ARTICLE 16
DEPARTMENT OF RECORDS

   Section 1601. Department of Records; County clerk; election. There shall be a Department of Records headed by a County Clerk who shall be elected from the County at large. Her term of office shall be for four years, beginning on January 1st following her election. At the time of her election and throughout her term of office, she shall be a qualified elector of the County and shall hold no other Public Office. Commencing January 1st, 1995, she shall not hold the position of chair, vice chair, secretary or treasurer of a County Political Party Committee. She shall have been a resident of the County continuously for at least of one year preceding her election. The compensation of the County Clerk shall not be increased or decreased during her term of office.

   Section 1602. Powers and duties. Except where inconsistent with this Charter, the County Clerk shall appoint such deputies, officers and employees of the Department as may be authorized by resolution of the County Legislature, and shall have and exercise all powers and duties now or hereafter conferred or imposed upon her by any applicable law. She shall perform such other and related duties as shall be required or delegated to her by the County Legislature.

   Section 1603. Records Management Officer; Hall of Records. The County Clerk shall serve as the County's records management officer, or such successor office as may be established under State law, with all powers and duties of such office. The County Clerk shall operate the County Hall of Records for the purpose of central management of the County's records and archives, within such appropriations as shall be made annually by the County Legislature.

   Section 1604. Public Information Officer. The County Clerk shall also serve as the County's contact person for records access as described in Article 6 of the Public Officers Law.

   Section 1605. County Historian. The role and duties of the County Historian are directly linked to the historical records maintained by the County Clerk. The County Executive shall appoint the County Historian pursuant to the New York State Arts and Cultural Affairs law, subject to the confirmation of the County Legislature as provided in Section 302(c) of this Charter. Compensation for such office, if any, shall be fixed by the County Legislature, except that, in the event that an employee of the County be appointed to such office, such County Historian shall serve without additional compensation.