APPROVAL/LOCAL LAW/AMEND CHAPTER 25/CODE OF PUTNAM COUNTY ENTITLED
“COUNCILS AND COMMISSIONS”
A Local Law to Amend Chapter 25 of the Code of Putnam County entitled “Councils and
Commissions”
BE IT ENANCTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE COUTY OF PUTNAM, as follows:
Section 1.
A new Article VI entitled “Transportation Advisory Council” is hereby added to Chapter
25 of the Code of Putnam County to read as follows:
Section 25-39. Establishment.
There is hereby created and established in the County of Putnam, New York a
Transportation Advisory Council to be known as the “Putnam County Transportation
Advisory Council”, and said Board shall be and exist for the benefit of the County of
Putnam and the inhabitants thereof, and same is hereby established for the
accomplishment of any and all purposes provided by law.
Section 25-40. Membership and term.
A) Membership in the Transportation Advisory Council shall consist of the following:
(1) There shall be seven (7) members appointed by the County Executive and confirmed
by the Legislature, who reside in the County of Putnam. One member shall be a
representative of the Putnam County Chambers of Commerce; one member shall be a
real estate and/or commerce professional; one member shall be a representative for
people with disabilities; one member shall be a representative of the taxi & limousine
business; one member shall be a citizen-at-large; one member shall be a citizen with a
mental impairment; and one member shall be a citizen with a physical disability.
(2) Ex-officio members shall be the Putnam County Transportation Manager or an
appointee of the Commissioner of Planning, Development and Public Transportation, the
Chairman of the Physical Services Committee, the Chair of the Economic Development &
Energy Committee, the Commissioner of Planning, Development and Public
Transportation, the Commissioner of Social Services, the Commissioner of Health, the
Director of Tourism, the Director of Office for the Aging, the Director of Consumer
Affairs, the Director of the Economic Development Corporation, the Director of the Office
of Veterans Affairs.
B) All appointed members shall serve at the pleasure of the County Executive during
their three (3) year term of appointment.
C) Appointed member vacancies on the Transportation Advisory Council shall be filled in
the same manner as the original appointment, except that a vacancy occurring through
circumstances other than by expiration of a term shall be filled only for the remainder of
said term.
D) An appointed member of the Transportation Advisory Council shall serve until his or
her successor has been appointed.
Section 25-41. Chairperson.
The Chairperson of the Transportation Advisory Council shall be the Putnam County
Transportation Manager or the appointee of the Commissioner of Planning, Development
and Public Transportation.
Section 25-42. Powers and duties.
The powers and duties of the Transportation Advisory Council shall be to:
A) Explore opportunities and make recommendations to the County Executive and
Legislature exploring all facets of Public Transportation in order to improve efficiencies,
better manage assets, leverage resources and create partnerships to save dollars and
improve transportation services.
B) Provide quarterly updates and make annual presentations to the Legislature.
C) Make recommendations for a marketing plan, advertising opportunities and
promotions to the County Executive and the Legislature, as needed.
D) Conduct annual comprehensive assessments by reviewing and analyzing routes. The
review should include the right sizing of vehicles for needed services and the
coordination with all other modes of transportation for optimizing scheduling and
connecting services.
E) Study the Triennial Review conducted by the Federal Transit Authority and make
appropriate improvements and recommendations.
F) Make recommendations for infrastructure improvements and other transportation
additions to be included in the capital plan to the Commissioner of Planning,
Development, and Public Transportation. These improvements may include rolling
inventory, bus shelters, and bus stops.
G) Make recommendations regarding the creation and contents of a countywide Taxi &
Limousine Law.
H) Coordinate and provide a venue for transportation safety-net hearings related to
Paratransit and Putnam Paratransit +, and act on a case-by-case basis to make
recommendations for those who need transportation. The Transportation Advisory
Council shall also give guidance with regard to guidelines, policies and procedures with
regard to Paratransit, Putnam Paratransit + and other special needs transportation
services.
Section 25-43. Meetings.
A) The Transportation Advisory Council shall hold meetings at least monthly, and at
such other times as its Chairperson deems necessary for the efficient discharge of the
business of the Transportation Advisory Council. Transportation Advisory Council
meetings shall comply with the New York State Open Meetings Law.
B) The Transportation Advisory Council shall adopt rules and procedures for its
meetings.
C) The Transportation Advisory Council shall maintain minutes of the proceedings of all
meetings, memorializing votes taken, questions asked, and comments made with regard
to the business before the Transportation Advisory Council.
D) Four (4) members of the Transportation Advisory Council shall constitute a quorum
for the transaction of business.
Section 25-44. Compensation.
The members of the Transportation Advisory Council shall receive no compensation for
their services.
Section 2.
This local law shall take effect immediately.