Roles & Duties, Saratoga County Board of Supervisors

The Town of Charlton is represented by the Town Supervisor at the County.

These are some of the roles and duties of a County Board of Supervisors:

  • The supervisors have the ability to pass and repeal laws.   
  • The board is also responsible for approving the county budget.
  • The board controls county departments.
  • Appoint most County department heads, except elected officials.
  • Provide for the compensation of all County officials and employees.
  • Create officers, boards, commissions and advisory committees as needed, appointing the members and fixing the terms of office.
  • Award all contracts over the $10,000 minor contract limit.
  • Adopt an annual budget.
  • Serve as an appellate body for employee grievances.
  • Provide, publish, and enforce a complete code of rules prescribing the duties and the systems of office and management, accounts, and reports for each County department.  
  • Have an annual audit made of all County accounts, books, and records?
  • Supervise the operations of departments and exercise executive and administrative authority throughout the County government.

Major legislative duties include adopting resolutions for the purpose of setting policy and providing for its administration, approving formal contracts, setting employee salaries, adopting budgets and establishing fees for service, adopting an annual budget, and holding public hearings on a variety of matters.

Board meetings are only a part of the work of the members, who must attend dozens of other types of meetings, listen to suggestions and complaints of county residents, participate in a variety of civic activities, and investigate and resolve a wide assortment of problems. They are called on to meet with elected representatives and officials of other government agencies.  A county supervisor may serve in other capacities on various boards, commissions, or special districts.