Westchester Board of Legislators Propose County Government Charter Revisions. | WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER 3,374,995 VISITS IN ONE YEAR---65,000 VISITS A WEEK BY 985,281 VISITORS

WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From the Westchester County Charter Revision Commission. December 16, 2013:

The Westchester County Charter Revision Commission (WCCRC) has submitted its final report and list of recommendations to the Westchester County Board of Legislators (BOL) and County Executive Robert P. Astorino, culminating eighteen months of deliberations on various issues:

WCCRC Recommendations:

Establish a County Department of Assessment
Change the County’s Fiscal Year to July 1 to June 30
Establish a Minimum 75 Day Period for Budget Review and Adoption
Establish a Minimum Period for Consideration of Budget Additions and Deletions Prior to a Final Vote
Exempt Board of Legislators from the May 1 Deadline for Adding Projects to the Capital Budget
Broaden Board of Legislators Access to Department Budget Estimates
Add Sustainability and Resilience as Planning Process Values
Require Submission and Publication of Quarterly Financial Reports
Provide Public Notice for Pension Cost Borrowing
Make the County Clerk an Appointed Position
Reform Legislative Confirmation Procedures and Designate Interim Powers for Executive Appointments
Re-examine the County Ethics Code
Establish a Council of Governments
Convene a Charter Revision Commission Every Ten Years
Fill Short-Term Vacancies in Legislative Office by Appointment from the Same Political Party
Determine Initiation and Termination of Executive Disability

Convened in 2011 for only the second time since 1937, the WCCRC voted on the twenty-seven resolutions submitted by the Commission’s four Focus Groups—Budget and Finance; Charter and Codes; Executive / Legislative Relationship; and Local Government / County Government Relationship—which reflected the aspects of County Government most deserving of an in-depth evaluation. Sixteen resolutions were approved, ten resolutions were disapproved, and one was withdrawn.

“We are aware that some may consider certain of the Commission’s recommendations to be controversial,” said WCCRC Chairman Richard G. Wishnie. “However, that is not our concern. We are presenting recommendations that we believe will make our County government more efficient, effective and transparent to the public it serves.”

The twenty-two WCCRC members are Westchester County residents appointed by Legislators and the County Executive after legislation establishing the Commission was passed in 2011 to study, review and recommend changes to the Westchester County Charter and Administrative Code with the goal of eliminating waste, improving services, and increasing the overall efficiency of County Government.

Further information regarding the Commission’s work can be viewed by visiting http://westchesterlegislators.com/charter-revision-commission-sp-998.html