§ 271-a. Appointment of administrative clerk in fifth judicial district. 1. The justices of the supreme court for the fifth judicial district, or a majority of them, may designate and at pleasure remove one of the clerks of the court as an administrative clerk. He shall have charge of all the calendars of the supreme court in and for such district and shall have such additional powers and perform such additional duties as are provided by the rules or regulations adopted from time to time in accordance with statute, or as may be assigned by the justices.

2. The actual and necessary expenses of such clerk incurred by him in the performance of his official duties shall be paid upon proper proof thereof, and upon the approval of a justice of the supreme court in the fifth judicial district designated for such purpose by a majority of the other justices therein in a written instrument filed with the state comptroller. The state comptroller shall audit the expenses of such administrative clerk and the department of taxation and finance shall pay the same when certified to the state comptroller in the manner herein prescribed.

3. The administrative clerk hereby authorized shall annually receive as compensation for services rendered in connection with the duties hereby imposed, not to exceed two thousand dollars in addition to the salary or compensation paid him by the county by which he is employed. The additional compensation provided for by this subdivision shall be determined and paid in the same manner as expenses under this section.

4. The total amount of the additional compensation and expenses of such clerk as herein authorized shall be apportioned by the department of taxation and finance among the counties of the fifth judicial district, which shall reimburse the state therefor, and the time and method of apportionment and reimbursement shall be as specified in section seventy-four of this chapter.