S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
5500
2015-2016 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
May 14, 2015
___________
Introduced by Sen. SERINO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Corporations, Authorities
and Commissions
AN ACT creating the Starr public library district in the town of Rhine-
beck, New York; and to amend chapter 672 of the laws of 1993 amending
the public authorities law relating to the construction and financing
of facilities for certain public libraries, in relation to including
the Starr public library district within the provisions of such chap-
ter and providing for financing through the dormitory authority
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Creation of library district. Notwithstanding the
provisions of any general, special, or local law to the contrary, there
is hereby created and established in the town of Rhinebeck, county of
Dutchess, a public library district which shall be known as the Starr
public library district, hereinafter referred to as the district, and
which shall consist of all the territory within the town of Rhinebeck.
The district will operate a public library to be known as the Starr
library.
S 2. Election. 1. The district herein described shall not come into
existence unless and until it is approved with the initial budget in
support thereof proposed by the board of trustees of the existing Starr
Institute, and nine trustees are elected by a vote of the majority of
the qualified voters voting in an election held, not later than January
31, 2018, pursuant to the following provisions:
Upon receipt of a petition signed by not less than twenty-five voters
qualified to vote at a general election in the district, the board of
trustees of the existing Starr Institute, shall conduct an election at
which the issues shall be:
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06336-01-5
S. 5500 2
(a) whether the public library district herein described with the
initial budget in support thereof proposed by the board of trustees of
the existing Starr Institute, shall be created or not; and
(b) the election of nine trustees as provided by this act.
The board of trustees of the existing Starr Institute, shall give
notice of such election by publication of notice at least twice in one
or more newspapers having a general circulation in the district to be
served. The first publication of such notice shall be not less than
thirteen days and not more than twenty days prior to the date of such
election. In addition, the board of trustees of the existing Starr
Institute, shall cause copies of such notice to be posted conspicuously
in three public places in the district at least thirteen days prior to
the date of such election. Such notice shall specify the date and time
when and the place where such election will be held and the issues to be
decided at such election. The board of trustees of the existing Starr
Institute, shall designate a resident qualified voter of such district
to act as chairperson of any election of such district and shall desig-
nate not less than two nor more than six resident qualified voters to
act as election inspectors and ballot clerks at such election. No trus-
tee of the Starr Institute, shall serve as chairperson or as an election
inspector or ballot clerk. The board of trustees of the existing Starr
Institute, may adopt a resolution providing that such chairperson,
election inspectors and ballot clerks shall be paid reasonable compen-
sation for their respective services at such election. Every voter who
is a resident of the district and otherwise qualified to vote at a
general election in the town shall be qualified to vote at said
election. The board of trustees of the existing Starr Institute, may, to
the extent authorized by law, authorize the use of absentee ballots for
the election. After the polls have closed at such election, the election
inspectors and the ballot clerks shall immediately canvass publicly the
ballots cast and the chairperson of the election shall publicly announce
the result. Within seventy-two hours thereafter, the chairperson,
election inspectors and ballot clerks shall execute and file a certif-
icate of the result of the canvass with the board of trustees of the
existing Starr Institute, and the town clerk. If a majority of the
voters approve the formation of the district with the initial budget in
support thereof proposed by the board of trustees of the Starr Insti-
tute, then the district shall come into existence on the terms and
conditions set forth in this act.
2. In the event that the district is created, there shall be an annual
election conducted by the board of trustees of the Starr public library
district in accordance with the provisions of subdivision one of this
section at a time to be set by the board of trustees of the district, at
which election vacancies on the board of trustees shall be filled and at
which any proposed budget which the board shall determine to submit to
the voters pursuant to section four of this act shall be submitted to
the voters.
3. Candidates for the office of member of the board of trustees of the
Starr public library district shall be nominated by petition. No vacan-
cy to be filled on the board of trustees shall be considered a separate,
specific office. A separate petition shall be required to nominate each
candidate for a vacancy on the board. Each petition shall be directed to
the secretary of the board of trustees of the existing Starr Institute,
shall be signed by at least twenty-five qualified voters of the
district, shall state the residence of each signer, and shall state the
name and residence of the candidate. In the event that any such nominees
S. 5500 3
shall withdraw their candidacy prior to the election, such person shall
not be considered a candidate unless a new petition nominating such
person in the same manner and within the same time limitation applicable
to other candidates is filed with the secretary of the board of trustees
of the existing Starr Institute. Each petition shall be filed with the
secretary of the board of trustees of the existing Starr Institute,
between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., not later than the thirti-
eth day before the election at which the candidates nominated are to be
elected. In the event that the new district is created, petitions nomi-
nating candidates for the board of trustees for all future elections
shall be filed with the secretary of the Starr public library district.
S 3. Organization and structure. The Starr public library district
shall be managed, operated, and controlled by a board of trustees
consisting of nine members. The trustees shall take office at the first
regular meeting of the board of trustees following their election. At
the first regular meeting of the board of trustees of the district, the
trustees shall determine when the terms of office of each member shall
expire as follows: the trustees receiving the first, second and third
highest number of votes shall each serve for three years, the trustees
receiving the fourth, fifth and sixth highest number of votes shall each
serve for two years, and the trustees receiving the seventh, eighth and
ninth highest number of votes shall each serve for one year. As vacan-
cies occur due to expiration of terms of office, trustees shall be
elected by the voters of the district at the election provided for by
this act to serve three year terms, such terms to commence at the first
regular meeting of the board of trustees of the district next following
their election. All other vacancies caused by resignation, removal,
death, or inability to serve shall be filled by appointment by the board
of trustees of the district until the next election, at which time the
vacancy shall be filled by election for the remaining portion of the
term. At any election where one or more persons are to be elected for
the unexpired portion of a term or terms, the candidate receiving the
largest number of votes shall be entitled to the full three year term
and the candidates receiving the next highest number of votes shall be
entitled, in decreasing order of the respective numbers of votes, to the
vacancy or vacancies, in decreasing order of the length of the unexpired
portion or portions of a term or terms. Only qualified voters of the
district shall be eligible for election to the board of trustees. The
board of trustees at its first meeting after each annual election shall
elect or appoint a president, vice-president, and a secretary, who shall
be members of the board, and a treasurer and such other officers as they
deem necessary. If the board so determines, the office of treasurer may
be held by an individual who is not a member of the board of trustees
and, in that event, such officer may, if the board so determines,
receive compensation as fixed by resolution of the board.
S 4. Finances. 1. The initial budget to support the district shall be
determined by a vote of the voters of the district in the initial
election as hereinafter provided for. All future budgets that increase
or decrease the district's proposed tax levy as compared to the tax levy
in the preceding fiscal year's budget shall be submitted to the resi-
dents voting at the annual election of trustees pursuant to section two
of this act. Funds voted for library purposes at the initial election
and at all future elections shall be considered an annual appropriation
therefor and shall be levied and collected yearly by the town for the
district in the same manner and at the same time as other taxes in the
town.
S. 5500 4
2. The district's fiscal year shall run from the first day of January
to the thirty-first day of December. The board of trustees of the
district shall annually file with the clerk of the town on or before the
first day of November an estimate of the proposed budget including costs
of library services to be raised by levy for the library district in the
fiscal year beginning on the first day of January of the next year. The
town shall not make any change in the estimate of revenues or expendi-
tures submitted by the board of the district in preparation of its
preliminary budget.
3. The town board of the town of Rhinebeck shall levy a tax against
the real property lying within the district for the amount to be raised
by tax as approved by the voters of the district. The town board shall
pay the full amount of the tax levy approved by the voters over to the
treasurer of the district pursuant to the schedule set forth in this
section. The town board shall annually pay over to the treasurer of the
district on or before the thirtieth day after its tax collection period
ends, the full amount of the levy due. If necessary to meet this sched-
ule, the town board may issue tax anticipation notes pursuant to article
II of the local finance law to obtain the necessary moneys therefor.
4. The town board of the town shall have the power to authorize, sell,
and issue bonds, notes, and other evidences of indebtedness pursuant to
the local finance law in order to permit the district to provide facili-
ties or improved facilities for library purposes. Upon written request
from the board of trustees of the district, after approval by the quali-
fied voters of such district, the town board shall authorize, sell, and
issue such bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness as are
necessary to accomplish the improvements specified in the notice. The
proceeds of such bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness shall
be paid to the treasurer of the district and maintained in a segregated
account in accordance with section 165.00 of the local finance law and
expended by the treasurer only on specific authorization by the board of
trustees.
5. The board of trustees of the district may accept on behalf of the
district any absolute gift, devise, or bequest of real or personal prop-
erty and such conditional gifts, devises, or bequests as it shall by
resolution approve.
6. The treasurer of the district shall be custodian of all funds of
the district, including gifts and trust funds paid over to the trustees.
The board of trustees may authorize the investment of funds in the
custody of the treasurer in the same manner in which town funds may be
invested. Proceeds of obligations received from the town may be invested
in accordance with section 165.00 of the local finance law. The town of
Rhinebeck shall promptly pay over to the district all monies which
belong to or are raised for the district. No monies shall be disbursed
by the treasurer of the district except after audit by the board of
trustees. The board of trustees of the district shall audit all claims
and shall order the payment thereof, except as otherwise provided by
this section. No such claims shall be audited or ordered paid by the
trustees unless an itemized voucher therefor shall be presented to the
board of trustees for audit and allowance. The provisions of this
section shall not be applicable to payment of utility costs, claims of
fixed salaries, and amounts which the district may be required to pay on
account of retirement contributions for past or current services to
officers and employees of the district. The treasurer shall keep such
records in such manner as the board of trustees may require.
S. 5500 5
S 5. Charter, commencement of operations, and transfer of property and
employees. The initially elected trustees of the district shall, within
ninety days from the date of approval of the district by the voters of
the district, apply to the board of regents for a charter as a public
library. Upon the granting of such a charter by the board of regents,
title to all liabilities and assets, including all property, both real
and personal, and both tangible and intangible, all trust and other
funds, and all other obligations, now held by the existing Starr Insti-
tute, shall be transferred to, vested in, and be acquired by the
district established by this act. The above provisions for transfer to,
vesting and acquisition of real and personal property, both tangible and
intangible, and all trust and other funds, are effectuated by operation
of law pursuant to the authority of this act, except that, for purposes
of clarity of real property records, deeds of conveyance shall be
executed and filed for any parcels of real property. Upon the transfer
of all such property, the existing Starr Institute shall be deemed
dissolved. Upon the granting of such charter by the board of regents,
all employees of the existing Starr Institute shall become employees of
the district upon the same terms and conditions of employment and at the
same rate of pay as their previous employment by the existing Starr
Institute.
S 6. Ad valorem levy. The several lots and parcels of land within the
area of the district are hereby determined to be benefited by the
library facilities and devices existing as of the effective date of this
act, and the town of Rhinebeck is hereby authorized to assess, levy, and
collect the necessary expenses of operation, maintenance, and repair of
such facilities and services and such capital improvements, including
debt service on bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness of the
town issued for the purpose of the district, as may be hereafter author-
ized pursuant to the provisions of this act from such lots and parcels
of land in the same manner and at the same time as other town charges.
S 7. Education law. Except as otherwise provided by this act, the
provisions of the education law relating to public libraries shall be
applicable to the district established by this act.
S 8. The district is deemed a special district which is separate and
distinct from the town for all purposes, including but not limited to
management, appropriations, and expenditures. Any tax levy for the
district shall not be charged or imputed to the town, and shall instead
be charged or imputed to the district, for purposes of any general or
special laws enacted by the legislature.
S 9. Section 5 of chapter 672 of the laws of 1993, amending the public
authorities law relating to the construction and financing of facilities
for certain public libraries, is amended by adding a new subdivision 49
to read as follows:
49. STARR PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT
S 10. This act shall take effect immediately.
