A.Â
There shall be a Department of Mental Health,
headed by a Commissioner of Mental Health. The Commissioner of Mental
Health shall be experienced in public mental health administration
and meet the qualifications for this position as specified in the
New York State Mental Hygiene Law and/or by the State Commissioner
of Mental Hygiene. He or she shall be appointed by the County Executive
in consultation with the Community Services Board and with confirmation
by the County Legislature and serve at his or her pleasure.
B.Â
Powers and duties. Except as otherwise provided
in the Charter, the Commissioner of Mental Health shall have and exercise
all the powers and duties conferred or imposed upon a Director of
Community Mental Health or Community Services Board by the Mental
Hygiene Law or any other law. He or she shall perform such other and
related duties required by the County Executive.
C.Â
Reports. On or before March 1 of each year, the Commissioner
of Mental Health shall make an annual report to the County Legislature
and County Executive for the immediately preceding calendar year covering
generally the work of his or her department. The Commissioner shall
make such other reports at such times as may be required by the County
Legislature, County Executive, Mental Hygiene Law or any applicable
law and the New York State Department of Mental Hygiene. Copies of
all reports shall be filed with the Clerk of the County Legislature
and the County Executive.
A.Â
The Commissioner of Mental Health shall have the power
to appoint one or more Deputy Commissioners of Mental Health, within
the limits of appropriations therefor. Every appointment shall be
in writing and filed in the Office of the County Clerk and the Clerk
of the Legislature.
B.Â
The term of office of any deputy not classified as
competitive in the County's civil service rules, appointed hereunder,
shall coincide with that of the Commissioner of Mental Health, provided
that such appointment may be revoked at any time by the Commissioner
by written revocation filed with the County Clerk. All positions of
Deputy Commissioner may be in the exempt class of civil service; or
in the alternative, the deputy may also be an additional title which
may be designated by the Commissioner for a department staff member.
C.Â
Deputy Commissioners shall perform such duties pertaining
to the office of the Department of Mental Health as the Commissioner
may direct and shall act generally for and in such place of the Commissioner
and perform such other and further duties as the Commissioner may
assign.
D.Â
The designation of an order of succession for the
position of Deputy Commissioner shall be filed with the County Clerk
and the Clerk of the County Legislature and may be revoked at any
time by the Commissioner filing a new written designation of order
of succession.
A.Â
There shall be a Community Services Board
of 15 members who have demonstrated interest in behavioral health
services, one member of which must be a licensed physician and one
of whom must be a licensed physician or licensed psychologist. There
shall be disability subcommittees of nine members each, three members
of which must also be currently serving Community Service Board members,
who shall be appointed by the County Executive after consideration
of the recommendations of the Community Services Board for terms of
four years, subject to confirmation by the Legislature. No Board member
or subcommittee member shall serve more than eight years, unless he
or she may have filled any unexpired term immediately prior thereto.
The Chairman of the Community Services Board shall be selected by
the members of the Board for a term of one year. Members
of the Community Services Board shall be residents of Ulster County.
B.Â
Powers and duties. The Community Services Board shall
exercise all the powers and perform duties of local boards as provided
for under state law, including the Mental Hygiene Law of the State
of New York, except as otherwise noted in the Charter. The
Board shall advise the Commissioner of Mental Health, the County Executive
and the Legislature on matters relating to the Department of Mental
Health. The members of the Board shall further have the power to inspect
and review all facilities and programs of the Department of Mental
Health, with or without notice to the Commissioner of Mental Health,
and may report and make recommendations to the County Executive, County
Legislature and Commissioner of Mental Health. All such reports shall
be deemed public records, posted on the website of the County government,
and be available for inspection at the office of the Department of
Mental Health and the County Executive at all reasonable times. The
Board shall also advise and consult with respect to all capital projects
necessary for the Department of Mental Health. The Board shall have
and exercise such other and related duties required by the Legislature
or the County Executive.
C.Â
The Community Services Board shall keep minutes of
all meetings, including the date and time of meeting and Board members
in attendance. The original of said minutes shall be filed with the
Clerk of the Legislature as soon as possible, but not to exceed 10
business days after the next regular Board meeting at which the minutes
were reviewed and accepted. The Clerk of the Legislature or his or
her designee shall maintain an official record of the Board's agenda
items. This official record shall include the disposition of each
agenda item, including individual votes of each Board member on each
item.
D.Â
If a vacancy shall occur other than by expiration
of a term, it shall be filled by the County Executive for the balance
of the term in the same manner as the original appointment.
E.Â
Members of the Community Services Board shall
receive no compensation for services rendered but shall be entitled
to their reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the performance
of their duties, within appropriations made for such purposes.
