Tompkins County Administrative Policy Manual

OATHS OF OFFICE

Effective: January 12, 1981 01-14

Most Recent Revision: May 22, 1984

Objective: To provide information on the legal requirements for oaths of office and establish procedures for implementing the Law

Reference: County Law, Section 402; Public Officers Law, Sections 10 and 30; Office of the County Clerk; Informal Opinion of the Attorney General 81-45; Civil Service Law, Section 62

Policy of the Board of Representatives:

1. All elected County officials appointed deputy sheriffs, the Commissioners of Social Services, Health, Public Works, Personnel, and Planning, the County Administrator, the Probation Director, and appointed members of County affiliated lay boards, commissions, and committees shall take and file an official oath in the manner prescribed in the Public Officers Law.

2. Such oath of office shall be filed in the office of the County Clerk within thirty (30) days of the commencement of an elected official's terms of office or an appointed official's notice of appointment. The Clerk of the Board shall send with each notice of appointment instructions for the appointee to report to the County Clerk's Office to file an oath of office.

3. The County Clerk may report to the organizational meeting of a newly constituted board, commission, or committee to administer the oath of office verbally. If this is done, written oaths must still be filed in the County Clerk's Office.

4. Refusal or neglect to file an official oath within thirty (30) days of commencement of a term of office or notice of appointment shall be grounds for considering an office to be vacant.

5. Regular County employees not specified above must sign a constitutional oath before hiring.

6. Deputy sheriffs must refile an oath of office with the commencement of each term of the County Sheriff.