Ulster County committee sets public hearing on charter change, approves polling‑equipment agreement and rule tweak

The Ulster County laws, rules and government services committee on Feb. 13 set a public hearing for March 18 on a proposed charter amendment that would allow legislators to concurrently serve on volunteer posts such as library or school boards.

Sponsor Legislator Elisir Collins said those offices are typically unpaid volunteer roles and that serving on them does not create the type of conflict the charter sought to prevent. “Serving on the library board for Woodstock, I had to resign that position because I became a legislator,” Legislator Elisir Collins said, urging the committee to let communities decide whether concurrent service is appropriate.

The committee asked county counsel to check for any state‑law prohibitions regarding school‑board service before the March hearing. Members also voted to approve resolution 67, authorizing the chair to sign an agreement with a school district for use of polling equipment, and approved an amendment to the rules of order requiring deputy‑chair written consent before rescheduling meetings; opponents argued that the consent requirement could impede chair prerogative.

Votes at a glance: Resolution 67 (polling equipment) — approved in committee; Resolution 73 (set public hearing on proposed local law 1 of 2025) — public hearing scheduled for March 18 at 7:10 p.m.; Resolution 80 (amend rules of order on scheduling) — adopted in committee.

Next steps: The charter amendment will move to a public hearing March 18; resolutions that were approved will appear on the Feb. 18 or future floor agenda as indicated by the chair.