Monroe County Clerk Adam Bello has written to the County Executive, President of the Legislature and County Attorney, saying he’s concerned that written notice of county appointments and legally required Oaths of Office aren’t being filed with his office.
The issue came up when it was found earlier this year that members of the COMIDA board, the county economic development agency, hadn’t met their filing requirements. That meant their appointments weren’t valid. Bello’s letter says the same thing is true for many other appointed county officials. By state law, the county clerk is supposed to be notified of appointments and the appointee is supposed to file the oath within 30 days.
Bello says those various offices are legally vacant, and the county needs to reappoint them and get the paperwork done this time.
County Executive Cheryl Dinolfo’s Spokesman, Brett Walsh, dismissed the matter as a non-problem. Walsh says the county executive learned of the issue three weeks ago, and all the problem appointments are being resubmitted to the County Legislature for approval at this month’s meeting per the county attorney’s recommendation.
Bello is a Democrat; the other county elected officials are Republicans.