N.Y. Alternative County Government Law § 202: Department heads

§ 202. Department heads. 1. The county executive shall appoint, to

serve during his pleasure, the head of every department or office not

administered by an elective official, except that an appointive auditor

or comptroller shall always be appointed by the board of supervisors and

except as otherwise specifically provided in this chapter. The

appointment of the head of any department or office in a county adopting

the county administrator form, the county director form or the county

president form, shall be subject to confirmation by the board of

supervisors. The county executive may with the approval of the board of

supervisors appoint one head for two or more departments. All

appointments shall be in writing under the hand of the county executive

and filed and recorded in the office of the county clerk. A duplicate

certificate of each appointment shall be filed with the clerk of the

board of supervisors within ten days after the appointment is made.

2. Subject to the provisions of section five of the public officers

law, the head of any such department or office, unless reappointed for a

new term, shall not be authorized or permitted to serve beyond the term

of the county executive by whom the appointment was made, except that he

shall continue to serve until his successor is appointed and has

qualified.

3. In any county adopting the county administrator form, the county

director form or the county president form, the county executive may

appoint the head of any department by interim appointment pending

confirmation. Any such interim appointment shall be effective for ninety

days only and may not be renewed or extended. The county executive may,

however, act as head of the department, or designate a deputy in the

department to be acting head until the appointment is confirmed or the

position otherwise filled.

4. The head of a department, one deputy and the confidential secretary

of the head of each department or office shall be in the exempt class of

the civil service. This section shall not affect any other position in

the exempt class now or hereafter included therein by or pursuant to

law.

5. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter and subject to any

pertinent provisions of the civil service law, the head of every

department and office shall appoint all of his subordinates. Except as

otherwise provided in the civil service law, such subordinates shall

serve during his pleasure.