Tompkins County, NY Charter

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Tompkins County, NY

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Table of Contents

The Charter
Ch C Charter
Ch C Art 1 Government of Tompkins County
§ C-1.00 Title and purposes.
§ C-1.01 Continued status and powers.
§ C-1.02 Effect of Charter and the Code on state law.
§ C-1.03 Effect on local laws and resolutions.
§ C-1.04 Definitions.
§ C-1.05 County Seal.
Ch C Art 2 The Tompkins County Legislature
§ C-2.00 The Tompkins County Legislature.
§ C-2.01 Mission statement of the Tompkins County Legislature.
§ C-2.02 County Legislators; term of office; qualifications.
§ C-2.03 Composition of the Tompkins County Legislature.
§ C-2.04 Vacancies on the Tompkins County Legislature.
§ C-2.05 Tompkins County Legislature; organization; Chair and Vice Chair of the Tompkins County Legislature; election.
§ C-2.06 Tompkins County Legislature; powers and duties.
§ C-2.07 Confirmation of appointments.
§ C-2.08 Chair of the Tompkins County Legislature; powers and duties.
§ C-2.09 Vice Chair of the Tompkins County Legislature; powers and duties.
§ C-2.10 Reapportionment of the Tompkins County Legislature.
§ C-2.11 Standards of reapportionment.
§ C-2.12 Tompkins County Legislature; committees.
§ C-2.13 Tompkins County Legislature; advisory boards.
§ C-2.14 Clerk of the Tompkins County Legislature; appointment; term; powers and duties.
§ C-2.15 Local laws; procedure for adoption, amendment, and repeal.
§ C-2.16 Resolutions; procedure for adoption, amendment, and repeal.
§ C-2.17 Legalizing acts; procedure for adoption, amendment, and repeal.
§ C-2.18 Petty cash funds; establishment.
§ C-2.19 Seal of the Tompkins County Legislature.
§ C-2.20 Failure of County-appointed officials to attend meetings.
Ch C Art 3 Department of County Administration
§ C-3.00 Department of County Administration; Deputy Administrators and Directors; appointment; duties.
§ C-3.01 Chief Executive Officer.
§ C-3.02 County Administrator; appointment; qualifications; term.
§ C-3.03 County Administrator; powers and duties.
§ C-3.04 Administrative heads.
§ C-3.05 Custody of documents.
Ch C Art 4 Department of Assessment
§ C-4.00 Department of Assessment; Director of Assessment; appointment; qualifications; powers and duties.
§ C-4.01 County Board of Assessment Review; composition; terms of office; qualifications; duties; procedure for review of assessments; Local Advisory Boards of Assessment Review; composition; duties.
§ C-4.02 Rules and regulations for Assessment Department.
§ C-4.02.1 Taxable status dates.
§ C-4.02.2 Form of assessment roll.
§ C-4.02.3 Duty of officers to furnish information.
§ C-4.02.4 Tentative completion of assessment rolls.
§ C-4.02.5 Notice of assessment changes.
§ C-4.02.6 Complaints with respect to assessments.
§ C-4.02.7 Correction of assessment roll by County Board of Assessment Review.
§ C-4.02.8 Final completion of assessment roll and verifications thereof.
§ C-4.02.9 Filing of completed assessment roll; notice thereof.
§ C-4.02.10 Proceedings for further review of assessments rendered by the Board of Assessment Review.
§ C-4.02.11 School district assessment roll.
§ C-4.02.12 Village assessment roll.
§ C-4.02.13 Apportionment of assessment and taxes.
§ C-4.02.14 Correction of errors in assessment roll.
§ C-4.02.15 Validity of assessment roll.
§ C-4.02.16 When lands imperfectly described.
§ C-4.02.17 Assessments for benefit districts.
§ C-4.02.18 Assessment staff: prohibited activities; training.
§ C-4.02.19 Review and revaluation.
Ch C Art 5 Budgeting Procedures and Controls
§ C-5.00 Fiscal year.
§ C-5.01 Operating budget; requests.
§ C-5.02 Capital program; requests.
§ C-5.03 Proposed operating budget; contents; data required; preparation.
§ C-5.04 Proposed County capital program; preparation, contents, and data required.
§ C-5.05 Proposed County operating budget and capital program; submission to Tompkins County Legislature.
§ C-5.06 Public hearing.
§ C-5.07 Adoption of budget and capital program.
§ C-5.08 Levy of taxes.
§ C-5.09 Appropriations; supplemental and emergency.
§ C-5.10 Insufficiency of revenues.
§ C-5.11 Appropriation transfers within or among units or agencies.
§ C-5.12 Budget controls; limits of liability.
§ C-5.13 Contingent funds.
Ch C Art 6 Department of Finance
§ C-6.00 Department of Finance.
§ C-6.01 Director of Finance; appointments; qualifications; term.
§ C-6.02 Director of Finance; powers and duties.
§ C-6.03 Staff.
Ch C Art 7 Department of Law
§ C-7.00 Department of Law; County Attorney; appointment; qualifications; term.
§ C-7.01 County Attorney; powers and duties.
§ C-7.02 Deputy County Attorneys and staff; appointment; oath; filing.
§ C-7.03 Inconsistent interests among County officials.
§ C-7.04 Expert assistance.
§ C-7.05 Waiver of filing fees.
Ch C Art 8 Department of Human Resources
§ C-8.00 Department of Human Resources; Commissioner; appointment; term; qualifications.
§ C-8.01 Commissioner of Human Resources; powers and duties.
§ C-8.02 Certification of payrolls.
§ C-8.03 Cooperation by administrative unit heads.
Ch C Art 9 Department of Whole Health
§ C-9.00 County Health District; Department of Whole Health; Commissioner of Whole Health; Director of Community Services; Public Health Director; appointment; term; qualifications.
§ C-9.01 Public Health Director; powers and duties.
§ C-9.02 Medical Director; appointment; qualifications.
§ C-9.03 Medical Examiner; appointment; qualifications; powers and duties.
§ C-9.04 Board of Health; appointment; powers and duties.
§ C-9.05 Board of Health; Sanitary Code; procedure for adoption.
§ C-9.06 County Sanitary Code; violations and penalties.
§ C-9.07 Director of Community Services; powers and duties.
§ C-9.08 Community Mental Health Services Board; composition; appointment; term; powers and duties.
Ch C Art 10 Department of Planning and Sustainability
§ C-10.00 Department of Planning and Sustainability; Commissioner; appointment; qualifications; term.
§ C-10.01 Commissioner of Planning and Sustainability; powers and duties.
§ C-10.02 County Planning Advisory Board; composition; powers and duties.
§ C-10.03 County Environmental Management Council.
Ch C Art 11 Department of Airport
§ C-11.00 Department of Airport; Director; appointment; qualifications.
§ C-11.01 Airport Director; powers and duties.
§ C-11.02 Air Service Board; composition; powers and duties.
Ch C Art 12 Department of Facilities
§ C-12.00 Department of Facilities; Director; appointment; qualifications.
§ C-12.01 Facilities Director; powers and duties.
Ch C Art 13 Department of Highway
§ C-13.00 Department of Highway; Director; appointment; qualifications.
§ C-13.01 Highway Director; powers and duties.
Ch C Art 14 Department of Recycling and Materials Management
§ C-14.00 Department of Recycling and Materials Management; Director; appointment; qualifications.
§ C-14.01 Recycling and Materials Management Director; powers and duties.
Ch C Art 15 Department of Social Services
§ C-15.00 Social Services District; Department of Social Services; Commissioner; appointment; qualifications; term.
§ C-15.01 Commissioner of Social Services; powers and duties.
Ch C Art 16 (Reserved)
§ C-16.00 through § C-16.02. (Reserved)
Ch C Art 17 Board of Elections
§ C-17.00 Board of Elections; appointment; term; qualifications.
§ C-17.01 Board of Elections; powers and duties.
§ C-17.02 Board of Elections; deputies, clerks, and staff.
Ch C Art 18 Department of Weights and Measures
§ C-18.00 Director of Weights and Measures; appointment; qualifications.
§ C-18.01 Director of Weights and Measures; powers and duties.
Ch C Art 19 Sheriff
§ C-19.00 Sheriff; election; term; qualifications.
§ C-19.01 Sheriff; powers and duties.
§ C-19.02 Deputy Sheriffs and staff.
§ C-19.03 Jail Physician.
§ C-19.04 Salary of Sheriff; fees; disposition of fees collected.
Ch C Art 20 District Attorney
§ C-20.00 District Attorney; election; term; qualifications.
§ C-20.01 District Attorney; powers and duties.
§ C-20.02 Deputy or Assistant District Attorneys; oath; filing.
§ C-20.03 Waiver of filing fees.
Ch C Art 21 County Clerk
§ C-21.00 County Clerk; election; term; qualifications.
§ C-21.01 County Clerk; powers and duties.
§ C-21.02 Accounting for fees.
§ C-21.03 County Clerk; records management responsibility.
§ C-21.04 Seal of the County Clerk.
Ch C Art 22 Department of Probation and Community Justice
§ C-22.00 Department of Probation and Community Justice; Director of Probation and Community Justice; appointment; qualifications.
§ C-22.01 Director of Probation and Community Justice; powers and duties.
Ch C Art 23 Department of Emergency Response
§ C-23.00 Department of Emergency Response; Director; appointment; qualifications.
§ C-23.01 Director of the Department of Emergency Response; powers and duties.
§ C-23.02 County Fire, Disaster, and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Advisory Board; composition; appointment; term; powers and duties.
Ch C Art 24 Department of Youth Services
§ C-24.00 Department of Youth Services; Director; appointment; qualifications.
§ C-24.01 Department of Youth Services Director; powers and duties.
§ C-24.02 Youth Services Board; composition; term; powers and duties.
§ C-24.03 Youth Services Board; planning committees; composition; powers and duties.
Ch C Art 25 Office for the Aging
§ C-25.00 Office for the Aging; Director; appointment; qualifications.
§ C-25.01 Director; powers and duties.
§ C-25.02 Office for the Aging Advisory Committee; composition; term; powers and duties.
Ch C Art 26 Office of Human Rights/Human Rights Commission
§ C-26.00 Office of Human Rights; Director, Human Rights; appointment; qualifications; powers and duties.
§ C-26.01 Director of Human Rights; powers and duties.
§ C-26.02 Office of Human Rights; powers and duties.
§ C-26.03 Human Rights Commission.
§ C-26.04 Human Rights Commission; composition; appointment; term.
§ C-26.05 Human Rights Commission; roles and responsibilities.
Ch C Art 27 Office of Workforce Development
§ C-27.00 Workforce Development; Workforce Development Director; appointment; qualifications.
§ C-27.01 Workforce Development Director; powers and duties.
§ C-27.02 Workforce Development Board; composition; powers and duties.
§ C-27.03 Employment and Training Division; Employment and Training Director; appointment; qualifications.
§ C-27.04 Employment and Training Director; powers and duties.
Ch C Art 28 Department of Assigned Counsel
§ C-28.00 Assigned Counsel; Supervising Attorney; appointment; qualifications; term.
§ C-28.01 Supervising Attorney; powers and duties.
§ C-28.02 Insulation from partisan or other political pressure.
§ C-28.03 Advisory Board on Indigent Representation; composition; appointment; term.
§ C-28.04 Advisory Board on Indigent Representation; organization; powers and duties.
Ch C Art 29 Department of Information Technology Services
§ C-29.00 Department of Information Technology Services; Director; appointment; qualifications.
§ C-29.01 Director of Information Technology Services; powers and duties.
Ch C Art 30 Other County Administrative Units
§ C-30.00 County Energy Coordinator; appointment; powers and duties.
§ C-30.01 County Historian; powers and duties.
§ C-30.02 County Veterans Service Agency; Director; appointment; powers and duties.
§ C-30.03 Special Traffic Options Program — Driving While Intoxicated (STOP-DWI) Coordinator; appointment; qualifications; powers and duties.
§ C-30.04 STOP-DWI Advisory Board; composition; term; powers and duties.
Ch C Art 31 County Library
§ C-31.00 County Library; Board of Trustees; appointments; term.
§ C-31.01 Board of Trustees; powers and duties.
§ C-31.01.02 Financial administration.
Ch C Art 32 Tompkins Cortland Community College
§ C-32.00 Tompkins Cortland Community College; Board of Trustees; appointment; term.
§ C-32.01 Board of Trustees; powers and duties.
§ C-32.02 Community College; financial administration.
§ C-32.03 Treasurer; election; powers and duties.
§ C-32.04 Periodic audits of accounts.
§ C-32.05 Employee relationship.
Ch C Art 33 Intergovernmental Relationships
§ C-33.00 Contracts with public corporations and authorities.
§ C-33.01 Historical leases.
§ C-33.02 Implementation.
Ch C Art 34 General Provisions
§ C-34.00 Charter; effective date.
§ C-34.01 Existing laws and enactments.
§ C-34.02 Continuity of authority.
§ C-34.03 Filling vacancies in County-wide elective offices.
§ C-34.04 Filling other vacancies.
§ C-34.05 Advisory boards.
§ C-34.06 Execution of contracts.
§ C-34.07 Temporary transfers of authority during the absence of a department head.
§ C-34.08 Civil service rights continued; removal of County officers.
§ C-34.09 Classified service; exemptions.
§ C-34.10 Local government functions, facilities, and powers not transferred, altered, or impaired.
§ C-34.11 Transition.
§ C-34.12 Judicial notice.
§ C-34.13 Separability.
§ C-34.14 Construction.
§ C-34.15 Amendment.
§ C-34.16 Charter and the Code clarification.
§ C-34.17 Charter review.
The Code
Part I: Administrative Legislation
Ch 1 General Provisions
Ch 4 Aging, Office of
Ch 13 Claims Procedure
Ch 15 Community Mental Health Board
Ch 17 Continuity of Government
Ch 19 County Property, Sale or Lease of
Ch 22 Defense and Indemnification
Ch 26 Dwi Supervision Fees, Collection of
Ch 28 Election Districts
Ch 29 Energize NY Benefit Financing Program
Ch 30 Empire Zones
Ch 32 Ethics, Code of
Ch 37 Hearings, Public
Ch 45 Meetings
Ch 48 Moving Expenses, Reimbursement of
Ch 55 Petty Cash Funds
Ch 58 Publication Procedures
Ch 60 Purchasing
Ch 65 Salaries and Compensation
Ch 68 Self-Insurance Plan
Ch 70 Sheriff's Department
Ch 72 Smoking
Ch 74 Tax Collection
Ch 77 Tax Department
Ch 80 Traffic Safety Board
Ch 83 Voter Registration
Part II: General Legislation
Ch 87 Airport
Ch 90 Animals
Ch 92 Antidiscrimination
Ch 98 Building Construction and Fire Prevention
Ch 104 County-Owned Buildings and Grounds, Use of
Ch 110 E-911
Ch 114 Fees
Ch 117 Hunting
Ch 119 Invasive Species
Ch 121 Microbeads
Ch 123 Oil and Gas Waste
Ch 127 Peddling and Soliciting
Ch 130 Pesticides
Ch 133 Residency
Ch 135 Road Preservation
Ch 140 Solid Waste
Ch 145 Streets and Sidewalks
Ch 150 Taxation
Ch 154 Tobacco Sales, Age Restriction
Ch 155 Tobacco Sales, Self-Serve
Ch 160 Vehicles, Abandoned
Ch 162 Vehicles and Traffic
Ch 168 Wireless Communications
Appendix
Ch S Sanitary Code
Disposition List
Ch DL Disposition List

Chapter C Charter

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New Laws

Title	Adopted	Subject	Affects
L.L. No. 2-2023 pdf	2023-05-02	Charter Amendment	Ch C
L.L. No. 3-2023 pdf	2023-06-06	Charter Amendment	Ch C

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Representatives of Tompkins County 4-1-2003 by L.L. No. 1-2003;[1] amended in its entirety by the County Legislature 1-17-2017 by L.L. No. 1-2017.[2] Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]

[1]

Editor's Note: This local law superseded the former Charter adopted by the Board of Representatives 8-14-1990 by L.L. No. 7-1990, as amended.

[2]

Editor's Note: The original Charter and Code was adopted by the Board of Supervisors by L.L. No. 1-1968, effective 1-1-1970. The Charter is reviewed at least every 10 years.