[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Menands 12-15-2003 by L.L. No. 5-2003. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The Board of Trustees of the Village of Menands shall authorize the publication and distribution of a municipal news bulletin and letters of public announcement containing information including notice of public meetings, information as to the structure and function of the Village government, schedules of Village activities and financial reports intended to inform the public. The content of municipal news bulletins and letters for public announcement are intended to inform residents of the Village of Menands of governmental and community activities and may not be used to promote primarily private, partisan or political purposes or undertakings.
A. 
The Village of Menands Board of Trustees shall hereby authorize and provide for the publication and distribution of a municipal news bulletin for community news and announcements. All bulletins shall be authorized for the purpose of informing residents of public hearings for proposed local laws; passage of local laws; scheduled functions and activities, including but not limited to meetings of the Board of Trustees; Zoning Board of Appeals; Economic Development Committee and/or other municipal groups and committees, including Menands Volunteer Fire Company No. 1; the Ladies Auxiliary; American Legion; senior citizens; Youth Committee; Beautification Committee; Menands Public Library; and functions of the Menands UFSD and North Colonie School Districts.
B. 
The Village Clerk, appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the Village Board, shall have discretion as to the nature of messages to be included for publication in the municipal news bulletin based on the appropriateness of the message and its significance to the community at large and in accordance with the intent of this chapter.
A. 
The Village of Menands Board of Trustees shall hereby authorize and provide for the issuance of letters of public announcement by the Mayor for the purpose of offering residents detailed information on issues of special interest, summaries of official actions, and information regarding the state of the Village and its various departments.
B. 
The Mayor of the Village may be authorized by the Board of Trustees, at the Mayor's request, to issue letters of public announcement. Such letters may be issued to the residents by the Mayor as deemed necessary, or as required by law, for the purpose of informing the public of details of the state of the Village of Menands and its departments and shall be for the purpose of offering residents detailed information and updates of the undertakings of the Village government.
A. 
The cost of publication and mailings of municipal news bulletins and letters of public announcement shall be provided as a public expenditure to be set forth in the municipal budget of the Village of Menands.
B. 
As a public information function, municipal news bulletins shall be distributed to all residential homeowners on a periodic basis throughout the year, based upon a listing of the residential tax rolls. All Village residents residing in rental property, and therefore not listed on the tax rolls, and all places of business within the Village boundaries, may make a request to the Village Clerk so as to be added to the municipal mailing list to receive newsletters and letters issued as public announcements at no additional expense to them.
C. 
All the above applies as stated to any electronically posted information Web site or bulletin board provided by the Village.