Local Law #4 of 2024

(Full Meeting 05/07/2024)

Resolution #102

Local Law #4 of 2024

A LOCAL LAW TO AMEND ARTICLE 5 OF THE PUTNAM COUNTY CHARTER ENTITLED “EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT”

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the County of Putnam as follows:

Section 1.

Article 5 of the Putnam County Charter is hereby REPEALED and REPLACED as provided hereinafter:

ARTICLE 5

DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL SERVICES

• 5.01 Department of General Services; Commissioner.

There shall be a Department of General Services under the direction of a Commissioner of General Services who shall be appointed by the County Executive, subject to confirmation by the County Legislature. The appointment shall be on the basis of education, professional experience, and qualifications for the duties of the office. The Commissioner shall hold at minimum a Bachelor's degree and four (4) years' experience as a buyer, purchaser or an equivalent position. He or she shall have the authority within budgetary appropriations, and in accordance with County policy or as may be otherwise required by law, to appoint and remove such staff as may be necessary. The Commissioner shall be directly responsible to and serve at the pleasure of the County Executive.

The Commissioner shall not hold any other public or political office, whether elected or appointed, as long as he or she remains in the current position of County employment. He or she and all full-time managerial employees in the department shall serve on a full-time basis and shall not engage in any private practice, nor be employed in their field of expertise with the County by any private or other government entity.

• 5.02 Commissioner of General Services; powers and duties.

Except as otherwise provided by law, the Commissioner of General Services shall have the following duties:

1. Have charge, oversight, and supervision of the Department;

1. Make all purchases of materials, supplies, and equipment, and contract for rentals and servicing of equipment for the County in accordance with applicable law;

1. Assure suitable specifications or standards for all materials, supplies, and equipment to be purchased and assure inspection of all deliveries to determine      their compliance with such specifications and standards;

1. Make purchases for municipalities or other civil divisions of the County upon the written request of the governing body thereof;

1. Have authority to transfer or reassign equipment, material, and supplies among offices, departments and agencies of the County upon approval of the County     Executive;

1. Be responsible for disposing of any surplus, obsolete or unwanted County property in a manner provided by state law;

1. Manage the County's vehicle fleet, with the exception of those heavy vehicles which maintain, improve, and plow County highways.

1. Administer all central administrative services for the County government, including but not limited to mail and messenger service, printing and             reproduction, telephone, and other related operational services;

1. Monitor and enforce procurement and contract compliance practices throughout County government and coordinate training to ensure such compliance;

1. Identify and evaluate grant initiatives of benefit to the County; provide assistance and training to units of County government with application drafting, contract             monitoring, reporting and compliance requirements; ensure that procurement            practices and contracts are in compliance with the terms and conditions of all        applicable federal or state grants, including all applicable laws, regulations, and         policies related thereto;

1. Be responsible for the continuing development of programs designed to provide accurate, sufficient and timely information for decision making and service             provisions by all units of Putnam County Government, and any entity contracting     with Putnam County for such services;

1. Exercise such further power and authority as the Legislature of Putnam County may, from time to time, delegate by local law or resolution or as the County Executive may delegate in his or her administrative capacity; and

1. Perform all the duties now or hereafter conferred or imposed by law.

• 5.03 Division of Information Technology/Geographic Information Systems; Director.

There shall be within the Department of General Services an independent Division of Information Technology/Geographic Information Systems (IT/GIS), which shall be headed by a Director of Information Technology/GIS. The Director shall be appointed by the County Executive, subject to confirmation by the County Legislature.  The Director of Information Technology/GIS shall be appointed on the basis of professional training, experience in IT, education, and other qualifications appropriate to the responsibilities of the office in the manner provided by state law. The Director shall have the authority, within budgetary appropriations and in accordance with County policy or as may be otherwise required by law, to appoint and remove such staff as he or she deems necessary.

• 5.04 Director of Information Technology/GIS; powers and duties.

Except as otherwise provided in this Charter, the Director of Information technology shall have the power to:

1. Coordinate, plan, and develop all information technology systems and resources, which shall include all computer, telephone and radio hardware, fax machines, software, peripherals, applications (including electronic and voice mail), networks          and network connections (including to the Internet), documentation and other            capabilities intended for the purpose of processing, transferring or storing data to     conduct County business and provide access to government information and    government services;

1. Administer the storage and security of electronic data as may be required by departments and agencies, and in compliance with federal and/or state         governmental requirements. In furtherance of this, the Director of Information    Technology shall consult with the County Clerk to meet records retention    requirements;

1. Provide and support the communications and technology infrastructure as may be required by departments and agencies;

1. Develop and administer policies and protocols governing information technology systems employed by the County and to ensure maximum intra- and           interdepartmental compatibility;

1. Have charge of the management and processing of information and data for all units of Putnam County Government and all other local governments or other      entities that may contract with Putnam County for such services;

1. Be responsible for the ongoing development of efficient information systems including data and word processing, and other information management     techniques;

1. Coordinate and consult with all units of Putnam County Government and any entity contracting with Putnam County for such services, relating to the planning,       development, organization and use of information management techniques;

1. Advise and assist the Putnam County Legislature in matters and decisions related to the selection and implementation of information technology services;

1. Perform such other and related duties required by the County Executive or County Legislature and work with the Commissioner of General Services to assist in           completing the responsibilities required under this Article.

Section 2.

This Local Law shall take effect forty-five (45) days after its passage and is subject to permissive referendum.