structure requires meeting time blocks of no more than a half hour, preventing robust discussion of important issues affecting Albany County residents; and
WHEREAS, Possible consolidation of Standing Committees should be accompanied by an increase to the membership of the Committees to as to ensure Albany County Legislators remain able to participate in the Committee process; and
WHEREAS, Consolidation of Standing Committees and reallocation of important policy areas to appropriate Committees will improve Committee workflow, and increase the amount of time for discussion and debate; and
WHEREAS, Rules 21 and 22 currently contain an inconsistency related to the appointment of individuals to Standing Committees, requiring a correction, now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, By the Albany County Legislature, that Rule 21 of the Legislative Rules of Order shall be amended to read as follows:
RULE 21 - STANDING COMMITTEES
The following standing committees, to consist of [nine] twelve members for each committee, including the Committee Chairperson for each committee, shall be appointed by the permanent Chairperson of the County Legislature from the membership of the County Legislature within twenty (20) days after said Chairperson’s election, and a list thereof shall be filed with the Clerk of the Legislature, and each committee shall perform the duties as hereafter set forth. The Chairperson of the County Legislature shall appoint members of standing committees from the membership of the County Legislature as recommended by the majority and minority leaders. The number of majority members of each committee shall be in the same ratio as the majority members of the legislature are to the entire membership of the Legislature.
Within thirty (30) days of the listing of the committee assignments, each Committee Chairperson shall assign and officially list a time and a day for the regular monthly committee meetings; provided however that Committee Chairpersons may hold public hearings on any topic contained within the Duties of the Committee upon five (5) days notice. No Standing Committee of the Albany County Legislature shall meet on a civic holiday and consideration shall be given to avoid meeting on a religious holiday. The Committee Chairperson may cancel any meeting if there is no business for the Committee. In the event a member cannot attend a rescheduled regular meeting and to the extent it is legally permitted, such member may submit to the Chairperson a written statement of their opinion on business items which are on the Committee’s agenda and those written opinions shall become part of the Committee’s minutes.
Each and every Committee Chairperson shall, to the extent practicable, submit a copy of the Committee Agenda no later than twenty-four (24) hours prior to the scheduled Committee meeting. Every committee meeting shall be open to the public, however, this provision shall not preclude the right of the Chairperson to call for an executive session.
Vacancies on standing committees shall be filled by the Chairperson of the County Legislature from its membership. The majority leader and the minority leader shall be ex officio (non-voting) members of all committees.
STANDING COMMITTEES
1. Audit and Finance
a. Audit and Control
b. Budget
c. Investment
d. Capital Program
e. Taxation
Duties: All matters pertaining generally to County finances including the Department of Audit and Control, the Department of Management and Budget, appropriations included in the County Budget and Capital Program, and verification of assessment rolls, equalization rates, and the sale of delinquent tax properties.
The Departments of Audit and Control, Department of Consumer Affairs, Department of Management and Budget, the Real Property Tax Service Agency, and all departments involved in a capital project shall report to the standing committee on Audit and Finance.
2. Social Services
a. Social Services
b. Albany County Residential Health Care Facility
c. Department of Aging
Duties: All matters pertaining generally to public welfare and matters affecting the Social Services Department, Albany County Residential Health Care Facility, [except such matters relating to services to the elderly.] also all matters pertaining generally to public welfare and support of the elderly and all matters affecting the Department for Aging.
The Departments of Social Services, Aging, the Youth Bureau and the Albany County Residential Health Care Facility shall report to the standing committee on Social Services.
3. Health
a. Department of Health
b. Mental Health
c. Environmental Health
Duties: All matters pertaining generally to the County Health Department, County Board of Health, Sanitation Codes, Department of Mental Hygiene and Retardation Alcoholism Boards.
The Departments of Health and Mental Health and the County Coroners shall report to the standing committee on Health.
4. [Conservation, Sustainability and Green Initiatives] Environmental Conservation and Outdoors
a. Conservation and Improvement of County Resources
b. Cultural and Educational Affairs
c. Department of Economic Development, Conservation and Planning
d. Parks and Recreation
e. Albany County Rail Trail
Duties: All matters pertaining generally to the improvement and advancement of the County, including walks, docks, marinas, parks and recreational facilities, preserves, beaches, erosion projects, and such other structures and facilities of the development, maintenance and management of parks and other recreational facilities, except those [having to do with highways and buildings] capital projects and agreements equaling a value greater than $500,000 and also all matters pertaining generally to the Albany County Rail Trail excepting capital projects and agreements equaling a value greater than $500,000, agriculture, Cooperative Extension Services, 4-H Clubs, the conservation of soil, forestry and wildlife and environmental matters.
The Departments of Economic Development, Conservation and Planning, Parks and Recreation, as well as the County Planning Board, all County agencies involved in cultural and educational affairs, the Cooperative Extension, the Soil and Water Conservation District and the Environmental Management Council shall report to the standing committee on Conservation, Sustainability and Green Initiatives.
5. Public Safety
a. Sheriff
b. Jail
c. Probation Office
d. Fire Coordinator
e. Civil Defense
f. Military Affairs
Duties: All matters pertaining generally to the operation of the Jail, Sheriff’s Department and Probation Department and also all matters pertaining generally to the protection and well-being of the residents of the County.
The County Sheriff, Director of Probation, Fire Coordinator, the Office of Civil Defense and Natural Disaster and the Veterans Bureau shall report to the standing committee of Public Safety.
6. Personnel
a. Human Resources
b. Civil Service
c. County Officers
Duties: All matters pertaining generally to Human Resources, Civil Service affairs and the creation, organization and/or re-organization of County departments and offices as required.
The Department of Human Resources, including the Divisions of Employee Relations, Personnel Services, Affirmative Action, and Civil Service shall report to the standing committee on Personnel.
7. Law
a. Service Relationship
b. Department of Law
c. Public Defender’s Office
d. District Attorney’s Office
e. County Clerk
f. Board of Elections
g. Public Access
h. City and Towns
i. County Rules
j. Agency, Department and Inter-Governmental Coordination
k. Clerk of the Legislature
Duties: All matters pertaining generally to contracts with public corporations and authorities, County law and its structure, operation and maintenance of the offices of Public Defender, District Attorney and County Attorney and also all matters pertaining generally to printing, recording, maintaining, storing and accessibility to County records and matters relating to election accounts.
The District Attorney, the Public Defender, the Commissioner of Jurors, the Clerk of the Courts, the Board of Elections, the Department of Law, the Rape Crisis Center and all court officials under the jurisdiction of the County, the Public Access Officer, the County Clerk and the Clerk of the Legislature shall report to the standing committee of Law.
8. [Multimodal Transit and Pedestrian Access
a. Albany International Airport
b. Albany County Rail Trail
c. Traffic Safety Board
d. Capital District Transportation Authority
Duties: All matters pertaining generally to Albany International Airport,
Albany County Rail Trail, Capital District Transportation Authority, Capital Region Transportation Council and transit oriented development in the County. The Committee shall review items related to the promotion of public transportation, walkability of communities, and ensuring development provides accessibility for all with adherence to the Americans with Disabilities Act.
9.] Public Works
a. [Albany County Residential Health Care Facilities] Airport
b. Albany County Courthouse
c. Civic Center
d. County Buildings
e. Highways
f. Large capital investments for Parks and Recreation
g. Water Purification District
h. General Services
i. Large capital investments for the Albany County Rail Trail
Duties: All matters pertaining generally to the Civic Center, and to major construction/renovation projects at the Albany County Courthouse [or Albany County Residential Health Care Facility], and all matters pertaining generally to the charge and supervision of design, construction and alterations of County buildings, parking fields, drives, [walks, docks, marinas, parks and recreational facilities, preserves, beaches, erosion projects, and such other structures and facilities of the development, maintenance and management of parks and other recreational facilities,] capital projects and agreements for Parks and Recreation and the Albany County Rail Trail equaling a value greater than $500,000, also matters pertaining to County facilities for drainage, flood control, sanitation, sewerage and land water supply[.] in addition to all matters generally to the Airport and mass transit in the County.
The Manager and appropriate personnel of the Civic Center, the Departments of General Services, Public Works, Buildings, [Parks and Recreation], and the Water Purification District, as well as the Director of the Airport, the Traffic Safety Board and all County agencies involved in transportation shall report to the standing committee on Public Works.
[10. Elder Care
a. Department of Aging
b. Albany County Residential Health Care Facilities
Duties: All matters pertaining generally to public welfare and support of the elderly and all matters affecting the Department for Aging and the Albany County Residential Health Care Facility except such matters not relating to services to the elderly.
The Department of Aging and the Albany County Residential Health Care Facility shall report to the standing committee on Elder Care.]
and, be it further
RESOLVED, By the Albany County Legislature, that Rule 22 of the Legislative Rules of Order shall be amended to read as follows:
RULE 22 - SPECIAL COMMITTEES
The County Legislature may from time to time create special committees, and any resolution creating such special committee shall specify the powers and duties of the committee and the number of its members. Special committee membership shall be determined in the same manner as standing committees as established in Rule 21. Any reference to Rule 22 with respect to the appointment of the members of standing committees shall be interpreted to mean the provisions of Rule 21. [Vacancies on standing and special committees shall be filled by the Chairperson of the County Legislature from its membership.] Vacancies on special committees shall be filled by the Chairperson of the County Legislature. [The majority leader and the minority leader shall be ex officio (non-voting) members of all committees. The Chairperson of the County Legislature shall appoint members of standing committees from the membership of the County Legislature as recommended by the majority and minority leaders. The number of majority members of each committee shall be in the same ratio as the majority members of the legislature are to the entire membership of the Legislature.] No meetings of any Special Committee of the Albany County Legislature shall be held on a civic holiday and consideration shall be given to avoid meeting on a religious holiday.
and, be it further
RESOLVED, By the Albany County Legislature, that Rule 39 of the Legislative Rules of Order shall be amended to read as follows:
RULE 39 - PUBLIC HEARINGS / MEETING TIMES
All public hearings or meetings of the body as a whole may not take place before 5:00 p.m. In the event that more than one public hearing is scheduled for the same night, the scheduled times shall be consecutive, with no more than a five minute delay between hearings. The Clerk shall take roll call and record the names of those members present and absent for the Public Hearing. The Public Hearing shall be livestreamed. All meetings of standing or special committees shall not take place before 5:00 p.m. unless agreed to by a majority of said standing or special committee members. Committee meetings shall be extended at least an additional thirty (30) minutes if any Committee member makes such request in writing upon receiving the Committee Agenda. No Public Hearing of the Albany County Legislature shall be held on a civic holiday and consideration shall be given to avoid meeting on a religious holiday.
and, be it further
RESOLVED, That this Resolution shall take effect on January 1st, 2026, 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.