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Ulster County Legislature adopts changes to eligibility for certain local offices; schools removed from eligibility amendment
Summary
The Legislature adopted Local Law No. 1 (2025), amending county charter and administrative code language on outside offices that county legislators may hold; the measure allows service as fire commissioners and library board members but excludes school board service and passed on a 4–3 vote.
The Ulster County Legislature on April 15 adopted local law number 1 (2025), an amendment to the county charter and the administrative code that changes which outside elective positions county legislators may simultaneously hold.
The local law (introduced as Resolution No. 187) was described as permitting legislators to serve as fire commissioners or on library boards. Sponsors withdrew language that would have allowed legislators to serve on school boards after committee concerns. The measure passed the committee on a 4–3 roll-call vote.
Committee discussion before the vote included members thanking the sponsor for removing provisions that had raised concerns about dual roles on school boards. A committee member identified in the transcript as President Gutierrez said that while the sponsor’s amendment was appreciated, she remained opposed to permitting legislators to serve on boards that have taxing authority: “Anytime the person has voting authority over a budget that taxes the taxpayers, they should not serve on 2 different boards,” she said.
The committee moved and seconded the measure and completed a roll-call vote that resulted in adoption, recorded in the meeting as 4 in favor and 3 opposed. No amendments to restore school-board eligibility were adopted at the committee level.
The local law now proceeds according to the county’s adoption process for local laws; the transcript indicated the item had previously been the subject of a public hearing on March 18 with no speakers.
