401 - Deputies.

§  401. Deputies. 1. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the  board of supervisors may authorize any officer of the county  paid  from  county  funds  or  the  head  of  any  department to appoint one or more  deputies, who shall perform such duties not  inconsistent  with  law  as  shall  be  assigned  to  them by the appointing officer. In the event an  authorized officer or department head  fails  to  appoint  one  or  more  deputies and the authorized officer or department head is disabled for a  period  greater  than  thirty days, the board of supervisors may appoint  such a deputy who shall possess the powers and perform the duties of the  principal until the disability  is  removed  or  until  a  successor  is  elected or appointed and has qualified.    2. If there be but one deputy, he shall possess the powers and perform  the  duties  of  his  principal  during  the absence or inability of his  principal to act. If there be more than one deputy, the principal  shall  designate  in  writing and file in the office of the county clerk and of  the clerk of the board of supervisors the order in  which  they  are  to  serve during his absence or inability to act.    3.  In  the  event  of  a vacancy in the office of the principal, such  deputy, or the deputy  so  designated,  shall  possess  the  powers  and  perform the duties of his principal until the disability is removed, or,  in  case of a vacancy, until a successor is elected or appointed and has  qualified. If no designation shall have been made and filed, the  senior  deputy shall act.    4. In the event of a vacancy in the office of the principal, the board  of   supervisors   may  require  such  deputy  to  furnish  an  official  undertaking in an amount fixed by such board and approved as provided in  this chapter, and upon default thereof, said board of supervisors  shall  have  the  power  to  designate  another  employee  in  such  office  or  department as the acting  principal  officer,  who  upon  executing  and  filing such undertaking shall have and exercise the powers and duties of  the office until a successor is elected or appointed and has qualified.    5.  The  provisions  of  this section shall not apply to the office of  undersheriff, or to the office of coroner or to the office of  coroner's  physician.    6.  The  provisions  of  this  section  shall  supersede  inconsistent  provisions of section nine of the public officers law.