LOCAL LAW NO. “S” FOR 2024
A LOCAL LAW OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY, NEW YORK, AMENDING THE ALBANY COUNTY CHARTER AND LOCAL LAW NO. 8 FOR 1993 AS AMENDED TO ADJUST THE MONETARY THRESHOLD OF THE BOARD OF CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION
Introduced: 10/15/24
By Cunningham and Willingham:
PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 10 AND 33 OF THE MUNICIPAL HOME RULE LAW, COUNTY LAW SECTION 400 AND SECTION 2702 OF THE ALBANY COUNTY CHARTER:
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the County of Albany as follows:
SECTION I. Legislative Intent:
In 2012, a Charter Review Commission was formed by this Honorable Body to determine what, if any, changes could be made to the then decade’s old charter. The Commission met routinely over the course of a year and published recommended changes to the Charter, many of which sought to streamline processes or modernize the County’s operations. To date, many of the proposed changes have been adopted, but a various substantive changes have evaded adoption. One major proposal by the Charter Review Commission was to expand the governance of the Board of Contract Administration. The Board’s authority was established in 1993, and provided oversight of contracts less than $100,000. The Charter Review Commission suggested increasing that amount based on inflation, which would have been $155,000 at the time of the Charter Review Commission’s proposal. Today, that amount, adjusted for inflation, is approximately $215,000. The recommendation of the Charter Review Commission should be adopted to reflect the fact that the Board of Contract Administration is operating in 2024, and not 1993.
SECTION II. Article 13 of the Albany County Charter is hereby amended as follows:
Section 1301: Board of Contract Administration; powers and duties.
For the purpose of simplifying, clarifying and centralizing the approval process for contracts, there is hereby established a Board of Contract Administration. The Board shall be composed of the County Executive, the Chairperson of the County Legislature and the County Clerk. The Board of Contract Administration is empowered to approve contracts for execution by the County Executive in amounts of not less than twenty thousand dollars ($20,000), and, not more than [one] two hundred fifteen thousand dollars ($[100]215,000), or such higher amount as may be established by local law. The Board shall report [periodically] quarterly to the County Legislature, detailing the contracts approved by it.
Section 1302: Other contract approvals.
The County Executive shall be empowered to approve and execute contracts in an amount less than twenty thousand dollars ($20,000). The County Legislature shall be empowered to approve contracts for execution by the County Executive in amounts over [one] two hundred fifteen thousand dollars ($[100]215,000), in addition to those mentioned in Section 204(m) of this Charter. The County Executive shall not, through change orders, amendments, renewals, or any other method or device, exceed such twenty thousand dollar ($20,000) limit with respect to any vendor or subject matter, without approval of the County Legislature.
Section 1303: Annual Adjusted Amount
The dollar amounts set forth above in sections 1301 and 1302 of this Article shall be adjusted annually on the first day of January each year by the Consumer Price Index (“CPI”) to keep pace with inflation. The County’s Department of Management and Budget shall use the annual CPI data for adjustment, rounded to the nearest five thousand dollar amount ($5,000). The annual adjusted dollar amount shall be provided to the Clerk of the Legislature, County Comptroller and County Clerk by the Commissioner of Management and Budget upon it being determined.
SECTION III. SEQRA Compliance
This County Legislature determines that this local law constitutes a “Type II action” pursuant to the provisions of the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), and that no further action under SEQRA is required
SECTION IV. Effective Date.
This Local Law is adopted subject to permissive referendum pursuant to Section 24 of the New York State Municipal Home Rule Law.
Referred to Law and Audit and Finance Committees - 10/15/24
Favorable Recommendation Law Committee - 2/26/25
Favorable Recommendation Audit and Finance Committee - 2/27/25